San Juan, La Union

I always enjoy promoting San Juan, La Union, because it's my late father's hometown, and because I was named after it. I was supposed to be named San Juan Gaerlan, but luckily my dad changed his mind and opted for Juancho instead, after the then matinee idol, Juancho Guitterez. So my name is a combi of sorts.

Do I look like J. Guitterez? Um, when I was a kid, yes, said my mom. But some evolutionary accident happened while I was growing up and now I look like this (please refer to my profile. Thanks).

Anyway, San Juan witnessed lots of prime history starting from the Spanish times. Many Katipuneros were active from San Juan, causing problems for the conquistadors, among them were many Gaerlans. Some Gaerlans, according to a book, were martyred. Many Gaerlans were also killed during the Japanese Occupation.

If you visit the San Juan Church you'd see an awesome ceiling mural of the baptismal scene of Jesus Christ on the Jordan River. It's an amazing piece; I hope the town government takes care of it always. Once, in a vacation, I looked up to it while getting bored during the Sunday mass, and realized that I was actually named after John the Baptizer! Hmm!

If you walk along the streets (one is Gaerlan Street), you'd notice old buildings dating back the Spanish time. I enjoy roaming the streets and getting details of these buildings. There's the old Aglipayan church, the store houses near the highway, and the old convent where, according to my dad, the ghost of a nun haunts passers by at midnight. You'd hear the bell of the convent toll at that precise time. But the requirement is that, you should pass it by alone.

The beach fronts of San Juan are perfect for surfing. Locals and foreigners are discovering this more and more. There's an old watch tower on the beach used during the pre-Spanish years to warn town folks of impending pirate attacks. The sea and rivers in San Juan are excellent for fishing. There's a secret pathway at the back of town leading right to the Cordilleras. My dad said San Juan folks were said to have used it to escape from the Japanese.

The town plaza has 4 gigantic Acacia trees that cover the plaza with their shed. They've been standing there since prior the Spanish times--mute witnesses to the Pre-Spanish, Spanish, American, Japanese, and modern times.

By the way, the steel ball of the bell in the church's bell tower was once stolen by my dad in his youth to play a joke on the local priest during one Simbang Gabi mass. When the priest got angry and banged on the pulpit while he was preaching, the ball appeared right under his bible. The town folks all laughed.

Sounds like what Radical would do, right SD writers?

I am a native of San Juan, ad I enjoyed growing up there. Its is jut so sad that alot has changed. I don't find it too safe anymore to have your evening strolls down the streets esp Ili SUR and Norte...

You will see in the looming in the dark waiting sheds, young men sniffing something which appears to be drugs. You will see gangs, You will see prostitutes.

San Juan used to have a wholesome image and now, it is what I call PUGAD NG POK-POK,PROSTITUTES, DRUG ADDIKs AT PUSHERS. Sad to say there is a rumor that it i backed by "big" politicians. (that's what they think). What is happening there is just so sad... I don't recommend my foreign friends to ever come and stay in San Juan, La Union especially at the town proper...very unsafe and indecent place. I find Barangay kagawads incompetent. Talo pa sila ng mg taga-Barrio. People have this strong Crab-Mentality, and Envious attitude. People will talk to you, be nice to you and be-friend you IF YOU ARE ARE WORKING ABROAD and HAVE DOLLARS...they will be nice to you IF THEY NEED SOMETHING FROM YOU.You barely can find sincere people there anymore..so sad....

the Town has lost its pride, and decency........now promoting postitutes (working in what they call "Bango-Bango" located in Ili Norte) and drugs..
I don't think I'll ever call it MY HOME SWEET HOME anymore...and I don't wanna go back there anymore..I'd rather build my home somewhere else...

I planned on building my home in San Juan, La Union..but now, HELL NO!!!!NOT ANYMORE!

I don't even want to waste one dollar there...what for? so the money will circulate to fund prostitutes and drugs..NO WAY!

it's just awfully sad... There is no more home in San Juan...Truth does hurt...

Goodness! I didn't know that! I hope the local government do something about that! My late father loved that town, and through his anecdotes about it, I've grown fond of it, too. If that's the case, I also won't recommend it to tourists and would probably postpone any plan to go visit there myself. Thanks pal!

Originally Posted by exsanjuan

I am a native of San Juan, ad I enjoyed growing up there. Its is jut so sad that alot has changed. I don't find it too safe anymore to have your evening strolls down the streets esp Ili SUR and Norte...

You will see in the looming in the dark waiting sheds, young men sniffing something which appears to be drugs. You will see gangs, You will see prostitutes.

San Juan used to have a wholesome image and now, it is what I call PUGAD NG POK-POK,PROSTITUTES, DRUG ADDIKs AT PUSHERS. Sad to say there is a rumor that it i backed by "big" politicians. (that's what they think). What is happening there is just so sad... I don't recommend my foreign friends to ever come and stay in San Juan, La Union especially at the town proper...very unsafe and indecent place. I find Barangay kagawads incompetent. Talo pa sila ng mg taga-Barrio. People have this strong Crab-Mentality, and Envious attitude. People will talk to you, be nice to you and be-friend you IF YOU ARE ARE WORKING ABROAD and HAVE DOLLARS...they will be nice to you IF THEY NEED SOMETHING FROM YOU.You barely can find sincere people there anymore..so sad....

the Town has lost its pride, and decency........now promoting postitutes (working in what they call "Bango-Bango" located in Ili Norte) and drugs..
I don't think I'll ever call it MY HOME SWEET HOME anymore...and I don't wanna go back there anymore..I'd rather build my home somewhere else...

I planned on building my home in San Juan, La Union..but now, HELL NO!!!!NOT ANYMORE!

I don't even want to waste one dollar there...what for? so the money will circulate to fund prostitutes and drugs..NO WAY!

it's just awfully sad... There is no more home in San Juan...Truth does hurt...

I was planning to visit there for the second time. Actually last summer was the first time I visited San Juan and I found their beaches great surfing areas for newbies. Your information just saddened me. I thought it was safe and peaceful there.Too bad.