Las Piñas City
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Template:Infobox Philippine city Las Piñas City (population: 528,011 Census 2000) is a city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. It is bounded on the north and northeast by the Parañaque City; on the east and southeast by Muntinlupa City; on the south by the Municipality of Imus, Cavite; on the southwest and west by the Municipality of Bacoor, Cavite; and on the northwest by the scenic Manila Bay. Half of its land area is developed for residential purposes and the remaining half portion is used for commercial, industrial and institutional areas. The present physiography of Las Piñas City consists of three zones: Manila Bay, Coastal Margin and Guadalupe Plateau.
The city is bisected by the Alabang-Zapote Road, previously known as Real Street ("Real" is a Spanish word for Royal). It forms part of the Maharlika Highway which spans the whole country. The Alabang-Zapote Road connects the South Luzon Expressway which passes through Muntinlupa City in the east to the Coastal Road along Manila Bay.
The Coastal Road, despite its name, 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 to and from Las Piñas City and Cavite to Manila.
In 2004, a new highway called "Daang Hari" (Tagalog for King's Way) was completed in the eastern part of Las Piñas City, which connects the city to the neighbouring towns of Bacoor, Cavite, Muntinlupa City, and San Pedro, Laguna, allowing residents to avoid heavy traffic in the Zapote and Alabang (Muntinlupa) districts. Daang Hari is a popular route for cyclists, especially on weekends.
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The city
Since its establishment as a small fishing port and a major salt-making center during the Spanish Era, Las Piñas City has grown into an important residential, commercial and industrial suburb of Metro Manila.
Las Piñas City is world famous for its Bamboo Organ, located inside the St. Joseph Church of the Parish of Las Piñas, the only organ of its kind in the world. Built in the year 1824 by Fr. Diego Cera, created out of bamboo, wood, and metal, this famous organ is praised for its unique, rare, and melodious sound.
The Sarao Motor Factory is also in Las Piñas City, the place where the world-famous Jeepney is built, piece by piece in painstaking individual production.
Image:Manila coastal road.jpg Las Piñas has a large shopping mall named SM Southmall], which has an area of 205,120 square metres and is located along Alabang-Zapote Road. Directly behind the mall is Pilar Village, which is the largest housing development in the city with an area of over 1.55 square kilometres and over 4,000 households. Pilar Village is also a District 2 Barangay.
Climate
Just like the rest of the towns and cities comprising Metro Manila, Las Piñas City has two distinct seasons; the dry season which covers the months of November to April and the wet season from May to October. The maximum rainfall normally occurs in the month of June, July and August.
Population
Since the 1960s, Las Piñas has experienced a tremendous increase in population due to migration from different regions outside of the Manila area. The city's record show that in 1960, its population was 16,093, which grew to 43,372 in 1970, to 81,610 in 1975, 136,514 in 1980 and 207,770 in 1985, projected to be at 405,123 in 1990, 413,086 (1995 census) and recently to a whopping 528,011 (2000 census).
Language
As it is located within Metro Manila, the predominant language or dialect spoken in the city is Tagalog which accounts for 94.4% of its total population while 2.0% speaks Cebuano and the remaining 5.6% accounts for Ilonggo, Bicolano, Waray, Pampangueño and other dialects.
Government
Like other cities in the Philippines, Las Piñas City is governed by a Mayor and Vice mayor elected for a three-year terms. The Mayor is the executive head and leads the city's departments in executing the city ordinances and improving public services. The Vice Mayor heads a legislative council, which is in charge of creating the city's policies.
Las Piñas City, being a part of the Metro Manila region, is represented by its mayor in the Metro Manila Council headed by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). This council formulates development plans that seek to solve the problems and improve the conditions in the metropolis.
Districts and barangays
Las Piñas City is divided into 20 Barangays. These Barangays are grouped into two legislative districts each with its own set of councilors in the city council. District 1 is comprises the northwestern half of the city while District 2 comprises the remaining half. Las Piñas City is also its own congressional district with one representative in the House of Representatives.
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District 1 barangays
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District 2 barangays
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Educational
Las Piñas City has a diverse educational system with specializations in various academic fields.
The largest university in the city is the University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA (UPHDS) (formerly University of Perpetual Help Rizal [UPHR]), which is part of the University of Perpetual Help System. This university is known for its excellence in Medicine, Nursing, and Law. UPHR operates the Perpetual Help Medical Center, one of the leading hospitals in the southern part of the metropolis.
The main campus of Saint Francis of Assisi College System (SFACS) is also located in Las Piñas City, which offers courses in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business Administration, Education, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Nursing and Care-giving programs, and Graduate studies, as well as primary and secondary education.
The Southville International School and Colleges (touted as "The School of the Future" by the Department of Education), is also one of the more well-known international schools in Metro Manila. Southville is accredited by the (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) (WASC).
Another Notable institution in this City is the Elizabeth Seton School (also named as "The School of the Future" -1996 by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports) an institution well-known for its Holistic academic program which promotes "Excellence, Leadership and Commitment" and for its well-rounded Globally competitive students. Accredited by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU).
Also in Las Piñas is the Philippine Merchant Marine School, which caters to those who want a career in the seafaring industry.
Las Piñas is also home to its oldest school St. Joseph's Academy which is established in 1916, St. Joseph's Academy is home to the world famous Bamboo Organ which is in it's parish church. The school is also home of the Las Piñas Boys Choir.
Primary and Secondary Education
- Blessed Trinity School
- Bloomfield Academy
- Divine Light Academy
- Elizabeth Seton School
- Informatics Computer Institute
- Las Piñas Colleges
- Regis Grace Montessori School (Main)
- Saint Francis of Assisi College System
- Saint Joseph's Academy
- Southville International School and Colleges
- STI Academy
- STI Prep School - Las Pinas
- University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA
- Campus Quest Philippine Model University
Colleges, universities and technical schools
- AMA Computer College
- Dr. Felimon C. Aguilar Memorial College
- Informatics Computer Institute
- Las Piñas Colleges
- Philippine Merchant Marine School
- Saint Francis of Assisi College System
- Southville International School and Colleges
- STI College of Computer Science
- University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA
History
Las Piñas was one of the earliest fishing settlements on the shores of Manila Bay and was proclaimed a town either in the year 1762 or 1797. Its exact date of creation cannot be given because historical records vary. Cavada, a Spanish historian and Fr. Juan Medina placed it at 1762 while Buzeta recorded the date at 1797.
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 site during the 1896 Philippine Revolution, as it was occupied by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo's forces and similarly, during the Second World War.
In 1901, the Municipality of Las Piñas was incorporated in the newly created province of Rizal pursuant to Philippine Commission Act No. 137. Two years later, it was combined with Parañaque, the latter being the seat of a new municipal government.
It became a separate municipality from Parañaque on March 27, 1907 by virtue of Philippine Commission Act No. 1625. Then, with the founding of the Metropolitan Manila Area (now Metro Manila) in 1976, Las Piñas became one of the municipalities and cities comprising the region.
On February 12, 1997, President Fidel V. Ramos signed the bill declaring Las Piñas a new city. A plebiscite held a month after found the residents in approval of cityhood and Las Piñas became the 10th city of Metro Manila on March 26, 1997.
The city name
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 pineapples for sale in this town before they are distributed in the nearby markets. Others related that it was "Las Penas" (not Las Piñas) evident by the quarrying of stones and adobe which were used to construct buildings and bridges. The name could have also originated from two political groups that ruled the place at that time.
But an inscription in an old church bell that has been preserved inside the museum of the Las Piñas Parochial Church, stated "Siendo Cura-del Pueblo de las Penas el M.R.P. Padre Diego Cera se Fundio este equilon ano de 1820". It shows that even during the time of Fr. Diego Cera, the towns first parish priest, the town has been called "Las Penas" until after sometime that the spelling of the town's name was changed into "Las Piñas".
Las Piñas city map
External links
- The Las Piñas City Government's Official Site
- The Philippine Department of Tourism Site
- The Philippine Government's Official Portal
Template:Metro Manilailo:Ciudad ti Las Piñas nl:Las Piñas City tl:Lungsod ng Las Piñas