San Pedro (Laguna)

The city just lies to the south of Metro Manila, and forms the major urban sprawl along the South Luzon Expressway. It is the most densely populated city in the CALABARZON region, home to over 325,809 people. The city is largely a bedroom community, serving as an important terminus for city buses toward Metro Manila, but there are also local industries. But the city does have some tourist draws, like the Sampaguita Festival, the Santo Sepulcro Parish, and the challenging KC Filipinas Golf Club.
The city is first 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).

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 TransOperates 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

  address: National Highway, Landayan
  Operates services from Navotas via EDSA.

• Yohance Express / Stargreen linerOperates services from Navotas via EDSA.

• Dela Rosa TransitOperates services from Valenzuela via EDSA.

• South City TransportFormerly 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 TransportOperates services from Lagro in QC and Letre in Caloocan via Edsa and Market Market via C5 road .

• Saint Rose Transit/GPS TransportOperates 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.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

  address: Maria Aurora Avenue, San Antonio
  Operates services from Tacloban and Borongan.

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.

The major forms of public transportation are the tricycle and the jeepney.

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 pagent that chooses the fairest and the wittiest among the city's young ladies.

• KC Filipinas Golf Club

  address: Magsaysay Road, San Antonio
  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.

Sampaguita Garland which is made from Sampaguita flower that has a very nice scent.

• Robinsons Galleria South

  phone: +63 2 8397 1888
  address: Km 31 Manila S rd (formely National Highway) Brgy. Nueva, San Pedro City, 4023 Laguna
  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.

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

  address: San Antonio Drive, San Antonio
  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

  phone: +63 2 834-2415
  address: 7 Maharlika Street, United San Pedro Subdivision, San Antonio
  Lutong bahay dishes served in nipa cottages at a reasonable price.

• Ting Qua Qua

  phone: +63 2 869-2846
  address: Puregold San Pedro, Magsaysay Road, San Antonio
  Branch of local chain offering cheap Filipino-Chinese dining.

• Kapiterya

  address: San Antonio Drive, San Antonio
  Another nice place to hang out and dine near San Pedro Exit.

• Bricx Café and Bistro bar

  phone: +63 2 838 4659
  address: Pacita Avenue, Pacita complex

• Dampa sa Centro Seafood restaurant and grill

  phone: +63 2 869 3602
  address: Centro Pacita , Pacita complex
  We offer traditional seafood Paluto and Bilao selections deliciously prepared daily. Avail our popular UNLI Seafood Buffet which is only 225 per head.

• Above sea level I

  phone: +63 9152534791
  address: Pacita Avenue, Pacita complex
  Seafood restaurant.

• Samgyeop Style Korean Grill

  address: Pacita Avenue , Pacita complex
  Samgyetang Restaurant

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.

There are only a few hotels around San Pedro. Rates vary from 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

  address: 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.

Biñan, its larger southern neighbor, is reachable by a jeepney ride anywhere along the National Highway.