San Pablo

Getting to San Pablo

From Manila, the fastest route by road is through the STAR Tollway exiting at Santo Tomas exit in Batangas, from there, enter the Maharlika Highway and follow the road signs leading to Alaminos and then San Pablo. Bus companies running frequent services between Manila and Lucena stop at San Pablo, as well as some of those from Bicol and the interisland buses.

1. 01
   San Pablo

   Served by the Bicol Express and Mayon Limited (both suspended since 2015).

Worth seeing

Unlike other cities in the Philippines with a similar population, San Pablo retains a sizeable number of heritage buildings, mostly dating from the American period. Many of them are concentrated along the Capital Compound, Plaza Rizal and along Jose Rizal Avenue, which retains its original lamp posts, traffic islands and colonnaded footbridge.

1. 01
   Komikero Komiks Museum

   29 Marasigan St., cor Azcarate Circle, ilynflorese@yahoo.com.

2. 02
   Lake Sampaloc

   The largest of San Pablo's seven lakes, of volcanic origin.

3. 03
   Saint Paul the First Hermit Cathedral

   Flores Street, Poblacion, toll-free: +63 49 562 1039, spchermitsmedia@gmail.com.

4. 04
   Doña Leonila Park

   Dagatan Boulevard (Beside Old City Hall).

5. 05
   Trece Martires Shrine

   Trece Martires Street.

6. 06
   Andres Bonifacio Monument

   Trece Martires Street.

Where to eat

San Pablo is known for its buko pie, as well as espasol, ampaw, pinipig, kesong puti (white cheese) shing-a-ling and tamarind sweets.

Getting around San Pablo the local way