Canlubang Sugar Estate

When the Americans colonized the country, the land was classified as friar land and was again acquired by the government in 1905. Alfred Ehrman, leader of a group of American businessmen from California, organized and incorporated the Calamba Sugar Estate in 1912 which purchased the friar land. The Calamba Sugar Estate, managed by Louis Weinzheimer and his family, is known as the second sugar central in the Philippines. The sugar mill started its operations on December 1, 1914. It also planted coconuts on its property and was a model sugar plantation from 1920 to 1930s.

The Americans sold the estate to Vicente Madrigal on the onset of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. In 1948, Madrigal was unable to run the estate successfully due to labor unrest. He offered the estate to a good friend, The Honourable José Yulo, a bright lawyer and legal counsel of the estate since 1927 who had served as Speaker of the House of Representatives before World War II and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during the Japanese Occupation. The Yulos acquired the estate in 1948 and improved its financial and social status within two years through progressive reforms. His wife, Doña Cecilia Araneta Yulo of Iloilo, was instrumental in the construction of a school (now Rizal Institute), the church of St. Joseph, civic and recreational centers, and the first outdoor drive-in cinema. Sports facilities such as a baseball field, swimming pools, tennis courts, bowling lanes, and a golf course were also built. The company was also expanded into a pulp facility known as Canlubang Pulp which purchased more than 80% of the total abaca produced in the country.

During the 1970s, less land was available for sugarcane since planters sold their land to developers or converted them into subdivisions. Profit of the mill was decreasing. The Yulo family realized a need for a comprehensive master plan for the estate. They sought the assistance of National Artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin, married to Cecilia Yulo-Locsin, and the Canlubang Urban Project was born. Locsin designed Canlubang as a pioneer sustainable satellite city to attract investors in Laguna. In 1972, the first integrated industrial park was built outside Metro Manila. Canlubang became the catalyst of what is now known as Project CALABARZON.^[2]

Districts

Officials

Religion

Canlubang is predominantly Catholic. Other religious sects in the community are Protestant, Baptist, Iglesia ni Cristo and Islam.

It is the only barangay in the province of Laguna under the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo that hosts a patron saint for itself, St. Joseph the Worker, whose feast is celebrated every May 1.

Industries and Manufacturing

As a premier industrial hub outside Manila, several industrial parks are located in the barangay. These include Carmelray Industrial Park I, Carmelray International Business Park, NYK-TDG IT Park and Silangan Industrial Park.^[5]

Commerce and Trades

Several shopping centers and commercial establishments can also be found within Canlubang. These include Carmel Mall, (dubbed the Canlubang Community Shopping Center), Puregold - Canlubang located inside Carmel Mall, iMall Canlubang, Robinson's Supermarket - located inside iMall Canlubang, and Puregold Extra Canlubang (located in Asia 1, Kapayapaan Village).