Calamba is a well-known tourist destination because of its recreational and historical attractions.  The numerous hot springs found in the city have encouraged the establishment of over 100 resorts and private pools with recreational facilities.  Another famous landmark in Calamba is the Rizal shrine, which is the restored ancestral home of the National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.  The shrine serves as a museum housing the memorabilia’s Of Jose Rizal’s childhood.

The city is also an important industrial center in the region.  Found in the city are the Canlubang and Carmelray Industrial Parks, which houses manufacturers of export-oriented products such as electronics, beauty products, and garments.

Where Calamba Got Its Name 

Legend has it that the city got its name when two guardia civil got lost as they were passing through what is now Calamba during the early years of Spanish occupation.  They met a girl who came from the river carrying a jar of water and a stove.  The soldiers asked for the name of the place they were in, but the girl speaking only her native language, did not understand.  Thinking that they were inquiring what she was carrying, she anxiously muttered “kalan banga”, which meant “clay stove” and “water jar”.  The Spanish soldiers could not pronounce the words properly, subsequently pronouncing it “Calamba” and naming the town after it.  This legend has been immortalized with a large concrete water jar erected in the plaza with the city’s barangays engraved on it.

Before becoming an independent town in August 28, 1742, Calamba was once a part of Tabuco, now known as Cabuyao. At the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution against Spain in the late 19th century, Calamba gave birth to prominent historical Figures and were later declared national heroes.  They were Dr. Jose Rizal, his brother Gen. Paciano Rizal, their mother Teodora Alonzo, Gen Vicente Lim, and Lieutenant Geronimo Aclan.  During the Japanese occupation of World War II, Calamba was the site of civilian massacres and guerilla battles against Japanese soldiers.  Half a century later, after the turbulent years of war, Calamba was declared Laguna province’s second component city on April 21, 2001.

Residential Places in Calamba

Each 54 barangays found in Calamba are composed of residential neighborhoods often found in gated communities locally referred to as subdivisions and villages.  They are the often preferred residence of most middle and upper class families as these usually feature a walled perimeter and guarded gates.

Some of the city’s subdivision and villages are the Carmelray Industrial Park, Carmel Ridge Calamba, Carmel Town Laguna, Glenwood Park Subdivision, Norville Subdivision, Lakeview Subdivision, Pamana Homes, New Canlubang Village, Ridgemont South, Spring Homes, and the Villa Teresita Resort Subdivision.    

Hospitals and Universities of Calamba

Calamba is not lacking of tertiary and specialty care hospitals that can proficiently address any medical emergency and medical needs of its residents.  One of the city’s most prominent and reputable hospitals is the Calamba medical Center that is found in Calamba Crossing.  This private tertiary care hospital has been delivering quality healthcare services to Calamba residents for almost a decade.  It is staffed with specialist consultants and equipped with modern medical and diagnostic facilities, making it the most up-to-date hospital in the area.  It is affiliated with Calamba Eye Center, the first and only medical center that provides complete diagnostic and therapeutic services for various eye disorders and diseases outside Metro Manila.

Other hospitals and clinics found in the city are listed below:

Calamba Hospitals and Clinics

Name    Address    Telephone

Calamba Medical Center    Crossing    545-3496
Calamba Eye Center    Calamba Medical Center, Crossing    244-7898
Calamba Doctors Hospital    49 National Highway, Barangay Paciano Parian    545-2529
San Jose Hospital and Trauma Center    Mayapa Exit, South Super Highway    834-0861
Dr. Jose P. Rizal Memorial District Hospital    Barangay Bucal    -
Jose Yulo Foundation Canlubang Industrial Hospital    Barangay Canlubang    -
CH Garcia Medical and Diagnostic Center    202 Mayapa Road, Barangay Mayapa    834-1047
St. John the Baptist Medical Center    Barangay Parian    545-7528, 545-7529 or 545-0197
Holy Angel General Hospital    Barangay Mayapa    -
Pamana Golden Care Medical Center    National Highway, Barangay Halang    545-1582
St. Mark’s Hospital And Medical Center    Barangay Mayapa    545-4379
Intellicare Calamba Clinic    Daniel Commercial Complex, Old National Highway, Barangay Parian    545-4446 or 545-5183
Aranjuez Medical Clinic & Pharmacy    Paciano Rizal,    -
Calamba Children Clinic    Barangay 2, Rizal Street    -
Dr. Roman Sy Qui Clinic    Barangay Parian    -
Elazegui Estaniel Medical Clinic    Gen. Lim Street    -
Elazequi Medical Clinic    Barangay 6, Rizal Street    -
Good Health Medical Services    Barangay Parian    
Wellcare Medical Clinic    Pabalan Street    -

Educational Facilities

Calamba has satellite campuses of two of the country’s most recognized institutions for tertiary education.  These are the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Barrio Bucal and the Lyceum Institute of Technology along the Makiling Highway.  The former is a private Catholic university which has its main campus located in Intramuros, Manila.  The latter, on the other hand, is a private nonsectarian institution affiliated with the Lyceum of the Philippines University in Manila.  Both institutions offer degree programs in various fields, such as the liberal arts, engineering, technology & computing sciences, and allied medical sciences.

The Laguna College of Business and Arts on Burgos Street, St. James College of Calamba along the  National Highway in  Barangay Tulo, and the ABE International College of Business and Economics are other tertiary education institutions found in the city that offer a wide range of graduate and undergraduate programs.  The Calamba Doctors Medical Educational And Science Foundation, Inc. along the National Highway in Barangay Parian offers degree programs in nursing and allied medical sciences, while the AMA Computer College and STI College offer computer related degree programs.  Both computer colleges stand along the National Highway in Barangay Parian.  

Commercial Places in Calamba

The city’s major shopping center is the SM City Calamba which stands along the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Makiling.  It is a branch of the country’s largest chain of malls owned and developed by the SM Prime Holdings.  It carries the usual SM anchor stores, such as the SM Department Store and the SM cinema.  In addition to these, it also carries other retail and service shops, entertainment halls, as well as eating establishments that range from casual sit-down restaurants to fastfood outlets.

Another major commercial center found in the city is Waltermart-Calamba, which stands along the National Highway in Barangay Real.  Although much smaller than the former, Waltermart still carries several shops and services for most basic commodities.  Some of the shops found in Waltermart are Bench, Jag, Page, and Penshoppe for men and women’s casual clothing; Manel's and Otto for footwear; Abenson Appliances and Home Plus for home appliances; Tabbs for barber shops/beauty salons; Mercury Drug for drugstores; and the Waltermart Supermarket.

Dining Facilities 

Aside from the restaurants found in the two aforementioned shopping centers, there are a few notable eating establishments that range from the prominent Filipino fastfood outlets to music bar/restaurants that are found scattered all over the city.  Some of these establishments are the Padi's Point Restaurant and Bar along the National Highway at Calamba Crossing, Ger's II at the third level of the Chowking building in Barangay Real, Wendy's Hamburger sat the ground level of the HK Building on Real Street, Burger King along the National Highway in Barangay Halang, and the Filipino fastfood chains of Greenwich, Jollibee, and KFC along the National Highway in Calamba Crossing.

These restaurants are only second to the city’s foremost recreational centers, which are the numerous hotels and resorts found in the city.  They often feature recreational facilities, spa centers, and restaurants.  Most of these establishments are found in Barangay Pansol.  These include the La Vista Pansol at the Norville Subdivision, C3Y Villa Private Hot Spring Resort and Rockpoint Hotel & Conference Center at the Maria Makiling Subdivision, El Castillo Royal Hotspring Resort at the Villa Teresita Resort Home Subdivision, Grand Bay Resort, Pansol Agua Caliente Hot Spring Resort, Patio Acerado Resort, R & R Resort, Resort/Spa and Restaurant, and Yahweh's Spring Retreat and Resort.  Other equally notable hotel/resorts found in the city are the Bato-Bato Mountain Resort in Bucal, Dona Crystal Springs Resort on km 57 National Highway, Dona Jovita Garden Resort on km 55 National Highway, and the Riverview Resort and Conference Center along the National Highway in Parian.

The city also boasts of a world-class 36-hole golf course for all golfing enthusiasts.  The Canlubang Golf and Country Club, designed by the acclaimed golf course architect Robert Trent, Jr, is the largest in the Philippines.  It is composed of north and south courses riddled with challenges, such as par-3 crossing ravines and sand traps.  It is located at the Canlubang Sugar Estate, approximately 55 minutes away from Metro Manila via the South Luzon Expressway through the Silangan Exit.

Service Establishments of Calamba

The electricity in the city is supplied by the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO).  The company formerly known as the Manila Electric Rail and Light Company is the largest electric power distributor in the country, forming a central franchise on 22 cities and 89 municipalities.  Applications for service and bill payments may be done by visiting its Calamba branch office that stands along the National Highway in Calamba Crossing.

The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and Digitel Telecommunications are the two telecom companies servicing the city.  Both companies offer traditional fixed telephony and internet access via dial-up and digital subscriber line (DSL).  Other internet service providers in Calamba are MOZCOM and SmartBro of Smart Communications, a subsidiary of PLDT.  The latter offers wireless connection via broadband.

Smart Communications, together with Globe Telecom and Sun Cellular of Digitel Telecommunications, are the three major cellular service providers in the city.  All three companies have nation-wide coverage and offer subscription packages for any income bracket.  Postpaid subscriptions may be furnished by visiting their centers located in major commercial centers, while prepaid subscriptions simply require a SIM card which can be bought at authorized dealers or at their centers.

The Calamba city Police Station is part of the Philippine National Police Region IV-A (CALABARZON) District.  It is located at Barangay Poblacion and may be reached through the numbers 545-1694 and 834-1411.  Sub-stations and police community precincts are located in every barangay to ensure the peace and orderliness of the communities, as well as to give a quick response to any emergency.

Embassies in Calamba

Calamba city has no foreign embassies or consular offices found in its locality.  Much of these diplomatic missions to the Philippines have their offices located in the cities of Makati and Manila in the National Capital Region.