San Pedro (Laguna)
San Pedro is a city just south of Metro Manila. The city is largely a bedroom community, serving as an important terminus for city buses toward Metro Manila, but there are also local industries. The city's tourist draws include the Sampaguita Festival, the Santo Sepulcro Parish, and the challenging KC Filipinas Golf Club.
Understand
The city forms the major urban sprawl along the South Luzon Expressway. It is the most densely populated city in the CALABARZON region, home to about 326,000 people (2020). It is in Laguna province.
The city was founded as the town of San Pedro de Tunasan by the Spaniards in 1725 from friar lands. Agriculture, duck raising, fishing, and sampaguita production served as the town's source of income, until they all declined in favor of urban development. The city gained its current name in 1902. A significant portion of the hacienda in the town were given to poor farmers under president Ramon Magsaysay's administration, and since became resettlement sites under the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA). The city gained city status after a plebiscite in December 2013. Since then, there have been calls for San Pedro to join Metro Manila, but present plans for a merger remain uncertain.
The city gets its name from its patron saint, St. Peter the Apostle (San Pedro Apostol), which also lends its name to the major parish at its Poblacion (town center).
Get in
By bus
Only San Pedro City in Laguna among the neighboring cities (Binan and Sta Rosa) in Laguna has City operational busses having routes from Letre in Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas City, Malinta in Valenzuela City and Market-Market in BGC. Other major routes come from Buendia, Lawton, Lagro and Fairview in QC. Bus terminals are generally concentrated in Pacita Complex:
Bus companies
Unless stated otherwise, most bus companies share a common terminal at Pacita Complex, though a couple few have their dedicated terminal buildings.
- BBL Trans (Balibago Bus Lines). Operates services from Fairview, Quezon City or Buendia, Pasay. Buses used to terminate at barangay Nueva, but now uses the common terminal at Pacita.
- Cher Transport, National Highway, Landayan (Beside Shopwise). Operates services from Navotas via EDSA.
- Yohance Express / Stargreen liner. Operates services from Navotas via EDSA.
- Dela Rosa Transit (Beside Westlake Medical Center). Operates services from Valenzuela via EDSA.
- South City Transport (SCTI). Formerly Green Star. Operates services from Park N' Ride in Manila or Buendia in Pasay. Some morning rush-hour trips start and end at the Super 8 supermarket in San Antonio rather than in Pacita.
- Worthy Transport (Beside Westlake Medical Center, at front of Puregold Pacita and beside Total.). Operates services from Lagro in QC and Letre in Caloocan via Edsa. P2P bus to Market-Market BGC vice versa.
- Saint Rose Transit/GPS Transport (Behind Centro Pacita). Operates services from Valenzuela via EDSA and NLEX. Buses by this company used to terminate at a covered terminal along National Highway, in front of Mercury Drug and RCBC.
- Philtourister Inc. (PTI) (Near the Total gasoline station and Westlake Medical Center.). Used to be a separate company, but acquired as the commuter arm of Jam, they provide services from Valenzuela via EDSA. PTI buses use the same vehicles used on Jam's provincial fleet, and share the same livery, except they do not operate under the Jam brand.
- Silver Star, Maria Aurora Avenue, San Antonio (Near JAM Building). Operates services from Leyte, Samar, and Bohol.
By car
If you came from NAIA, you can use the South Luzon Expressway. San Pedro is only served by a single exit that only serves as entry and exit southbound. Other alternatives are taking Alabang or Susana Heights/MCX Exit in Muntinlupa (if from Manila) or Southwoods Exit in Biñan (if from elsewhere to the south). National Highway (N1) parallels the South Luzon Expressway, but is always packed by local traffic and jeepneys. It is ill-advised to bring a car in most parts of San Pedro unless you have a GPS map.
By jeepney
Jeepneys serve San Pedro very well, and there are numerous routes through the city. Most routes through San Pedro emanate from Alabang including express service via Susana Heights Exit and via national rd (passing through Ayala mall southpark, Putatan, Muntinlupa City hall, Brgy.Poblacion) and Calamba City including express service via Carmona Exit and Via National rd (passing through city proper of Biñan, Sta. Rosa, Cabuyao) . Major jeepney routes to San Pedro include:
- Alabang-Biñan
- Alabang-Calamba
- Alabang-Carmona
- Alabang-GMA.
- Alabang-San Pedro (Brgy.Langgam)
- Calamba City-San Pedro (Pacita Complex)
- Calamba City-San Pedro (United)
Other Jeepney routes to San Pedro include:
- Sucat (Parañaque)-Pacita Complex
- Biñan-San Pedro
- Sta. Rosa-San Pedro
By taxi
Taxis from Metro Manila also serve San Pedro, especially if you come from the airport, but beware of common scams. Grab and Go Lag taxi service operates in San Pedro.
By train
Philippine National Railways provide service to San Pedro, but only in the evening and early morning. There are two stations: San Pedro (in barangay San Vicente) and Pacita MG (in barangay Pacita I)
By minivan/FX
UV Express vans also serve San Pedro; possible drop-off points are in Southwoods (in Biñan) or Pacita Complex. Most of these vans come from Makati or Lipa. Other FX routes serves San Pedro from Festival Alabang, SM Southmall, Nuvali, Molino Bacoor, Cavite, and Pala-Pala in Dasmarinas, Cavite.
Get around
The major forms of public transportation are the tricycle and the jeepney.
See
Not much to see here, but if your lucky you can witness the Sampaguita Festival where we showcase one of our main product the sampaguita flower and also the Hiyas ng San Pedro which is a local beauty pageant that chooses the fairest and the wittiest among the city's young ladies.
Do
- 🌍 KC Filipinas Golf Club (formerly Tat Filipinas Golf Club), Magsaysay Road, San Antonio (Half-hour from the airport). Golf course south of Manila, popular hangout by foreigners and locals. Hilly course with a slightly mild climate, but playing is a challenge due to terrain and occasional rain. Has a Japanese and Korean restaurant. ₱3300 on weekdays, ₱2300 on weekends.
Buy
Sampaguita Garland which is made from Sampaguita flower that has a very nice scent.
- Robinsons Galleria South (Lifestyle Shopping Mall), Km 31 Manila S rd (formerly National Highway) Brgy. Nueva, San Pedro City, 4023 Laguna (From South Luzon area (Batangas, Quezon, other areas in Laguna), take STAR tollway Slex then take Southwoods exit. From Cavite area, take Governors Drive going to Binan then turn left at Manila S Rd Binan going to San Pedro. From Las Pinas/Bacoor area, take Daang Hari road then Daang Reyna then turn left at R Magsaysay rd towards Alaska Factory at San Pedro then Turn right at Manila S rd. From Alabang/Paranque, take Slex then enter at Sussana heights exit or San Pedro exit.), ☏ +63 2 8397 1888. M-Th 10AM-9PM, F-Su 10AM-10PM. A four-level lifestyle mall with a food court, six cinemas, public satellite offices of Social Security System, PhilHealth and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, a Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Appliances, Handyman, South Star Drug, Robinsons Bank, Daiso Japan, and Arcova, as well as a digital playground called PlayLab.
Eat
Fast food chains have their presence in the city, but more local experiences can be found anywhere. The best place for local fare from both Filipino and international cuisines is the commercial strip along Pacita Avenue.
- 🌍 Izakaya Rai Rai Ken, San Antonio Drive, San Antonio (Just meters away from San Pedro Exit). Japanese cuisine, such as sushi, sashimi, and bento. They serve sake, as well as soju – due to many Korean tourists eating here.
- 🌍 Pares-pares sa Kubuhan, 7 Maharlika Street, United San Pedro Subdivision, San Antonio, ☏ +63 2 834-2415. 6AM-9PM. Lutong bahay dishes served in nipa cottages at a reasonable price.
- 🌍 Ting Qua Qua, Puregold San Pedro, Magsaysay Road, San Antonio (Near the tricycle terminal outside Puregold), ☏ +63 2 869-2846. 9:30AM-10AM. Branch of local chain offering cheap Filipino-Chinese dining.
- 🌍 Kapiterya, San Antonio Drive, San Antonio (At San Pedro Exit). Another nice place to hang out and dine near San Pedro Exit.
- 🌍 Bricx Café and Bistro bar, Pacita Avenue, Pacita complex (Along Pacita Avenue), ☏ +63 2 838 4659. 10AM-1PM.
- 🌍 Dampa sa Centro Seafood restaurant and grill, Centro Pacita , Pacita complex (Centro Pacita), ☏ +63 2 869 3602. 10AM-10PM. Offers traditional seafood Paluto and Bilao selections.
- 🌍 Above sea level I, Pacita Avenue, Pacita complex (Pacita Avenue), ☏ +63 9152534791. 3-11PM. Seafood restaurant.
- 🌍 Samgyeop Style Korean Grill, Pacita Avenue, Pacita complex (Pacita Avenue). 4-11PM. Samgyetang Restaurant
Drink
There are many restaurants to choose from along National Road, Pacita Complex, Rosario complex, and Ynion Drive in brgy. San Antonio where you can enjoy local beers at affordable prices.
Sleep
There are only a few hotels around San Pedro. Rates vary from ₱200-700 for the first 3 hours and pay an overtime fee every hour. You can also take advantage of other packages if you plan to stay longer like 12-hour or 24-hour stay. It would be better if you stay at hotels in neighboring cities, like in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, to ensure security, quality service and enjoy complete amenities.
- Hotel Sogo San Pedro, San Pedro Town Center, National Highway, San Pedro. The only major hotel in town, but is part of a chain of hotels having a bad reputation as haven for extramarital affairs. Has single rooms with A/C, cable TV, bottled water, bathrooms, and free WiFi. ₱1070.
Go next
Biñan, its larger southern neighbor, is reachable by a ₱10 jeepney ride anywhere along the National Highway.
| Routes through San Pedro |
| Makati ← Alabang ← | N S | → Biñan → Calamba |
| Muntinlupa ← | N S | → Biñan → Calamba |
| Muntinlupa ← | N S | → Biñan → Santa Rosa |