TOURISM

Lucena City, the city capital of Quezont province features some of the most exciting yearly events held every summer. Beautiful places such as beautiful Gardens, Park for relaxation, Hotels and Resort, Class Restaurants and Malls to hop.
Pasayahan sa Lucena
Pasayahan sa Lucena was conceptualized to showcase the natural and ecological interrelationship and independence between nature and man. It also promotes the ways of life inherent among the people of Lucena. All these find exquisites and appreciative expressions through a mammoth gathering of colors, outlandish costumes and symbolic floats reminiscent of Mardi Gras in Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans.
The first Pasayahan in 1987 was a big triumph that it has become an annual affair. Year after year the Pasayan draws a sea of frolicking humanity. Pasayahan sa Lucena 2006 features Chami Festival to promote Lucena’s very own native delicacy, the chami. Other features such as the Midnight Madness Sale and street concerts take stage in the Pasayahan.
Flores de Mayo and Santa Cruzan

Flores, from Spanish flores or "flowers," also known as Flores de Mayo (flowers of May), Flores de Maria (flowers of Mary) or alay (offering), may refer to the whole Flower Festival celebrated in the month of May in tribute to the Virgin Mary
The highlight of the celebration, is the Santa Cruzan, the procession on the last day of the festival in honour of Reyna Helena. In the year 326 A.D. she and her son left Rome and searched for the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. At last they found the Holy Cross and brought it back to Rome, the capital of their empire. It is more a parade than a religious procession. Instead of icons or images, beautiful young women (or gays) with appropriate theatrical costumes, portray biblical and historical characters. Almost all sagalas, the persons in the parade, symbolize queens from the past! Each sagala is dressed beautiful and is looking as the 'real' Reyna (Queen)!
Araw ng Lucena/Manuel L. Quezon’s Day

The annual selection and the giving of awards to five Natatanging anak ng Lucena highlights the Araw ng Lucena and Manuel L. Quezon’s Day on August 20. Recipients of the award are selected based on their excellent performance and contributions in their respective fields of endeavor, i.e. education, arts, literature, economics and public service and/or administration.
Ugat Lucena

Ugat Lucena is characterized by a grand party and gathering of all balikbayang Lucenahins including those who have migrated to other parts of the world. The celebration aims to rekindle old familial roots, friendship and camaraderie through nightlong dances, music and merrymaking.
Lucena Varsitarians

As a social organization, the Lucena Varsitarians aim to hold annual slam-bang, a big dance party, to promote friendship, brotherhood and camaraderie among varsitarians and their invited guests from the neighboring towns of Lucena. Included in its objectives is the college scholarship program for indigent but deserving youth in Lucena, which made Lucena Varsitarians a socio-civic club. The contributions and donations from various sources would bankroll the objectives of the Lucena Varsitarians.
International Women’s day

The annual celebration for the International Women’s Day in March 8 gives a fitting recognition to women via the Search for the Huwarang Babae ng Lucena. Among women-candidates from the 33 barangays of Lucena, only five would be awarded the Huwarang Babae ng Lucena. Final selection of the five winners is based on how each of them realized their simple dreams and rose above themselves to promote development, peace and harmony within their respective family and community.
SHOPPING MALLS
Pacific Mall Lucena

Strategically located in the heart of the City, Pacific Mall Lucena is the premiere shopping, dining, and entertainment destination in Quezon.
Located in downtown Lucena City, this three-level, 5.3-hectare complex would surely give its locals a hundred and one reasons to enjoy and relax! This hosts a complete mix of merchandise that will surely satisfy the needs of the entire market. A showcase of exciting mall features and facilities worth exploring. All-adding up to what a modern shopping haven should be, an all-time leisure complex offering only fun and entertainment at its best.
SM City Lucena

SM City Lucena is a major mall located in Maharlika Highway corner Dalahican Road, Brgy. Ibabang Dupay, Lucena City, Quezon. It is the first SM Supermall in the province of Quezon and one of the first SM Supermalls in the province of Luzon. It has a GFA of 78,655 sq.m and a Land Area of 8 Hectares.
Anchors SM Department Store,SM Supermarket,SM Cinemas,SM Food Court. Junior Anchors Ace Hardware,Toy Kingdom, National Bookstore, Watsons, SM Appliance Center, Surplus Shop, Our Home
Metro Lucena

Located at the heart of the city, the Metro Gaisano Lucena was opened for business on July 2003. It is the anchor store of the Pacific mall. Ground Floor : Activity Center,Cosmetics, Customer Service , Food Avenue , Foreign Exchange, Mens Dept., Pharmacy, Photoshop, Suisse Cottage, Supermarket. Second Floor: Children's Dept., Jewelries, Ladies Dept., Mens Shoes, Records, Teens Dept., Watches, 99 Corner . Third Floor , Appliance, Bags & Luggage , Credit Dept. , Furniture, Gift Wrapping, Home Decor, Home Improvement, Houseware, Linen, Metro Cafe , School Supplies , Sports & Hobbies, Textile, Toys
DINING ESTABLISHMENTS

Lucena has several notable restaurants found all over the city. Some of the city’s prominent restaurants include Buddy's Restaurant which stands at the corner of Quezon Avenue and L Guinto Street and a branch at SM City Lucena, Apple & Peach Restaurant along the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Kanlurang Mayao, Zymurgy Cafe & Lounge on Granja Street, Hacienda Inn Restaurant along Quezon Avenue, Smallwillies at the corner of Smallwillies And Zamora Streets, Barrio Fiesta on Granja Street,JM Tsuki Japanese Restaurant in Pleasantville Subdivision, JM Premier Cuisine along Quezon Avenue, Giusseppe Bar y Restorante along Aurora Blvd., San Remo Italian Restaurant along M. H. Del Pilar, Don Vittorio's near Lucena Perez Park, and Isabel's Restaurant at the corner of Abellanosa and Tagarao Streets among others.
Fastfood chains are found in the shopping centers, Jollibee is first on the list, currently with 4 Branches, Mc Donald's with 2, Chowking with 3, Goldilocks with 3, Greenwich Pizza with 2, Red Ribbon with 3, KFC with 2, Happe Wee with 2, Mang Inasal also with 2 and a branch of the following: Rai Rai Ken, Gerry's Grill, Tokyo Tokyo, Pizza Hut, Nanay Gloria's Restaurant, Nid's Binalot, Hen Lin, Sizzling Plate, Inihaw, Bossbarn, Kusina ni Gracia, Silangang Nayon, Auntie Kima's Bacolod Chicken Inasal, and Lot's a Pizza with 3 Branches. Coffee Shops Like Mocha Blends, Metro Cafe, and Proudly Lucena Made Mug Cafe brewed night and day, 24 hour Bakeshops Like Pan De Manila and Gemini Bakeshop serve hot bread and pastries. Most of these establishments are found inside two large malls in Lucena, SM City Lucena and Pacific Mall Lucena.
Alternatively, the hotels and resorts found in the city also host notable dining establishments as well as recreational features. Some of the city’s finest hotels and resorts include the Diamond Mansion's D' Cafeteria Nook along the Maharlika Highway, Lucena Fresh Air Hotel in Barangay Isabang, Ouans Worth Farm on Diversion Road In Barangay Mayao Kanluran,Star Garden Tower Hotel's Sky Bar along Quezon Avenue, South Waters Marina and Country Clubs at Brgy Cotta, Castle Bernardina Hotel Beside SM City Lucena, Queen and Margarette Hotel's Kings Bar and Manila Extension on Diversion Road in Barangay Domoit and the newly opened 4-Star Hotel Grand Riviera at LGCT Complex.
TRANSPORTATIONS

Lucena City has a central transportation hub aptly called the Lucena Grand Central Terminal located in Barangay Ilayang Dupay, just midway through the Bicol Region and back. New and modern buses ply the route Buendia/LRT-Lucena, Cubao/Kamias-Lucena and Alabang/Starmall-Lucena. It serves not only Manila-bound buses but also buses going toward the upland and far-flung areas of Quezon province, particularly Bondoc Peninsula towns. Bus companies such as JAC Liner, Lucena Lines, JAM Transit/Liner and DeLa Rosa Bus Lines bring back and forth passengers to Manila and Lucena.
Lucena City also has a wide network of jeepney routes, all emanating from the city center (Bayan) and reaching out to the major barangays of the city, as well as nearby towns. Thousand of tricycles also roam the streets of the city, bringing passengers right at their point of destination. These tricycles usually are the mode of transport when night falls.
The Philippine National Railways is on the process of rehabilitating the Existing Manila-Bicol Railway Line, which includes stops in Quezon province, including Lucena, which traditionally then is a major loading & pick-up point for passengers and cargoes alike when the railway system was once the primary transportation mode going to Manila. Modern air-conditioned coaches will ply this route.
|