Lucban, officially the Municipality of Lucban (Tagalog: Bayan ng Lukban), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 53,091 people.[4]
Lucban is dubbed as the Art Capital, Dance Capital, and Rice Capital of Quezon province. It is 22 kilometers (14 mi) from Lucena City and 127 kilometers (79 mi) from Manila and is accessible by land from Metro Manila passing through Rizal via Manila East Road or via the South Luzon Expressway with approximately 2- to 3-hour drive.
The municipality is known for its annual Pahiyas Festival, which is held every May 15 in honor of San Isidro Labrador and known also as the 'Baguio' counterpart of Quezon, Province.
Etymology
Legend - poetically in "Ode to Lucban" - has it the town derives its name from the lukbán or pomelo tree. Three hunters from neighbouring Majayjay— namely Marcos Tigla, Luis Gamba and Lucas Mañawa— lost their way following the trail of wild animals at the foot of volcanic Mount Banahaw. Resting under a tree, they saw a crow (uwák) in the tree's branches, and believing this to be a bad omen, they moved to another place and rested again. Whilst in the shade of a large pomelo (lucbán) tree, the trio were attracted to a couple of kingfishers (salacsác) that were singing. Fascinated by the bird's plumage and rhythmic chirps, the superstitious hunters took this a sign of good fortune and thus settled in the place they named "Lucbán."
History
Plaza De Revolucion
Second World War and Japanese Occupation
Early in the campaign, Japanese forces invaded and occupied Lucban. On December 26, 1941, Filipino and American troops defended Barrio Piis and the attack by the Japanese shifted to the Bataan Peninsula. After Japanese forces occupied the town, they built a military garrison and Japanese armed forces were stationed in Lucban. Both local guerrilla and regular troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army initiated attacks in Lucban from 1942 to 1945.
Sampaloc, Quezon
Sampaloc used to be the Barrio Dingin of Lucban, Quezon consisting of three sitios. It was later renamed into Sampaloc because of the presence of a large tamarind tree found in the center of the settlement during the earlier days. The name was also changed in Alfonso Trece for a time to honor the King of Spain. In 1873, Capt. Pedro Cadelina of Lucban recommended to change the barrio into a municipality but due to lack of residents, it was only made into a “visita”. “Teniente Mayores” were appointed to head the ”visita”, the first of whom was from Polilio, followed by Arcadio Veluya, Laureano Nanola, Silverio Abueva and Juan Saludades. Through the efforts of Juan Pineda, Sampaloc became a municipality in 1892. He was elected as the first Capitan. He was succeeded by Diego Gagan followed by Teofilo Daya in 1901. During Daya's term in the office, three more barrios from Mauban – Banot, Bilucao and San Bueno, became a part of Sampaloc through the efforts of Ireneo Domeo, the municipal secretary. The town was also renamed to Sampaloc during this time.
Geography
Barangays
Lucban is politically subdivided into 32 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
The following serve an elected term from 2022 to 2025.[18]
Elected Municipal Officials of Lucban, Quezon
Position
Name
Mayor
Agustin M. Villaverde (PRP)
Vice Mayor
Arnel C. Abcede (PRP)
Councilors
Nikki Dominique Deveza (PRP)
Eduardo Alamo (NP)
Aven Bince Rada (PRP)
Lois Conrad Salumbides (NP)
Nyerwina Pavino (PRP)
Marife Hari (NPC)
Maria Geraldine Halili (NPC)
Mariano Ver Jr. (NPC)
Virgilio Oblea (LBP)
Arvin John Flores (SKP)
Culture
Pahiyas festival
A vendor selling colorful fried kipingPahiyas Festival 2023 parade
Lucban celebrates the Pahiyas Festival every May 15 in honor of the patron saint of farmers, St Isidore the Labourer. Beginning with a 6:00am mass at the Lucban Church,[19] this festival showcases a street of houses which are adorned with fruits, vegetables, agricultural products, handicrafts and kiping, a rice-made decoration, which afterwards can be eaten grilled or fried. The houses are judged and the best one is proclaimed the winner. Every year, tourists roam the municipality to witness the decoration of houses. Nowadays, Pahiyas Festival is a week long celebration starting every May 15.[20][21]
Lucena (Administratively independent from the province but grouped under Quezon by the Philippine Statistics Authority. However, qualified voters of this city are still allowed to participate in the election of provincial officials as part of Quezon’s 2nd Sangguniang Panlalawigan district.)
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