Las Piñas

Las Piñas
Highly-Urbanized City
City of Las Piñas
Las Piñas aerial photo along Barangays Talon and Almanza. SM Southmall at center
Official seal of Las Piñas Seal
Nickname(s): Home of the Bamboo Organ, City of Love and Progress, Salt Center of Metro Manila, Lantern Capital of Metro Manila
Motto: Las Piñas, Our Home
{{safesubst:#property:P242}} Map of Metro Manila showing the location of Las Piñas
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates:
Country	[[{{safesubst:#property:P17}}]]
Region	National Capital Region
Districts	Lone District of Las Piñas
Incorporated (Town)	1762 or 1797
Incorporated (separated from Parañaque)	March 27, 1907
Incorporated (City)	March 26, 1997
Barangays	20
Government
• Mayor	Vergel A. Aguilar (Nacionalista)
• Vice Mayor	Luis I. Bustamante (Nacionalista)
• Sangguniang Panlungsod	Councilors 1st District Filemon Aguilar Jr. Mark Santos Oca Pena Rex Rigura Buenaventura Quilatan Zardi Abellera 2nd District Carlo Aguilar Henry Medina Ruben Ramos Albert Francis Hernandez Dong Benedicto Bonifacio Riguera ABC President Restituto L. Martinez SK Federation President Jez G. Dela Cruz
Area
• Total	32.69 km2 (12.62 sq mi)
Population ( )
• Total	{{safesubst:#property:P1,082}}
Demonym(s)	Las Piñero
Time zone	Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8)
ZIP code	1740 - 1752
Dialing code	+63 (0){{safesubst:#property:P473}}
Website	http://{{safesubst:#property:P856}}

Las Piñas, officially the City of Las Piñas (Filipino: Lungsod ng Las Piñas), is a city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the , it has a population of {{safesubst:#property:P1082}}.

It is bounded to northeast by the Parañaque; to the southeast by Muntinlupa; to the west and southwest by Bacoor; and to the northwest by the Manila Bay. Half of its land area is residential and the remaining half is used for commercial, industrial and institutional purposes. The present physiography of Las Piñas consists of three zones: Manila Bay, coastal margin and the Guadalupe Plateau.

Established as a small fishing port and becoming a major sea salt-producing municipality from several salt evaporation ponds since the Spanish Era, Las Piñas has grown into an important residential, commercial and industrial suburb of Metro Manila.

The Sarao Motors factory, also located in Las Piñas, is the place where jeepneys are assembled piece by piece in painstaking individual production. The factory remains open to buyers and curious tourists all year round.

Las Piñas also houses SM Southmall, which has an area of 205,120 square meters and is located along Alabang–Zapote Road. The newest shopping mall development in the city is Robinsons Place Las Piñas. The first high-rise building in the city is the 16-storey residential Almanza Metropolis.

History

Production of sea salt by solar evaporation of water from the brine of the sea circa 1940

Etymology

The story about the true origin of the city's name, "Las Piñas", varies. Some said that traders from the province of Cavite and Batangas shipped first their piña (pineapples) for sale to this town before they are distributed in nearby markets. Others related that it was "Las Peñas" (the rocks) evident by the quarrying of stones and adobe which were used to construct buildings and bridges. The old church bell of St. Joseph Parish Church founded by Fr. Diego Cera has been preserved inside the church museum. An inscription on the bell states "Siendo cura del pueblo de Laspeñas el M.R.P. Padre Diego Cera se fundio este equilon ano de 1820" showing that even during the time of Fr. Cera, the town's first parish priest, the town has been called "Las Peñas" until after sometime that the spelling of the town's name was changed into "Las Piñas".

Early History

Las Piñas was one of the earliest fishing settlements on the shores of Manila Bay. It was proclaimed as a town of Manila province either in 1762 or 1797. Agustin de la Cavada, a Spanish historian, and Fr. Juan de Medina placed it at 1762. Las Piñas was formerly called "Las Pilas" due to its separation from Parañaque due to tribal conflicts. On the other hand, Manuel Buzeta recorded the date at 1797. Felix Timbang was the first gobernadorcillo in year 1762 while Mariano Ortiz was the first municipal president of the town of Las Piñas.

Besides being famous for its Bamboo Organ, which was built by Fr. Diego Cera and completed in 1824, the town of Las Piñas was also a major war theater during the 1896 Philippine Revolution, as it was occupied by forces of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Las Piñas was occupied by the Japanese during World War II and liberated by the combined American and Filipino forces.

In 1901, the municipality of Las Piñas was separated from Manila and incorporated to the newly created province of Rizal pursuant to the Philippine Commission Act No. 137. Two years later, in accordance with Act No. 942, it was combined with the town of Parañaque, with the latter as the seat of a new municipal government.

It was separated from Parañaque to become an independent municipality again on March 27, 1907 by virtue of Philippine Commission Act No. 1625. Then, with the founding of the Metropolitan Manila Area or Metro Manila in 1976, Las Piñas became one of the municipalities making up the region.

Contemporary History

On February 12, 1997, President Fidel V. Ramos signed the bill which elevated Las Piñas from municipality into a city. A plebiscite held a month after approved the city status by its residents, and Las Piñas became the 10th city of Metro Manila on March 26, 1997.

Demographics

Population census of Las Piñas
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	297,102	—
1995	413,086	+6.37%
2000	472,780	+2.94%
2007	532,330	+1.65%
2010	552,573	+1.37%
Source: National Statistics Office

Local government

Las Piñas, like other cities of the Philippines, is a local government unit whose powers and functions are specified by the Local Government Code of the Philippines. In general, as a city, Las Piñas is headed by a mayor who heads the city's executive function and the vice mayor who heads the city's legislative function, which is composed of twelve councilors, six each from the city's two city council districts. For representation, the city is considered as one district, and therefore one representative, in the country's House of Representatives.

Additionally, like other cities and municipalities, Las Piñas is subdivided into barangays.

Districts and barangays

Las Piñas is divided into 20 barangays. These barangays are grouped into two legislative districts, each with its own set of representatives in the city council. District 1 comprises the northwestern half of the city while District 2, the remaining half.

Barangays	District	Population	Area (km²)	Density (/km²)	Zip Code
Almanza Uno	2nd	31,049
Daniel Fajardo	1st	11,503
Elias Aldana	1st	11,104
Ilaya	1st	6,127
Manuyo Uno	1st	13,696
Pamplona Uno	1st	17,862
Pulang Lupa Uno	1st	35,602
Talon Uno	1st	31,435
Zapote	1st	20,753
Almanza Dos	2nd	37,301
B. F. International Village	1st	69,660
Manuyo Dos	1st	32,951
Pamplona Dos	2nd	9,236
Pamplona Tres	1st	32,535
Pilar	2nd	30,499
Pulang Lupa Dos	1st	30,779
Talon Dos	2nd	45,855
Talon Tres	2nd	25,967
Talon Kuatro	2nd	20,112
Talon Singko	2nd	38,547

List of former mayors

Municipal Mayors:

• Juan Tiongkiao (1908-1913)
• Mariano Santos (1913-1916)
• Rufino De Leon (1916-1918)
• Manuel Arevalo (1918-1922)
• Clemente Dalandan (1922-1925)
• Elias Aldana (1925-1934)
• Eugenio Trinidad (1935-1937,1947-1951)
• Bernardo Aldana (1938-1946)
• Pedro Dela Cruz (1952-1959)

• Francisco Antonio (1959-1963)
• Filemon Aguilar (1964-1986)
• Alfredo Juntilla (1986-1988)
• Rosalino Riguera (1988-1992)
• Gabriel Casimiro (1992-1995)
• Vergel Aguilar (1995-1997)

City Mayors:

• Vergel "Nene" Aguilar (1997-2004,2007–Present)
• Imelda "Mel" Aguilar (2004-2007)

Economy

SM Southmall

Robinsons Place Las Piñas

• SM Southmall is a large shopping mall owned and operated by SM Prime Holdings. The mall opened in April 1995, and is the first SM Supermall in southern region of Metro Manila, the 5th SM Supermall ever built by Chinese-Filipino businessman, Henry Sy, Sr. and the 10th largest shopping mall in the Philippines. The mall is 2nd shopping mall in the South Metro Manila Area in terms of its size which is 200,000 sq.m of land area and a total floor area of 205,120 sq.m. It went through major renovation on 2010 and currently caters to all social classes.
• Robinsons Place Las Piñas is the city's newest shopping center which opened in October 25, 2014 along Alabang-Zapote Road in Talon Tres. It is the first and only Robinsons Mall in the South Metro Manila area.
• SM Center Las Piñas is a shopping mall owned and operated by SM Prime Holdings. The mall opened on October 2, 2009, and is the second SM Supermall in Las Piñas, the 35th SM Supermall ever built by Chinese-Filipino businessman, Henry Sy, Sr.. Unlike the other SM Malls, SM Center is noted to be smaller, having no department store and only three SM-owned retail stores and is mostly visited by nearby locals for its supermarket.
• SM Hypermarket (formerly Makro; a warehouse-turned-supermarket owned by Henry Sy, Sr.)
• Starmall Las Piñas
• Starmall Las Piñas - Annex
• Puregold Las Pinas
• Evia Lifestyle Center
• Uniwide Metro Mall is a dilapidated mall which unofficially serves the lower and lower-middle classes. Originally a mall catering to the middle class with ready-to-wear clothes, due to the Asian financial crisis, Uniwide Sales, Inc. lost a lot of its net worth and became a low-maintenance shopping mall with few retail stores and a supermarket.

Education

See also: List of Schools in Las Piñas

Health

See also: List of hospitals in Metro Manila

Transportation

Railway

Las Piñas will soon be served by the LRT-1 (via Manuyo Uno Station and Las Piñas Station).

Road network

Map of Las Piñas

The city is bisected by Real Street (Spanish for Royal), also known as the Alabang–Zapote Road. It forms part of the 3,517 km (2,185 mi) Maharlika Highway or Pan-Philippine Highway, a network of roads, bridges, and ferry services that connect the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao. The Alabang–Zapote Road connects the South Luzon Expressway, which passes through Muntinlupa in the east, to Manila-Cavite Expressway (Coastal Road) along the eastern shore of Manila Bay.

Coastal Road is a major tollway which runs the southern length of Metro Manila's shoreline with Manila Bay. It is an important artery for people commuting between Las Piñas and Cavite to Manila.

In 2004, the Daang Hari (Tagalog for King's Way) motorway was completed along the Las Piñas-Muntinlupa border. The road provides an alternative access route to the inner areas of both cities, including the neighbouring towns of Bacoor, Cavite and San Pedro, Laguna. Daang Hari is also popular route for cyclists, especially on weekends.

Las Piñas is accessible through these major roads:

• Aguinaldo Highway
• Alabang–Zapote Road
• Carlos P. Garcia Avenue (C-5 Road Extension)
• Daang Hari Road (Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Cavite, Laguna Link Road)
• Diego Cera Avenue (Quirino Avenue)
• J. Aguilar Avenue
• Manila–Cavite Expressway
• Marcos Alvarez Avenue
• Daang Reyna (Connected to Daang Hari Road)

Bus

There are several bus lines linking Las Piñas and Manila. Bus services that operates in Las Piñas includes Tas Trans Corp./Bensan Trans, Reinalyn Bus Lines, Funride Trans Corp., MJ Sunville Transport. There are also several FX vans that goes from Manila to Las Piñas and they are usually parked in front of the Manila Central Post Office. Various jeepney routes also ply the roads between the city and neighboring cities and towns in Parañaque, Muntinlupa & Cavite .

Culture

File:Pic geo photos - ph=mm=las piñas=quirino ave.=saint joseph's cathedral (bamboo organ) -philippines--2015-0430--ls-.JPG

Saint Joseph Parish Church

Las Piñas Bamboo Organ located inside Parish Church of St. Joseph

On February 22, 1995, former President Fidel V. Ramos signed Republic Act 8003 into a law - declaring Las Piñas Church and Bamboo Organ, Las Piñas Bridge, Asinan Area, Father Diego Cera Bridge, and Old District Hospital as tourist spots of Las Piñas.

Las Piñas is famous for its Bamboo Organ located inside the St. Joseph Parish Church in the old district of the city. Built in 1824 by a Catholic priest, Fr. Diego Cera, it is the only organ of its kind in the world with organ pipes mostly made out of bamboo. This famous organ is praised for its unique, rare, and melodious sound.

Las Piñas Historical Corridor Project

The Las Piñas Historical Corridor Project was a program laid to restore the Old Town of Las Piñas. It was launched at the Malacañan Heroes' Hall on November 13, 1997. The project aims to educate the people of Las Piñas along the tourist corridor. 18 structures were included along the historical corridor, namely;

• Boundary Arc
• Bulwagang Ezekiel Moreno
• Santuario de San Ezekiel Moreno
• Police and Fire Station
• Public Library
• Plaza Quezon - designated as the Freedom Park in the City of Las Piñas by City Ordinance No. 700-06, Series of 2006. This was in accordance with Section 15 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 880, otherwise known as the "Public Assembly Act of 1985".
• Central Elementary School
• E. Aldana Police Station
• Fr. Diego Cera Bridge
• Historical and Cultural Museum
• Las Piñas Fish Port
• Irasan Center
• Las Piñas Manpower Youth Council - TESDA Building
• Zapote Police Station
• Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center
• Zapote Bridge
• Brgy. Hall of Zapote
• Centennial Flyover
• Molino Dam

Las Piñas Town Feast

The town fiesta of Las Piñas is celebrated every first Sunday of May each year to honor its patron saint, Saint Joseph. Saint Joseph's Day celebration is centered in St. Joseph Parish Church in the old poblacion of Las Piñas in Brgy. Daniel Fajardo on Padre Diego Cera Ave. (Quirino Ave.). Las Piñas was also the home of Mary Immaculate Parish Church, popularly known as the Nature Church, designed by Architect Francisco "Bobby" Mañosa.

Las Piñas is also home to unique festivals such as;

• International Bamboo Organ Festival, a music festival held in February celebrating the music of the unique Bamboo Organ with performances by local and foreign classical artists.
• Waterlily Festival - every July 27.
• "Parol" or Lantern Festival - celebrated during Christmas season.
• Las Piñas City Historical Festival - celebrated every March to commemorate significant historical events that happened in the city.

List of Cultural Properties of Las Piñas

Cultural Property wmph identifier	Site name	Description	Province	City/Municipality	Address/Location	Coordinates	Image
	De La Cruz House	The original owner was Genoveva Quilatan de la Cruz, from a political family.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	716 San Francisco Street
	Santos House	The house was constructed in 1932 by carpenter Pedro Arevalo. The original owners were Maximo Santos (musician) and his wife, Alita Loreto.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	692 San Francisco Street
	Tionquiao House	The house was constructed in 1947 by carpenter Sebastian Velasquez. The original owner was Ilidian Tionquiao, a dressmaker and businesswoman.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	680 San Francisco Street
	Cristobal House	The house was constructed in 1946. Its interiors were remodeled by Architect Dagurberto Cristobal Jr., son of the original owner, Manuel Santos Cristobal. The original owner used to work for Philippine Airlines as one of the pioneer plane technicians in the country.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	624 San Francisco Street
	De La Cruz House	The original owners were Mercedes de la Cruz and Felisa de la Cruz, who managed an embroidery business before.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	591 San Francisco Street
	Hernandez House	Catalina Hernandez was the mother of the original owner.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	578 San Francisco Street
	Jose House	The house was constructed in 1942 by Ingracio Jose Sr., an oil and air brush painter and sculptor.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	043 Padre Diego Cera Avenue (Quirino Avenue at present)
	De Leon House	The house was constructed in 1922 by Roberto de Leon. The house was turned into a local headquarters by guerrillas during the World War II.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	810 San Jose Street
	Ortiz-Alvarez House	The house was constructed in 1930s - used to be a restaurant during the American Period. Felisa Ortiz and Marcelo Alvarez were the grandparents of the current owner.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	Padre Diego Cera Avenue (Quirino Avenue at present)
	De La Cruz House	The house was constructed in 1950s. Gloria de la Cruz, a retired piano teacher, was the current owner.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	Padre Diego Cera Avenue (Quirino Avenue at present)
	Vasquez House	The house was constructed in 1950s. At present, the house was used as a funeraria, or funeral home.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	068 Padre Diego Cera Avenue (Quirino Avenue at present)
	Jimenez House	The house was constructed in 1930s. Perdo Jimenez, an office clerk at the Manila Post Office in Lawton, and his wife, Ezperanza Alvarez - Jimenez, an embroider, were the original owners.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	Padre Diego Cera Avenue (Quirino Avenue at present)
	Fajardo House	The house was constructed in 1939. Felang and Silvestre Fajardo, carpenter were the original owners of the house.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	094 Padre Diego Cera Avenue (068 Quirino Avenue at present)
	Cristobal House	The house was constructed in 1919. Santiago Cristobal was the original owner of the house.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	152 Padre Diego Cera Avenue (Quirino Avenue at present)
	Lara House	The house was constructed in 1880s. Calixto Lara, who used to own irasan, or salt beds, and his wife, Andeng Velasquez were the original owners of the house. The house became the Municipal Hall of Las Piñas from 1905-1913.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	160 Padre Diego Cera Avenue (Quirino Avenue at present)
	Hernandez House	The house was constructed in 1927 by Luis Eusebio. He was captured by the Japanese soldiers because of his suspected affiliation with a local guerrilla.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	253 Padre Diego Cera Avenue (Quirino Avenue at present)
	Viñalon House	Hon. Baldomero Viñalon, former Mayor of the Municipality of Muntinlupa, used to own the house.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	912-914 Aldana Street corner Ilaya Street
	Alvarez House	The house was constructed in 1920. Lustina Aldana Alvarez was the original owner of the house.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	934 Aldana Street
	Cristobal-Julia House	Victoria Cristobal and Monico Julia were the original owners of the house.	National Capital Region	Las Piñas	218 Aldana Street

Notable people

• Antonio Aquitania, actor & dancer
• Zara Aldana or Zephorah Aldana Mayon, Mutya ng Pilipinas 2007 Asia Pacific International & former housemate of Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition 2
• Raymond Bagatsing, actor
• Ely Buendia, songwriter, vocalist & guitarist of Eraserheads, Pupil & Oktaves
• Sef Cadayona, actor & dancer
• Tirso Cruz III, actor
• Allan K, co-host of Eat Bulaga
• Mr. Fu, radio jock, comedienne and host
• Michelle Gavagan, Miss Philippines Fire 2011
• Enrique Gil , Artist in ABS-CBN Lives in BF Executive Las Pinas
• Nikki Gil - singer, actress, TV host & Current MYX VJ
• Ruben Gonzaga, comedian & winner of the Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition 2
• Jen Da Silva, model, dancer as part of the 26K girls of Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal & former housemate of Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition 2
• Pauleen Luna, actress
• Pol Medina, Jr., author of the famous Pugad Baboy
• Jennylyn Mercado, actress & singer
• Iwa Moto, actress
• Ranidel de Ocampo, PBA basketball player, member of Gilas Pilipinas and Talk & text
• Sitti Navarro, bossa nova singer
• Amy Perez, actress, Host & Radio Anchor
• Queneerich Rehman, Miss World Philippines 2012, Miss World 2012, Top 15 Semifinalist
• Kevin Alas PBA basketball player member of Gilas Pilipinas and NLEX Road Warriors
• Amani Aguinaldo, UFL football player member of Philippine Azkals and Global F.C.

Sister cities

Local

• Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines
• Muntinlupa, Metro Manila, Philippines
• Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
• Bacoor, Cavite, Philippines
• Samal, Davao del Norte, Philippines

International

• Sochi, Russia
• Markham, Ontario, Canada

See also

• Battle of Zapote Bridge
• Las Piñas Boys Choir
• Cold Keys® LP

External links

• The Las Piñas City Government's Official Site
• International Bamboo Organ Festival

• Geographic data related to Las Piñas at OpenStreetMap