Sariaya

Sariaya, officially the Municipality of Sariaya (Tagalog: Bayan ng Sariaya), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 148,980 people.[3]

Sariaya
Municipality
Municipality of Sariaya
From L-R: Sariaya Town Plaza , Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Church, Sariaya Municipal Building, Governor Natalio Enriquez Ancestral House, Facade of Gala-Rodriguez Ancestral House, Don Lucio Rodriguez Ancestral House, Emralino-Rodriguez Ancestral House, Don Catalino Rodriguez Ancestral House
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Heritage Town of Quezon Art Deco Capital of Southern Luzon
Motto(s):  Gilas Sariaya! (Be valiant Sariaya!)
Map of Quezon with Sariaya highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Sariaya Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 13°58′N 121°32′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Calabarzon (Region IV-A)
Province	Quezon
District	2nd District
Founded	October 4, 1599
Barangays	43 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Marcelo P. Gayeta
• Vice Mayor	Alexander A. Tolentino
• Representative	David C. Suarez
• Electorate	86,884 voters (2019)
Area  [2]
• Total	212.16 km^2 (81.92 sq mi)
Area rank	13th out of 41 in Quezon
Population  (2015 census)[3]
• Total	148,980
• Rank	2nd out 41 in Quezon 20 out of 1,489 Municipalities
• Density	700/km^2 (1,800/sq mi)
• Households	34,174
Demonym(s)	Sariayahin
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	19.77% (2015)[4]
• Revenue (₱)	290,454,112.97 (2016)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	4322
PSGC	045645000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)42
Climate type	tropical rainforest climate
Native languages	Tagalog
Website	www.sariaya.gov.ph

As the only Mount Banahaw town in both Quezon and Laguna Provinces that has a sea coast, the town is famous for its pristine beach resorts and nature-trekking activities that lead adventurous hikers to the peak of mythical Mount Banahaw. With more than a hundred of cultural properties and ancestral houses mostly built in Art Deco architecture within the municipality, Sariaya is considered as the Heritage Town of Quezon and the Art Deco Capital of Southern Luzon.[5] This heritage town has been branded by various cultural experts as a 'cultural gem worthy of a UNESCO designation.' The local government of the municipality with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines were designated to work for the heritage town's inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With the 2015 census population of almost reaching 149,000, cityhood might be coming to Sariaya in a matter of years.

Etymology

The origin of the word Sariaya was allegedly came from the word Sadyaya — one of the town's numerous rivers, but words of the great ancestors and legends have it that it was named after Saria, an supposedly 'illiterate' (according to the Spanish) woman who encountered the first Spaniards in the town who were asking the name of the settlement. Saria can't understand the question as it was in Spanish, which was foreign and unknown to everyone in the area during that time. She was thus branded as illiterate by the Spanish despite being highly educated through Tagalog traditional knowledge. The woman gave her name as answer to the Spanish, assuming that they were asking her name. The Spaniards wrote "Saria" on their notebooks as the name of the settlement. And while the Spaniards were talking with each other, the natives heard them utter the words "Saria-ya". Hence, the words traveled from mouth to mouth and became a common saying until the two words were combined. [6]

Geography

Sariaya is an inland municipality in the province of Quezon, located 120 kilometers south of the National Capital Region where the country's capital of Manila is situated and approximately 12 kilometers from the highly urbanized city of Lucena. The municipality is bordered by Tayabas City on north-east side, the city of Lucena on its southeast, the municipality of Candelaria on its west, and the town of San Juan in Batangas on its south-west. Mount Banahaw flanks it on the north and Tayabas Bay on the south side.

Barangays

Sariaya has a total land area of 24,530 hectares and composed of 43 barangays. Six barangays are urban barangays located at the Poblacion, one barangay is classified as sub-urban and six barangays are coastal barangays.

Hereunder is the list of Barangays in Municipality of Sariaya and its land area:

Barangay	Land Area (Ha)	Area Rank	Population (2015)	Classification
Antipolo	490.60	27.5	1,866	Rural
Balubal	560.68	19	5,020	Rural
Bignay 1	630.80	15	4,954	Rural
Bignay 2	728.90	10	3,525	Rural
Bucal	518.63	23.5	3,206	Rural
Canda	588.71	18	3,214	Rural
Castañas	876.10	8	6,113	Rural
Concepcion 1	827.00	9	5,197	Rural
Concepcion Banahaw	1,345.00	2	2,878	Rural
Concepcion Palasan	939.14	6	6,462	Rural
Concepcion Pinagbakuran	714.90	11	2,822	Rural
Gibanga	546.70	21	3,460	Rural
Guisguis San Roque	448.54	29.5	2,252	Rural
Guisguis Talon	530.65	22	3,929	Rural
Janagdong 1	518.63	23.5	3,405	Rural
Janagdong 2	672.80	12.5	2,935	Rural
Limbon	280.34	36	1,357	Rural
Lutucan 1	392.50	34	4,602	Rural
Lutucan Bata	490.60	27.5	2,200	Rural
Lutucan Malabag	497.60	26	4,218	Rural
Mamala 1	441.07	32	2,932	Rural
Mamala 2	442.00	31	5,727	Sub-Urban
Manggalang 1	1,198.43	3	6,893	Rural
Manggalang Bantilan	672.80	12.5	3,750	Rural
Manggalang Kiling	616.85	17	2,649	Rural
Manggalang Tulo-Tulo	623.80	16	3,112	Rural
Montecillo	658.79	14	4,147	Rural
Morong	434.53	33	1,833	Rural
Pili	448.54	29.5	3,949	Rural
Poblacion 1	8.5	40	1,806	Urban
Poblacion 2	14.5	39	1,380	Urban
Poblacion 3	7.0	42	1,108	Urban
Poblacion 4	16.60	38	3,386	Urban
Poblacion 5	7.5	41	1,258	Urban
Poblacion 6	6.0	43	1,200	Urban
Sampaloc 1	1,037.26	4	2,608	Rural
Sampaloc 2	1,023.24	5	6,113	Rural
Sampaloc Bogon	1,675.03	1	1,035	Rural
Santo Cristo	911.11	7	8,953	Rural
Talaan Aplaya	553.67	20	2,980	Rural
Talaan Pantoc	273.33	37	2,185	Rural
Tumbaga 1	518.63	23.5	4,425	Rural
Tumbaga 2	336.41	35	1,936	Rural

Topography

Aerial view of Sariaya's coast with Lucena City in the background.

Sariaya is situated on a flat land except for a portion on the north occupying a part of the foot of Mount Banahaw. The municipality has the highest point of elevation on 3,800 feet above sea level at Barangays Concepcion Banahaw and Sampaloc Bogon.

Climate

Sariaya falls under Type III of the PAGASA's climatic classification system this is because it is situated on the southern portion of the province's mountain ranges characterized by seasons not very pronounced, relatively dry from December to April and wet during the rest of the year. The maximum rain periods are not very pronounced with the short dry season lasting from two to four months.[7]

Climate data for Sariaya
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	28 (82)	28 (82)	30 (86)	32 (90)	32 (90)	32 (90)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30 (86)	29 (84)	30 (86)	30 (87)
Average low °C (°F)	22 (72)	22 (72)	23 (73)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (74)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	92 (3.6)	55 (2.2)	46 (1.8)	62 (2.4)	117 (4.6)	184 (7.2)	211 (8.3)	211 (8.3)	233 (9.2)	320 (12.6)	323 (12.7)	263 (10.4)	2,117 (83.3)
Source: World Weather Online[8]

center>Rural

Demographics

Population census of Sariaya

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	12,453	—
1918	14,158	+0.86%
1939	25,736	+2.89%
1948	29,904	+1.68%
1960	42,089	+2.89%
1970	58,997	+3.43%
1975	66,847	+2.54%
1980	74,148	+2.09%
1990	91,081	+2.08%
1995	100,709	+1.90%
2000	114,568	+2.80%
2007	128,248	+1.57%
2010	138,894	+2.94%
2015	148,980	+1.34%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][9][10][11]

According to the 2015 census of population, Sariaya has a total population of 148,980 people making the second most populous area in Quezon after the City of Lucena. The Poblacion is the most populous area in Sariaya with a total population of 10,138 people according to the 2015 census, Barangay Santo Cristo ranks second and Manggalang 1 placed in the third rank.

Economy

Income

Agriculture is one of the major sources of income in Sariaya. According to the 2016 Competitiveness Index of the National Competitiveness Council or NCC, the municipality belongs to the Top 50 most competitive municipalities in the Philippines.[12] According to the annual Audit Report of Commission on Audit (COA), Sariaya is also one of Quezon's top grossing municipalities when factoring annual income.

Here's the list of the total annual income, assets, expenses and equity of Sariaya since 2008:

Year	Total Income (COA).[13]	Assets	Expenses	Equity
2008	₱139.37 million	₱141.48 million	₱112.92 million	₱101.17 million
2009	₱154.89 million	₱198.33 million	₱141.55 million	₱109.66 million
2010	₱164.55 million	₱202.63 million	₱158.44 million	₱101.71 million
2011	₱183.43 million	₱243.13 million	₱172.08 million	₱106.77 million
2012	₱183.59 million	₱237.29	₱181.60 million	₱112.67 million
2013	₱212.08 million	₱239.29 million	₱200.54 million	₱117.99 million
2014	₱243.73 million	₱390.88 million	₱206.07 million	₱152.49 million
2015	₱275.70 million	₱467.81 million	₱248.83 million	₱176.53 million

Commerce

General Luna Street, the center of trade and commerce in Sariaya

Jollibee Sariaya

Stores along the Sariaya's Business District

The trade and commerce in Sariaya is heavily concentrated at General Luna Street which is the town's central business district where majority of the town's commercial establishments are situated such as retail, supermarkets, banks, drugstores, bakeries, merchandising, grocery, hardware, fastfood chains, shopping center, convenience stores and others.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Maharlika Highway, or General Luna Street at the town proper

Sariaya is traversed by the Maharlika Highway (Route 1), which passes through the town proper as the congested General Luna Street, and the newer Quezon Eco-Tourism Road (Route 422) which passes through the municipality's coastal areas. New highways will be South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Toll Road 4, which will have one exit west of town proper, and the Sariaya Bypass Road, which is being built to decongest Maharlika Highway through the town center.

Buses between Manila, Lucena, and Bicol stop at Sariaya town proper, and jeepneys provide short-distance transportation to nearby towns. Tricycles are used to travel between barangays.

Communication

Sariaya is served by landline and mobile phone companies like the General Telephone System, Inc. (GTSi) and Digitel Telecommunications (PLDT-Digitel) as the main telecommunication services providers in the municipality. Major mobile phone providers in the area includes Globe Telecom, Smart Communications, and Sun Cellular. Also, Sariaya has a cable provider which is the Sariaya Cable Network.

Hospitals

There are two private hospitals in Sariaya, with a dependable and well-staffed health center providing free medical and preventive services for residents of the forty-three barangays of the municipality.

• Greg Hospital, located at General Luna St., Barangay Poblacion 1
• Soler General Hospital, located at Mabini St., Barangay Poblacion 6

Greg Hospital, one of the two hospitals located in Sariaya

Festivities

• Agawan Festival

Bagakays

Celebrated every 15th day of May, this religious festivity pays tribute to San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. This much-anticipated feast has close affinity with the 'Pahiyas Festival' of Lucban, Quezon. Pliant bamboo treetops and trellises (bagakay) weighed down by succulent fruits, native candies, rice cakes, and colorful rice krispies called "kiping" are deliberately pulled down on the streets by noisy merrymakers right after the afternoon procession. Festival revelers from the town's barangays, neighboring towns, and other provinces would then scramble to gather as many treats as they can snatch and carry, hence the term "Agawan."

• Town Fiesta

Santo Cristo de Burgos

On 14 September, pious devotees from far and wide pay homage to the miraculous image of the Santo Cristo de Burgos during the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. The Catholic feast is a day-long veneration of the replica of the Crucified Christ at the ancient Cathedral of Burgos, Spain long believed to be a gift of King Philip V of Spain in 1703 to the people of Lumangbayan in Sariaya. People from far-flung barangays flock to the Poblacion to attend the packed fiesta Masses. They also sell their farm products and handicrafts in the public market as they eagerly sample the gaudily-decorated and crowded venue for the annual "perya" (fiesta fair) for thrilling rides, occasional circus performances, and shows featuring human mutants, trained animals performing tricks, vendors peddling herbal medicines, and "peryantes," those hardy and itinerant peddlers of cheap clothing, toys, and kitchen utensils. The town's basketball tournament also holds its cherished championship game on the eve of this much-awaited day. Sometimes there are hired stage performances at the town plaza that feature some of the nation's stage, television and film celebrities as well as musical stars.

Tourism

Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Church

Sariaya Church built in 1748

Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Church is a stone church built in 1748, located at Barangay Poblacion II. Records tell that the present church is the fifth one erected by the Spanish Franciscan Friars in the history of Sariaya. In 1938, a historical marker bearing a brief history of the church was installed on its facade by the National Research and Markers Committee, precursor of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.[14]

Heritage houses

Governor Natalio Enriquez Ancestral House

Gala-Rodriguez Ancestral House

Don Catalino Rodriguez Ancestral House (Villa Sariaya)

On May 14, 2008, the National Historical Institute (NHI) unveiled markers of heritage houses for the three ancient yet still stately mansions at the heart of Sariaya town. These venerable houses are best viewed from the south, as they are silhouetted against the majestic and mystical Mount Banahaw, Quezon's long-dormant volcano. Cultural recognition was bestowed on three ancestral houses, namely: The Enriquez-Gala mansion, owned by former Tayabas (now Quezon) Gov. Natalio Enriquez and Susana Gala; the Gala-Rodriguez house of Dr. Isidro Rodriguez and Gregoria Gala, and the house of Catalino and Luisa Rodriguez also known as Villa Sariaya.[15]

Tumbaga Church ruins

Extant wall of Tumbaga Church ruins

Remains of an early 18th-century stone church and former town site of Sariaya, located at Barangay Tumbaga I. The settlement was inaugurated in 1703 with Father Lucas Fernandez as first parish priest and Francisco Argente as Presidente del Pueblo. The church, which measured 500 square meters, served a recorded population of 3000 parishioners. Two events led to the abandonment of the town site: the earthquake of 1743 which consequently destroyed the church's bell tower, and the Moro raids which left the town site in ruins after being razed by fire. The venerated image of Santo Cristo de Burgos is said to have been enshrined in the church before it was transferred to its present shrine in the San Francisco Church in the present-day town proper of Sariaya. The unscathed image was said have been retrieved from the burnt church after the Muslim raider attack. The church is believed to be the fourth church structure built by the Spanish Franciscan Friars in Sariaya.[16]

Sariaya Park

Sariaya Park

This multi-purpose park is a perfect place for recreational activities because of its pleasant and calm ambiance where kids can play at the park's playground, located at the heart of the town in front of Sariaya Church and the Town Hall at the left side. Sariaya Park is also the location where Sariaya Sports Complex is situated and usually used as the venue of different events and Basketball Leagues in the town.

Resorts

Sariaya is the first town in the western part of the province with a sea coast. The municipality hosts numerous beach resorts and pool resorts which offers pristine beach and recreational activities.

Resort	Name	Location
	Monte Vista Beach Resort	Barangay Bignay 2
	Villa del Prado Beach Resort	Barangay Guisguis Talon
	Dalampasigan Beach Resort	Barangay Guisguis Talon
	Paraiso Beach Resort	Barangay Guisguis Talon
	Balai Loreta Beach Resort	Barangay Talaan Aplaya
	Balai Sadyaya Resort	Barangay Balubal
	Oyayi Farm and Resort	Barangay Castañas
	Marina Azul Beach Resort	Barangay Bignay 2
	Christian's Beach Resort	Barangay Bignay 2
	Baywatch Palm Beach Club Resort	Barangay Talaan Aplaya
	Beachwood Resort	Barangay Bignay 2
	Blue Bay Waters Beach Resort	Barangay Bignay 2
	Mar Del Sol Beach Resort	Barangay Guisguis Talon
	La Felizza Resort	Barangay Guisguis Talon
	Mapresco Beach Resort
	Villa Vicenta Beach Resort	Barangay Bignay 2
	Villa Melania Beach Resort	Barangay Guisguis Talon
	Safari Beach Resort	Barangay Guisguis Talon
Villa Trenta Eddy WoW Pool Farm Resort	Villa Trenta / Eddy WoW Pool Farm Resort	Barangay Pili (Barangay Bucal)
	Floreddy's Farm Resort	Barangay Pili

Pool Resorts

• Villa Leandro Resort
• Lucky D Resort
• Primavera Resort
• Lynelle's Lagoon Resort
• Ada's Resort and Spa
• BLT Farmville Resort
• Villa Trenta / Eddy WoW Pool Farm Resort
• Floreddy's Farm Resort

Beach Resorts with Boat Rides to Coral Reefs

• Triple J Beach Resort (Barangay Guis-Guis Talon)
• M.Y. Beach Resort (Barangay Guis-Guis Talon)

Local government

Government officials

Sariaya Municipal Building

The 2016 local elections in Sariaya was held on May 9, 2016 and some members of the municipal government was replaced, including the mayor, vice mayor and other members of the municipal council. Elected officials for the 2016-2019 term are:

Members of the Sariaya Municipal Council (2016–present) [17]

Position	Name
Mayor	Marcelo "Marcing" Gayeta
Vice Mayor	Alexander A. Tolentino
Councilors	Teoderico C. dela Peña
	Leonardo S. dela Roca
	Susana Masilang - Caballes
	Daisy V. Quiminiano
	Ofelia C. Villapando
	Julio C. de Leon
	Jefferson E. Albis
	Demia P. Maghirang

Education

Colegio de Santo Cristo de Burgos

Sariaya Institute

St. Joseph's Academy

Sariaya East Central Main Elementary School

Educational Institutions in Sariaya

Level	School
Tertiary	Computer Systems Technological College Inc.
	Colegio de Santo Cristo de Burgos
Secondary	Sariaya Institute (private non-sectarian)
	St. Joseph's Academy of Sariaya, Quezon (private sectarian)
	St. Francis High School (private sectarian)
	Lutucan National High School (public)
	Canda National High School (public)
	Sariaya National High School (public)
	Pili National High School (public)
	Janagdong National High School (public)
Primary	Sariaya East Central Main Elementary School
	Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School
	Jose Rizal Elementary School
	Mamala Elementary School
	Balubal Elementary School
	Sampaloc Elementary School
	Concepcion Elementary School
	Governor Natalio and Susana Enriquez Elementary School
	Pantoc Elementary School
	Talaan Elementary School
	Morong Elementary School
	Manggalang Elementary School
	Concepcion Ibaba Elementary School
	Concepcion Pinagbakuran Elementary School
	Lutucan Bata Elementary School
	Concepcion Banahaw Elementary School
	Tulo-Tulo Elementary School
	Castañas Elementary School
	Lutucan Adventist Elementary School
	Sariaya Conservative Baptist Christian School Inc.
	Holy Spirit Learning Center
	St. Therese of the Child Jesus Learning Center

Notable people

• Leo Austria — former professional basketball player and the head coach of San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association.
• Maximo Rodriguez — twice Sariaya Municipal President (Mayor) from 1906-1907 and 1914-1916 and twice Tayabas (Quezon) Provincial Governor from 1916-1922 and 1933-1937. He also became the principal sponsor of former Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon and Aurora Aragon at their Hong Kong wedding and he was also the instrument in the peaceful surrender of the dreaded Kapitan Kulas and became the Chairman-General Manager of the National Coconut Corporation (NACOCO), the fore runner of the Philippine Coconut Authority. He established the Maximo Rodriguez Solid Laboratory in Sariaya.
• Braulio de Villa — twice Sariaya Town Gobernadorcillo (Mayor) in 1889 and 1892 to 1894, and later became the Provincial Governor of Batangas, his home province.
• Natalio Enriquez – Sariaya Municipal President (Mayor) from 1938 to 1940 and later became the Provincial Governor of Tayabas (Quezon Province) from 1941 to 1945.
• Jovencio de Villa – became the Provincial Governor of Tayabas Province (Quezon Province) during the Japanese Occupation period.
• Roberto P. Racelis – was elected as Provincial Vice Governor of Quezon Province thrice but became Governor (by Operation of Law) from August 8, 1995 to July 25, 1996, and from April 4, 1998 to June 30, 1998.
• Don John L. Montalbo – is known for discovering the "Talon sa Bahanaw" on August 24, 1996.

Sister cities

Sariaya has sister city relationship with the foreign community of:

• Santa Clarita, California, United States, since 2003[18][19]

References

1. "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
2. "Province: Quezon". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
3. Census of Population (2015). "Region IV-A (Calabarzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
4. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
5. "Sariaya, Quezon itinuturing na Art Deco Capital of Southern Luzon dahil sa heritage houses". GMA News.
6. "Sariaya, Quezon (History, People, Places, About, Facts)". WowQuezon. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
7. "Climate of Sariaya". Mount Banahaw.
8. "Average High/Low Temperature for Sariaya, Quezon, Philippines". World Weather Online. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
9. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region IV-A (Calabarzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
10. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region IV-A (Calabarzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
11. "Province of Quezon". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
12. "Competitiveness Index". National Competitiveness Council.
13. "2014 COA Annual Financial Report for Local Government Unit". Commission on Audit.
14. "Sariaya Church". Waypoints.
15. Mallari Jr., Delfin. "History lives in Sariaya mansions". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on December 29, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
16. San Jose-Valdoria, Nancy (November–December 2001). "Tumbaga: Unang "Pueblo", 1703-1743". Sariaya Community Magazine. 2 (7): 20–22.
17. "Elected Officials of Sariaya". iVotePH.
18. "Santa Clarita, California Sister Cities" at Santa Clarita Sister Cities (SCVIP) website.
19. "Sariaya, Philippines & Santa Clarita, California". Washington, DC: Sister Cities International. Retrieved 2015-02-04.

External links

• Sariaya Profile at PhilAtlas.com
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Official website
• Local Governance Performance Management System