Calamba, Laguna

Calamba, officially theCity of Calamba(Filipino:Lungsod ng Calamba), is acomponent cityin theprovinceofLaguna, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 539,671 people making it the largest city in the province.
Calamba is the regional center of theCalabarzonregion. It is situated 50 kilometers (31 mi) south ofManilaand 37 kilometers (23 mi) west ofSanta Cruz. The city is known as the "Spring Resort Capital of the Philippines"because of its numerous hot spring resorts, which are mostly located in BarangaysPansol, Bucal, Bagong Kalsada, and Lingga.
According to the 2020 census, Calamba has a population of 539,671 people, making it the most populous local government unit in Laguna.It is the fifth-densest city in the province with more than 2,600 people per square kilometer afterSan Pedro,Biñan,Cabuyao, andSanta Rosa. Based on the overall rankings of the 2014 Cities and Municipalities Index, the city ranked 18th in the overall competitiveness (cities ranking) and first among cities in theCalabarzonregion. Calamba is known to be Calabarzon's richest city because of its numerous industries.
Calamba is the hometown of thede factoPhilippinenational hero,José Rizal.
The name of the city is derived fromTagalogkalamba, meaning a wide-mouthedearthenwater jar(also calledbalangaorbanga).The origin of the name is reflected in theCalamba Jarlandmark in cityplaza, as well as the city's seal which depicts a water jar superimposed with a profile ofJosé Rizal.
The oldest part of Calamba is believed to be Barangay Sucol where its first settlers remained. With the arrival of Spaniards, the whole area was converted into a hacienda, then a part of Tabuco (present-dayCabuyao). In 1639 Calamba was the site of a rebellion of Chinese farmers, who had been forcibly resettled there by Governor Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera. This rebellion spread north of the Pasig River and eventually culminated in the deaths of over 20,000 Chinese in the whole region surrounding Manila. Calamba became an independentpuebloon August 28, 1742, and formed into the town of Calamba in 1770. In 1813, Calamba was placed in the hands of "encargados" by the Dominican Brothers, who divided it into portions and sold the haciendas to the natives during the American regime.
During the Japanese occupation inWorld War II, Calamba was the location of amassacrecommitted by theImperial Japanese Army, in which at least 2,000 civilians were killed.TheSt. John the Baptist Church, established in 1859, was burned by the Japanese during World War II. It was reconstructed by Fr. Eliseo Dimaculangan. It was the christening site ofJosé Rizal. The original baptismal font has been preserved and refurbished.
After a process of more than seven years, Calamba became the second component city of the Laguna by virtue of Republic Act No. 9024, "An Act Converting the Municipality of Calamba, Province of Laguna into a Component City to be known as the City of Calamba."R.A. 9024 was signed into law by PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyoon March 5, 2001, at theMalacañan Palace. TheCommission on Elections(COMELEC) then set theplebiscitefor Calamba's cityhood on April 21, 2001, where 15,056 residents participated. 3,413 or 22.67% voted "No" while the remaining 77.33% voted "Yes"to Calamba's conversion into a component city.
As early as 1994, the town's Sangguniang Bayan approved Resolution No. 60, Series of 1994 requesting theSenate of the Philippinesthrough its president and theHouse of Representativesthrough its speaker to co-sponsor a bill for Calamba's conversion into a city. It was only after two years that another resolution, Resolution No. 115 was passed requesting thenCongressman Joaquin M. ChipecoJr, to co-sponsor a bill for Calamba's cityhood and requesting the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for their comments and recommendations regarding the matter. Another two years passed before House Bill No. 986 and Senate bill Nos. 1630 and 1791 were filed in the House of Representatives by Congressman Chipeco and Senate of the Philippines by SenatorsFranklin M. DrilonandSergio Osmeña III, respectively.
It was only in the year 2000 that the motion for Calamba's cityhood was fast-tracked. Then Mayor Severino J. Lajara requested favorable endorsement of House Bill No. 986 from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on January 3, 2000. The Sangguniang Bayan also endorsed House Bill No. 986 and Senate Bill Nos. 1630 and 1791 and also requested favorable endorsement from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in the same month. A month passed and Mayor Lajara sent a follow-up letter to then Vice GovernorTeresita "Ningning" Lazaroon updates regarding the matter.
On March 8, the House Committee on Local Government approved House Bill No. 986 on 2nd reading at a hearing held at Hotel Rembrandt,Quezon City. The same House Committee conducted a public hearing on House Bill No. 986 at the Calamba Elementary School (Central II) gymnasium on March 23, approving the House Bill in principle. House Bill 986 was deliberated in April by the House of Representatives in plenary session and approved as House Bill No. 10661, which was then filed with theSenate of the Philippinesin June.
The year 2001 came and brought about approval on 2nd reading of Senate Bill Nos. 1630 and 1791 and House Bill No. 10661 in a hearing held on February 5 at the Ambrocio Padilla Hall, Senate of the Philippines. Three days later, February 8, Senate Bill Nos. 1630 and 1791 and House Bill No. 10661 was deliberated in Plenary Session and was approved as Republic Act No. 9024.
Calamba was declared the regional center of theCalabarzonregion by then PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyoby virtue of Executive Order No. 246, dated October 28, 2003.
Calamba lies on the northern slopes ofMount Makiling, a dormant volcano. The southern terminus of theSouth Luzon Expresswayis in Calamba and this geographic position makes the city a gateway to the southern provinces of Luzon. The highway at the end of the South Luzon Expressway leads east to the other towns of Laguna and south towards the provinces ofBatangasandQuezon.
The city is bordered byCabuyaoto the north, by the province ofCaviteto the west, specificallySilangandTagaytay,Los Bañosto the east, and by the province ofBatangasto the south, specifically the cities ofTanauanandSanto Tomas.Laguna de Bay, the country's largest lake, forms the city's northeast border. The provincial capital,Santa Cruz, is located 37 kilometers (23 mi) by road to the east.
Calamba covers a total land area of 14,950 hectares (36,900 acres), making it is the second-largest city in Laguna province in terms of land area afterSan Pablo.
Calamba is politically subdivided into 54 barangays.Each barangay consists ofpuroksand some havesitios.
Calamba has atropical monsoon climate(typeAm), with a short dry season and a longer rainy season. The dry season lasts only from January to April, and the rest of the year is characterized by high levels of rainfall.
The population of Calamba is fast-growing with an intercensal growth rate of 5% from 1995 to 2000, repeated and more in subsequent decades (except for 2007 to 2010 census).
According to the 2020 census, Calamba has a population of 539,671 inhabitants, making it the most populated city in Laguna province, followed bySanta Rosa,Biñan,San Pedro City,Cabuyao, andSan Pablo. Calamba is the 24thmost populated cityin the Philippines.
Calamba is predominantlyRoman Catholic(84.22%), followed byMembers Church of God International(MCGI or ADD)(4.5%),Protestants(3.43%),Iglesia ni Cristo(3.14%), andIslam(0.26%).
Calamba is known today as the "Richest City in Calabarzon", (according to the 2014 Commission on Audit Annual Audit Report), as it registered a total income of ₱2,501,048,126.00.Calamba is also considered one of the "Next Wave Cities" for outsourcing firms.
The major income sources comes from manufacturing and economic plants, tourism, agriculture and services. There are many manufacturing and economic plants located in upland barangays likeCanlubang,Real,La Mesa,Milagrosa, Makiling,Punta, Barandal, Batino andPrinza.
As of December 31, 2013, there are 83 banking offices operating in the city that offers banking services to businesses and residents according toPhilippine Deposit Insurance Corporation. Calamba is the top city in Calabarzon with total deposits amounting to 29,632,884 in thousandpesosfrom 374,122 accounts.
The city is a haven for industries. Considered the heart of Calabarzon due to the number of companies housed in its area, Calamba is one of the premiere industrial hubs outside ofMetro Manila. Some of the industrial parks located in the city are:
Calamba is also considered one of the "Next Wave Cities" for outsourcing firms and call centers, among which isSPi Technologies.
Aside from the Crossing area in Barangay Uno, BarangaysRealandParianare also bustling with business structures, including SM City Calamba, and Liana's Discount Center Calamba.
Notable shopping centers and travel agencies in Calamba also include Southern Sky Travel & Tours (Calamba Headquarters),Walter MartMakiling,PuregoldHalang, Puregold Calamba-Crossing, Puregold Calamba-Bayan, Checkpoint Mall, and iMall Canlubang among others.
Food processing plants in Calamba like Zenith Foods Corporation (central commissary ofJollibee Foods Corporation), where its sauces and food products (i.e. burger, pies, fries, etc.) are first made before distributing toJollibeeoutlets is currently the most advanced food processing plant in the Philippines and one of the best in Asia. Other food and beverage processing plants in Calamba areRebisco,RC Cola,Monde M.Y. San CorporationandZest-O Corporation.
Some of the semiconductor companies are also located in Calamba. To name a few, they areSamsung Electro-MechanicsPhilippines, Continental Temic Electronics Philippines,ToshibaStorage Device Philippines Inc.,ST Microelectronics(formerly Philips Electronics), Fuji Electric Philippines, NEC Tokin Electronics, NEC Toppan Circuit Solutions and Austriamicrosystems Phils.
Automobile manufacturers that have plants located in Calamba are Asian Transmission Corporation andSuzukiPhilippines Inc.
Avon, the leading global beauty company has a manufacturing plant (Avon Products Manufacturing), is located at Calamba Premiere International Park.
Tricycles, buses,jeepneys, andUV Expressare popular modes of transportation in Calamba.
Calamba is served by thePhilippine National Railways(PNR)Metro Commuter Line. Stations include:
The only expressway currently operational in Calamba is theSouth Luzon Expressway(SLEX), which passes through the city with four exits. SLEX is part ofAH26up to Calamba Exit.
Main national highways include theManila South Road, thePan-Philippine Highway(also known as Maharlika Highway, Daang Maharlika, or National Highway), which passes through the city and curves towardSanto TomasinBatangas, andCalamba–Pagsanjan Road(also called "National Highway") links Calamba withLos BañosandSanta Cruz.
Other arterial roads includes Chipeco Avenue and its Extension, which passes near the city hall,Tagaytay–Calamba Road, which picks up nearTagaytay Highlands, andMayapa–Canlubang Cadre Road, a spur of Maharlika Highway serving Canlubang and Canlubang/Mayapa Exit (Exit 47)
Proposed expressways include theCalamba–Los Baños Expressway, which spurs from SLEX, traverses alongLaguna de Bayand ends on a national highway atBay, andLaguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike, an expressway and dike that will run on the coast ofLaguna de Bay. The projects will cost an estimated₱5.9 billion ($131.11 million) and₱18.59 billion ($413 million).
There are 9 private and 1 government-run hospitals in Calamba.Some of the health centers in the city are theCalamba Medical Center,Calamba Doctors' Hospital, Pamana Golden Care Hospital, St. John the Baptist Hospital, San Jose Hospital and Trauma Center, St. Marks Hospital Medical Center, Holy Angel General Hospital, CH Garcia Medical and Diagnostic Center, Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital, and Jose Yulo Foundation Canlubang Industrial Hospital...
Communication concerns are managed by different agencies found in the city: postal affairs rests on the Philippine Postal Corp. with three operating offices located in Barangays. Canlubang, Mayapa and the main office located at the back of City Hall. Telecommunications as well as internet connections are under the four major telecom companies such asPLDT(Smart Communications),Globe Telecom,Dito TelecommunityandConverge ICT Solutions Inc., commonly referred to asConverge. Aside from these, print and radio services are also present, with Calambalita DZLN-AM and DZJV – a local radio station catering to the whole Calabarzon area.
A major part of the city is currently served by Meralco, with two substations of the company located in Brgys Mayapa and Brgy 1 facilitate the flow of power throughout the entire city. All the 54 barangays are equipped with electricity, with only a few barangays such as part of Canlubang, Pansol, Bucal and Lecheria under NAPOCOR.
A big part of the city is served by the Calamba Water District, providing water to 23,655 households, 1,238 commercial establishments and 53 public buildings. Most of the city's water supply comes from the faucet community water system.
Like other cities in thePhilippines, Calamba is governed by a city mayor and city vice mayor who are elected to three-year terms. The city mayor is the executive head who leads the city's departments in the execution of city ordinances and in the delivery of public services. The city vice mayor heads a legislative council that is composed of 14 members: 12 councilors and twoex-officiooffices: one for theSangguniang Kabataan FederationPresident, representing the youth sector, and one for theAssociation of Barangay ChairmenPresident as the barangay sectoral representative. The council is in charge of creating the city's policies in the form of ordinances and resolutions.
By virtue of Republic Act no. 11078, Calamba has been separated from the2nd DistrictofLagunato form its own, the Lone district of the City of Calamba.
The 2022 local elections in Calamba, held on May 9, 2022, replaced some members of the city government, primarily on the members of the city council. The mayor and vice mayor are term limited.
Elected officials for the 2022–2025 term are:
Jose Rizal wrote a manuscript calledJefes del pueblo de Calamba (ang nangagsipagpuno sa bayan ng Calamba: sapol ng maging bayan, hangan sa panahon, 28 de Agosto, 1742 – hasta 1891)that is now kept in the National Library of the Philippines. It lists the names of local chief executives of Calamba since its founding as a town independent from Cabuyao.Their names were:
The following are the individuals that served as local chief executive of Calamba since the American occupation of the Philippines up to the present-day:
The seal of the City of Calamba has evolved and has been modified throughout the years. From being a municipality to a component city, a new seal was necessary to symbolize the new thrust of Calamba. In a citywide seal-making contest, Reyjon de Guzman emerged as winner, for his work best symbolized the ideals, pride and achievements of the city. Each color, shape, number and object has its own meaning relative to what is Calamba in the past, present and future.
Calamba is the location ofJosé Rizal's birthplace,Rizal Shrine, found in thepoblacion(city proper), andSt. John the Baptist Parish Church, the location of Rizal's baptism. A park built to commemorate José Rizal,Rizal Park(or the Plaza) hosts a 22 feet (6.7 m) tall statue of Rizal, with the number symbolizing the 22 languages and dialects used by Rizal. The statue sits on top of a 15-step podium, symbolizing one decade since Rizal was born. The monument was once cited as the tallest Jose Rizal Monument in the world,until a monument of Rizal was built inSanta Cruz, Laguna, for thePalarong Pambansa 2014. The monument was inaugurated byPresident Benigno Aquino IIIin preparation for the Jose Rizal's sesquicentennial birth anniversary on June 19, 2011.
Other tourist attractions include theCalamba Claypot(BangaorCalambanga), a large pot that is the namesake of the city, Republic Wakepark, a water sports park in the Nuvali mixed-use residential development in Canlubang, andCalamba Island, an islet off Laguna de Bay.
Being near toMount Makiling, Calamba also hosts hot spring resorts, concentrated at barangays Pansol, Bucal and Bagong Kalsada near the boundary with Los Baños.
TheBuhayani Festival, the official festival of the City of Calamba was the brainchild of Mayor Justin Marc SB. Chipeco during his first year as Mayor in 2013. Mayor Timmy wanted the city to have a festival that will best characterize its culture, progress and tourism potential. He wanted to capitalize on the city's historical heritage as the birthplace of unofficial Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. Thus, the Buhayani Festival was born.
The term"Buhayani"was coined by joining two Filipino words,"buhay"meaning life or the state of being alive and lively and"bayani"or hero. The festival's tagline"Buhay ng Bayani, Buháy na Bayani"literally translates to"Life of the Hero"pertaining to the life of our famous kababayan, Dr. Jose Rizal and"Living Hero"which refers to the common man who has the capacity and potential to become everyday heroes in their own small ways.
"We want everyone who revere our kababayan, Dr. Jose Rizal to come to Calamba and join us in honouring him on his birthday and in celebrating the modern Rizal in us. We want to make our National Hero modern and relevant in today's challenging times and we want to celebrate the spirit of heroism that lives in each Filipino, not just in us Calambeños," Mayor Chipeco was quoted saying.
Different activities were lined up for this year's Buhayani Festival: Kuwentong Bayani for selected Grade 5 students, Talinong Rizal Quiz Bee, Buhayani Football Cup, Independence Day Job Fair, SayawIndak Street Dancing Competition, Marching Band Competition, Baile de Gala, Hawig Rizal (Rizal Look-a-Like), Buhayani Eye Care Mission, and a whole lot more. Highlighting this year's celebration is the Morning Program wherein Philippine National Police Chief, Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa is the Guest of Honor and Speaker. A special wreath-laying ceremony shall also commence at the Museo ni Rizal sa Calamba after a simultaneous floral offering at five different Rizal monuments around the city.
"Jose Rizal is not just the pride of Calamba, he is the pride of the entire country as he was the Greatest Malay to have lived. His works, teachings and ideals have inspired and will continue to inspire us as we strive to live up to his ideals of nationalism and love of country. In the Buhayani Festival, we celebrate an ideal and an advocacy that through this festival, we can rekindle the fire of patriotism and heroism in the hearts of every Filipino. Come to Calamba – retrace history's footsteps, rediscover the richness and uniqueness of our heritage, fire up our Filipino pride and be inspired to share and spread what you have experienced and be part of the force that will bring about a renewed love of country in every Filipino," Mayor Chipeco challenged.
Calamba has a literacy rate of 98.9%. As of 2007, there are 120 elementary schools, 51 of which are public and 69 private. There are 50 secondary schools, 16 public and 34 private. Post-secondary education include 17 universities and colleges, and 9 technical and vocational schools.
The city has fourNCAAaffiliate schools that set up branches in the city, namely as theColegio de San Juan de Letran(Calamba Campus),Lyceum of the Philippines University(Laguna Campus),San Sebastian College – Recoletos(Canlubang Campus) andUniversity of Perpetual Help System DALTA(Calamba Campus).
Some private schools that are also located in Calamba areCity College of Calamba,Don Bosco College, Canlubang, Calamba Institute,Laguna College of Business and Arts, Saint Benilde International School, Asian Computer College, Inc., Asian Institute of Computer Studies, Inc. Active Community Contributor Calamba Churchitute, Inc.,NU Laguna & INSPIRE Sports Academy,Philippine Women's University, Saint John Colleges, Maranatha Christian Academy.  In Nuvali Calamba, there are two other schools located which are theMiriam CollegeandXavier School. In the near future,Everest Academy, a renowned Catholic and international school will also open its second campus in Nuvali.
The City College of Calamba is the only public college in the city.