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Capital of Laguna, Philippines
Photo: Ramon FVelasquez, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Santa Cruz is the capital of Laguna province. It is the transport hub of eastern Laguna.
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Houses the provincial government offices, some parks, and festival grounds. The neoclassical capitol building at the entrance is designed by American architect and urban planner William Edward Parsons.
Santa Cruz Church
A reconstruction of a Baroque church that was built in 1603 but destroyed during the liberation of the Philippines at the end of the Pacific War in 1945.
Puting Kastilyo (White Castle)
Lying on the banks of the Santa Cruz River beside Santa Cruz Bridge, the mansion was built in 1919 for one of the town's leading families and resembles a castle. It is a closed private residence that looks abandoned and haunted, but its low fences allow pictures of its spiral staircases, ornate facades and windows to be taken from the outside, particularly when approaching from the bridge. See if you can spot the small sphinx sculpture in the front lawn.
One of a few surviving Art Deco civic edifices in the Philippines.
A tree-lined square filled with various monuments, including a 1920s era memorial to Jose Rizal. During major holidays, the square and the adjacent FT. San Luis Plaza are filled with various food stalls.
A small monument marking where Filipino revolutionary hero and Santa Cruz native Emilio Jacinto was temporarily buried following his death from malaria in 1899 before being transferred to Metro Manila.
Mother of Mercy
A makeshift Catholic shrine for the Virgin Mary established by a local family and considered miraculous by residents.
Maulawin Shrine
An Aglipayan church hosting a piece of Molave (Maulawin) lumber containing an image of the Virgin Mary.
Part of the Laguna University complex, it hosts major sporting events held in Laguna.
Native Laguna dishes.
Has fast food chains and a Walter Mart supermarket.
Typical mall with fast food chain. Has a jeepney terminal in front for those heading to Lucban.
By bus
Santa Cruz is well served by buses from the major provincial bus terminals in Metro Manila; travel times take about 2 hours (or more with traffic jams), including a major stop in Calamba.
By jeep
As the provincial capital, Santa Cruz is a primary hub for jeepneys from all across Laguna. The following routes are in existence and also operate vice versa:
Tricycles are the primary means of getting around Santa Cruz, with fares starting at P20. The jeepneys are also used to get to outlying barangays.
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