San Juan, officially the City of San Juan (), is a highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 134,312 people. It is located in Metro Manila's approximate geographical center, and is the country's smallest city by land area.

The city is known historically for the site of the first battle of the Katipunan, the organization which led the 1896 Philippine Revolution against the Spanish Empire. Notable landmarks today such as the Pinaglabanan Shrine and heritage homes are located in the city. Other locations include Greenhills and Santolan Town Plaza, making the city a major shopping hub with a range of upscale, boutique, and bargain retail.

Etymology

"San Juan" is a contraction of the city's traditional name of San Juan del Monte (). As with many other places in the Philippines, the name combines a patron saint and a toponym; in this case, Saint John the Baptist with the hilly terrain and relatively higher elevation compared to surrounding areas.

The city's ceremonial name is Dakilang Lungsód ng San Juan ().

History

Early history

During the pre-Hispanic period, the area of what is now San Juan was a part of the Kingdom of Namayan, whose last recorded rulers were King Lakan Tagkan and his consort, Bouan.

Spanish colonial era

In the late 16th century, the kingdom and other polities in the islands were absorbed into the Spanish Crown, with the realm of Namayan christened as the parish of Santa Ana de Sapa. (present-day Santa Ana, Manila) The present area of San Juan was meanwhile re-classified as the small encomienda (town) of San Juan del Monte in 1590.

In 1602, along the Camino de Mandaluyong (now F. Blumentritt Street), the Dominican Order built a novitiate house in the town for their immediate use, where ageing or convalescing friars stayed. Within the area, the Dominicans also constructed a convent and a stone church, the Santuario del Santo Cristo, dedicating it to the Holy Cross. To this day, the thrice-rebuilt church stands on the same site, adjacent to Aquinas School and Dominican College.

The first shot was exchanged by Private William W. Grayson, an American sentry from the 1st Nebraska Infantry Regiment of the United States Volunteer Army, who killed Filipino corporal Anastacio Felix and another Filipino soldier of the Philippine Revolutionary Army, firing the first shot of the Philippine–American War. This prompted lines of Filipino troops in San Juan del Monte to open fire at the line of American troops in Santa Mesa. A study done by Ronnie Miravite Casalmir places the event at this corner, not at Sociego-Silencio where they erroneously have the marker.

Both the revolution and the war caused many of the original residents of San Juan del Monte to evacuate en masse, permanently settling in neighboring towns. This led to many lots becoming abandoned. From 1898 to 1899, some residents returned to the town, resettling in shacks. However, due to unsanitary conditions, a malaria epidemic broke out in the area, with many casualties.

Following the end of the Philippine-American War, the municipality was repopulated by families coming from Mariquina and San Mateo. with former Katipunan San Juan chapter sanggunian Andres Soriano serving as its first municipal president. San Felipe Neri later became the capital of Rizal for several months in 1904. In 1907, San Juan del Monte was reconstituted as an independent municipality through Act No. 1625.

thumb|[[Puregold's Agora Market branch at the intersection of N. Domingo Street and F. Blumentritt Street. The Agora Market is located underneath the supermarket.]]

In 1916, the municipal government purchased the land along the intersection of N. Domingo and F. Blumentritt Streets, where the town market (present-day Agora Market) was located. Likewise, in 1919, businessmen Eusebio Orense and Florencio G. Diaz purchased a great bulk of the remaining hacienda lands, selling it to a Filipino-American consortium developing the San Juan Heights, a series of new subdivision developments all across the area. It was around this time that the municipality's name was contracted to San Juan.

Between 1939 and 1941, the barrios of Cubao, Diliman, and San Francisco del Monte, as well as Camp Crame, were ceded from San Juan to the newly established Quezon City.

Japanese occupation era

On January 1, 1942, San Juan was one of the municipalities of Rizal merged alongside Manila and Quezon City to form the City of Greater Manila as an emergency measure by President Manuel L. Quezon. It became a municipality of Rizal once again when the City of Greater Manila was dissolved by President Sergio Osmeña effective August 1, 1945.

Philippine independence

Martial law era

San Juan, especially its exclusive subdivisions in Greenhills, was home to many prominent personalities during the country's Martial Law era under President Ferdinand Marcos. This included several Armed Forces of the Philippines generals, including Romeo Espino, Alfredo Montoya, and Romeo Gatan, Imelda Marcos’ secretary Fe Jimenez Roa;

Incorporation into Metro Manila

When Presidential Decree No. 824 establishing the National Capital Region was signed on November 7, 1975, San Juan was among the towns excised from Rizal Province into the newly created metropolitan area.

People Power Revolution

Club Filipino, which had relocated to San Juan in 1970 from its original location in Santa Mesa, became an important part of the establishment of the Fifth Philippine Republic when Corazon Aquino was inaugurated there on February 25, 1986, the last day of the civilian-led 1986 People Power Revolution.

Contemporary

In 1992, San Juan had the fewest informal settler families out of all the municipalities and cities in Metro Manila based on data from the National Housing Authority.

Cityhood

Residents ratified the conversion of the municipality into a highly urbanized city on June 17, 2007, pursuant to Republic Act No. 9388 ("An Act Converting the Municipality of San Juan into a Highly Urbanized City to be known as the City of San Juan"). Then-Representative <!--congressman or congresswoman --> Ronaldo Zamora sponsored the Cityhood Bill in the House of Representatives and worked for its approval.

Presidential ties

Although not officially designated as such, San Juan is noted to be the "City of Philippine Presidents." Five presidents were official residents of San Juan. They were the Macapagal père et fille, Diosdado (1961–1965) and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2001–2010); Marcos père et fils, Ferdinand Sr. (1965–1986) and Ferdinand Jr. (2022–present); and Joseph Estrada (1998–2001), who also served as Mayor when San Juan was still a municipality.

Geography

thumb|Aerial view of San Juan's [[Greenhills, San Juan|Greenhills area]]

San Juan is the least-extensive city in the Philippines with a total area of just .

San Juan is bounded by Quezon City on the north and east, Mandaluyong on the south, and the City of Manila in the west.

The territory of San Juan was much larger than it is now, having been adjacent to Caloocan and Marikina prior to the creation of Quezon City. Parts of the present-day Districts 1, 3, and 4 of Quezon City, as well as areas of Mandaluyong, were originally within the town's colonial-era borders. This also explains why San Juan Reservoir is in nearby Horseshoe Village, a subdivision now part of Quezon City.

Climate

Barangays

thumb|upright=1.1|Political map of San Juan

San Juan is politically subdivided and comprises into 21 barangays organized into two city council districts:

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| style="text-align:center;" | 2 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | June 24

| style="text-align:center;" | 1 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | Tuesday before Ash Wednesday

| style="text-align:center;" | 1 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | June 24

| style="text-align:center;" | 1 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | June 8

| style="text-align:center;" | 1 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | June 24

| style="text-align:center;" | 2 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | June 24

| style="text-align:center;" | 2 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | September 14

| style="text-align:center;" | 2 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | May 3

| style="text-align:center;" | 2 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | May 1,<br />Second Sunday of May

| style="text-align:center;" | 2 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | Last Sunday of January

| style="text-align:center;" | 2 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | November 30

| style="text-align:center;" | 1 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | May 14–15

| style="text-align:center;" | 1 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | December 12

| style="text-align:center;" | 1 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | July 25

| style="text-align:center;" | 1 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | Third Sunday of October

| style="text-align:center;" | 2 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | March 19

| style="text-align:center;" | 1 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | August 15

| style="text-align:center;" | 1 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | January 18

| style="text-align:center;" | 2 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | Second Sunday of December

| style="text-align:center;" | 2 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | June 24

| style="text-align:center;" | 2 || style="text-align:center;" data-sort-value="" | December 8

Demographics

Demonym

Residents of San Juan are called "San Juaneño" or "San Juaneña"

Language

Filipino and English are the Philippine official languages. Filipino, a standardized version of Tagalog, is spoken primarily in Metro Manila.

Religion

thumb|235x235px|Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint John the Baptist

The city also has several notable places of worship. Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint John the Baptist, more commonly known as "Pinaglabanan Church", is where the city's patron saint, John the Baptist, is enshrined. The Santuario del Santo Cristo is the settlement's oldest existing church, while Mary the Queen Parish in West Greenhills serves the local Filipino-Chinese community.

From 1925 to 1971, the Iglesia ni Cristo once headquartered in the town at its former Central Office Complex, now known as the Locale of F. Manalo. It features Art-Deco designed ensembles, crafted by National Artist for Architecture Juan Nakpil. The chapel is the centerpiece of the Complex, which also contains the old Central Office and Pastoral House that was the home of the church's first Executive Minister, Felix Manalo, along with other Ministers and Evangelical Workers. When Manalo died in 1963, a mausoleum was constructed on the grounds of the Complex by architect Carlos Santos-Viola. INC adherents in San Juan comprise 4.2% of the city population.

San Juan also has a number of Evangelical churches. Through the APOI (Association of Pastors for Outreach and Intercession), they have contributed to the spiritual atmosphere of the city. Every January, the city celebrates the National Bible Week, where the reading of the Scripture happens during the flag raising ceremony in the City Hall. Through the blessing of the mayor, a bible was planted in the heart of the new city hall during its construction. Major evangelical churches like Jesus is Lord and Victory Greenhills, and Baptist churches like San Juan Baptist Church, are also found in the city of San Juan.

San Juan is also home to two Islamic mosques, namely: Masjid Hamza Bin Ahmed in Balong-Bato and Greenhills Masjid at Greenhills.

<!-- Do not list all the churches or places of worship since Wikipedia is not a directory WP:DIRECTORY. -->

On the 2024 feast of St. John the Baptist, the local government declared him as patron saint of San Juan City.

Economy

thumb|[[Primex Tower, the tallest building in San Juan.]]

San Juan is predominantly residential, mixed with commercial and manufacturing businesses.

The Greenhills shopping district is the hub of trade and commerce in San Juan. The shopping complex housed shopping malls, the Virra Mall, Shoppesville, Greenhills Theatre Mall, Promenade Mall, the former Greenhills Bowling Alley, and Unimart.

As of 2022, San Juan had the labor force participation rate of 67%, the most in the Philippines.

Culture

Wattah Wattah Festival

thumb|Wattah Wattah Festival in 2019

Since 2003, San Juan celebrates the feast of its patron saint, St. John the Baptist every June 24 with its Wattah Wattah Festival, a festival with dancing, parades, and its traditional basaan or water dousing along the city streets. The festival and its activities are usually held along N. Domingo Street and Pinaglabanan Street as the procession of the image of St. John the Baptist goes down the streets.

San Juan City Ordinance No. 51 series of 2018 prohibits dirty water, ice, water in glass bottles, and water or ice in other materials that will incite pain or injury upon impact from being used in the festival. Physical violence, inciting of threats, and deliberately entering public transport vehicles to douse commuters is also not allowed.

However, in 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival was reduced to a parade of the image of St. John the Baptist with social distancing and mask mandates in place. In 2022, due to a lower number of COVID-19 cases, the traditional basaan was included again in the Wattah! Wattah! Festival, accompanied by a street dancing competition, a free concert, and a fireworks display.

Starting in 2025, as prescribed by City Ordinance No. 14, Series of 2025, designated water dousing zone will only be at Pinaglabanan Shrine and Pinaglabanan Street from corner N. Domingo Street to corner P. Guevarra Street and its ending time was changed from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

Sports

San Juan has a long history with sports, the Filoil EcoOil Centre has hosted numerous sporting events, including the Philippine Basketball Association, Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, Premier Volleyball League, and the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup.

The city is also home to the San Juan Knights, which started in the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association and now competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. The Knights have won three league championships in its entire franchise history.

Transportation

thumb|The [[J. Ruiz station is the only rail and rapid transit station serving San Juan.]]

Modes of public transportation in San Juan include jeepneys and buses. Jeepney routes ply the Aurora Boulevard (R-6). The city is serviced by J. Ruiz station of the LRT Line 2 in the city proper and indirectly served by Santolan-Annapolis station of the MRT Line 3, at the city's eastern boundary with Quezon City.

The C-3 (Araneta Avenue) also passes through San Juan. Secondary routes include Nicolas Domingo (abbreviated N. Domingo), which heads towards Cubao in Quezon City, and Pinaglabanan Street (which continues as Santolan Road) leading towards Ortigas Avenue and eventually the southern reaches of Quezon City near Camp Crame, the headquarters of the Philippine National Police.

Education

thumb|Dominican College, a private higher education institution in the city.

The Schools Divisions Office (SDO) of San Juan oversees 9 public elementary schools, 2 public high schools, and a science high school within the city. The SDO also recognizes 24 private schools in San Juan City, seven of which are preschools, four of which are elementary schools, and 13 of which are high schools.

Public higher education is offered by the state Polytechnic University of the Philippines, which maintains its San Juan campus in Barangay Addition Hills. Private higher education is offered by the Dominican College in Barangay Tibagan, one of the oldest schools in the city, having been established in 1924. and the Instituto Culinario in Barangay Greenhills.

Notable personalities

<!-- Only include people with WP articles as per WP:Notability (people) -->

  • Alfred Vargas, actor and Quezon City 5th district councilor
  • Bongbong Marcos, 17th President of the Philippines, former senator, former Ilocos Norte governor, and former representative of Ilocos Norte 2nd District
  • Chris Tiu, TV host and former basketball player
  • Don Allado, former basketball player, basketball coach, San Juan councilor
  • Edu Manzano, former Makati vice mayor, actor and former US Military officer
  • Eraño Manalo, Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Minister (1963–2009)
  • Ferdinand Marcos, 10th President of the Philippines, 3rd Prime Minister of the Philippines, 11th President of the Senate of the Philippines, former representative of Ilocos Norte 2nd District
  • Franklin Drilon, senator
  • Gabby Concepcion, actor, singer, businessman
  • Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, 14th President of the Philippines, 10th Vice President of the Philippines, 25th Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines (the first woman to hold the position), deputy speaker of the 17th Congress and a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga.
  • Grace Poe, senator and former MTRCB chairperson
  • Imee Marcos, senator, former Ilocos Norte 2nd District representative
  • JV Ejercito, senator, former San Juan Mayor
  • Ophelia Dimalanta, poet, editor, author, and teacher
  • Paul Artadi, former basketball player and San Juan District 1 councilor
  • Teofisto Guingona Jr., 11th Vice President of the Philippines
  • Yasmien Kurdi, actress
  • Diego Loyzaga, actor
  • Bayani Fernando, ex politician
  • E.R. Ejercito, actor
  • Mikha Lim, member of Bini
  • Reynolds Michael T. Tan, congressman
  • Mark Caguioa, former basketball player; support financial from The Philippine Government
  • Sandro Marcos, congressman

Sister cities

Local

  • Davao City
  • Iloilo City
  • Dumaguete City
  • Siquijor
  • Dagupan City

International

  • Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • Maui, Hawaii, United States
  • Santa Barbara, California, United States

<gallery widths="200" heights="150">

City of San Juan Government Center - side view (Pinaglabanan, San Juan; 12-09-2019).jpg|The San Juan Government Center along Pinaglabanan Street corner Doctor P. A. Narciso Street in Barangay Corazon de Jesus

San Juan, Metro Manila (2344411253).jpg|Santuario del Santo Cristo

02076jfSan Juan Del Monte Presidencia Hospital Barangays Progeso Rivera San Juan Cityfvf 04.jpg|The old municipal hall of San Juan, with the San Juan Medical Center in the background. No longer existing. It was replaced with front extension of San Juan Medical Center.

Vmalljf.JPG|V Mall, one of many shopping areas in the Greenhills mixed-use development.

Greenhills Shopping Center (35106417321).jpg|The tiangge area of the Greenhills Shopping Center in Barangay Greenhills.

01793jfMuseo Katipunan Pinaglabanan Shrine Barangays City of San Juanfvf 01.jpg|The Museo ng Katipunan located at Pinaglabanan Shrine.

02052jfErmitaño Linear Park Creek N. Domingo Street San Juan Metro Manilafvf 24.jpg|Commercial establishments along the city's main road, Nicolas Domingo Street.

Xavier School Greenhills - panoramio.jpg|A panoramic view of San Juan from Xavier School Greenhills.

San Juan-Mandaluyong boundary, close-up (Kalentong, Mandaluyong; 05-31-2019).jpg|San Juan City Welcome Arch on General Kalentong Street, Mandaluyong City.

</gallery>

References

  • [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]