Tanauan, Batangas

Tanauan, officially the City of Tanauan (), is a component city in the province of Batangas, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 193,936 people.

It is incorporated as a city under Republic Act No. 9005, signed on February 2, 2001, and entered into force on March 10, 2001.

Among those born in Tanauan are former Revolutionary Prime Minister Apolinario Mabini and former President José P. Laurel.

Etymology

The name "Tanauan" may have come from:
* the Tagalog word ''tanaw'', which means "to look through he window" as it was the site of a lookout tower that provides a view of the Pansipit River on the other side of Taal Lake and of the surrounding lands; or
* ''tanawa'', a shrub that flourished in the area and on the shoreline of Taal Lake, according to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
Like most Batangueños,Tanauan residents also pronounce the city's name as Tan-awan, in Batangas Tagalog dialect, despite the spelling. It is also spelled as Tanawan.

History

Tanauan was founded by the Augustinians in 1584 on the northwestern bay of Taal Lake (formerly Bombon Lake), called Tanauan Bay. Lookout towers were associated with 16th and 17th century churches to forewarn of Moro raids. "Old Tanauan" ( Tagalog: ''Lumang Tanauan'') included such lookout tower and associated ''sapao'' (built-up structures in the water). The 1754 eruption of Taal Volcano forced the town inhabitants to initially move to Sala. Subsequently, both towns moved again later that year to Tanauan's current location, in which Sala is now a barrio.

Tanaueños have displayed characteristics of personal independence and nationalism since early history. The town is called the cradle of noble heroes due to its contribution to the revolutionary movement of its sons Apolinario Mabini, the brains of Katipunan, and later by the statesman José P. Laurel. Also, three Tanaueños served as governors of Batangas, namely: José P. Laurel V, Modesto Castillo and Nicolas Gonzales.

From 1903 to 1906, during the American occupation, it was consolidated with the municipality of Talisay and became the seat of the municipal government. In 1904, the barrios of Balaquilong (Balakilong), Bayuyungan, Binirayan (Berinayan), Bugaan, and San Gabriel were ceded to Taal by virtue of Act No. 1244; these barrios would eventually be returned to Talisay and later form the present-day Laurel.

Recent events include the assassination of its former mayor, Cesar V. Platon, by NPA rebels on May 7, 2001, as he was running for the governorship of Batangas. This happened in Tuy a few days before the election. On July 2, 2018, then-mayor Antonio Halili, noted for public humiliation campaigns against criminals and drug pushers, was shot and killed during the flag raising ceremony at the city hall at age 72.

Cityhood

The Congress approved Batangas 3rd District Representative Jose Macario Laurel IV's bill and a Senate counterpart measure to convert the municipality of Tanauan into a city on December 19, 2000. Republic Act No. 9005, known as "The Charter of the City of Tanauan," was signed into law on February 2, 2001, by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

On March 10, 2001, a Saturday, the charter was approved by a referendum in Tanauan that drew 8,890 or 16% of the 55,453 registered voters. Two ballots were either spoiled or blank. The "yes" had it over the "no" by a landslide, 7,026 to 1,961.

According to cityhood advocates, quoted in reports reaching Batangas on Sunday, the turnout, despite being two times better than previous conversion-to-city exercises, was still only 16%.

Geography

Tanauan is situated south of Manila and north of Batangas City. The city is part of Mega Manila resulting from the continuous expansion of Metro Manila. It shares its borders with Calamba, Laguna, to the north, Tagaytay City, Cavite, to the northwest, Talisay to the west, Santo Tomas City to the east, and the towns of Balete and Malvar to the south. It borders on Taal Lake to the west. The town is known for the Old Tanauan Church Ruins, the most important archaeological site in the municipality where human remains from the colonial era have been unearthed.

Climate

Demographics

Barangays

Tanauan City is politically subdivided into 48 barangays, as indicated in the matrix below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Religion

Roman Catholicism is the most dominant and visible religion in Tanauan. St. John the Evangelist is its patron, and its main church is the St. John the Evangelist Parish, also known as the Tanauan Church. La Consolacion College Tanauan (formerly Our Lady of Fatima Academy, 1948), run by the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation, is the first Catholic school in the city. Other Catholic schools include Our Lady of Assumption Montessori School and Daughters of Mary Immaculate School (lay-operated). First Asia Institute is converting from a non-sectarian school to a Catholic (Christian) school.

Iglesia ni Cristo, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), Islam and other religious groups are also present in the city.

Economy

Tanauan is known as an agricultural trading center of Calabarzon. Agricultural products from Calabarzon and as far as the Mimaropa and Bicol regions are delivered here before it reaches public markets in Metro Manila. Aside from being an important agricultural center, Tanauan is also one of the Philippines' major industrial centers nowadays hosting industrial parks, which are home to various multinational companies and tourism facilities.

Panaderia Pantoja

The original 68-year old Pantoja Bakery started in 1950. Celinda Laurel Dimayuga (Tanauan) and Aurelio Maningat Pantoja (Balayan) used a "pugon" (clay brick oven). Spouses Arturo Dimayuga Pantoia and Marilyn Gonzales managed the bakery and mechanized it in 1970. Located in Sixto Castillo Street, Barangay Poblacion 2, Tanauan City, the iconic bakery is famous for traditional Filipino breads and biscuits, like pandesal, paborita biscuits and square, crisp jacobina crafted from paper-thin sheets of dough.

Tourism

JCastles Theme Park

The first-biggest immersive theme park in the Philippines located in Brgy. Gonzales.

Transportation

Public transport

Jeepneys serve the city and the nearby municipalities and barangays. Tricycles provide transportation on the barangays. Buses connect the city with Metro Manila and Batangas City.

Roads

The Southern Tagalog Arterial Road passes at the central part of the city. The expressway connects the city with the rest of Batangas. Jose P. Laurel Highway connects the city to Santo Tomas and to the Pan-Philippine Highway on the north and with Malvar, Lipa, San Jose, and Batangas City to the south. Another highway links Tanauan with Talisay and Tagaytay. A service road on both sides of STAR Tollway will connect the northeastern barangays of Tanauan to the southeastern barangays of the city

Aside from the STAR Tollway, national roads like the Jose P. Laurel Highway (Route 4) and Tanauan–Talisay Road (Route 421) serves also the city. The city also maintains roads that connects the rural barangays of the city.

Education

Among the tertiary educational establishments in Tanauan is the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities, La Consolacion College, Christian College of Tanauan, Nova Schola, the STI Academic Center, the DMMC Institute of Health Sciences, and the Tanauan Institute. The Tanauan Institute is the oldest private education institution in the city having been established in 1924. The Sapphire International Aviation Academy which caters to aspiring aircraft pilots is also located within the city at the Barradas Airstrip.

There are 9 private and 16 public high schools, and 27 private and 44 public elementary schools. Those schools are overseen by the City Schools Division of Tanauan.

Government

Local government

The current seat of government of the city is the New Tanauan City Hall located at Laurel Hill in Barangay Natatas. Inaugurated in
2017, it succeeded the old municipal hall in Barangay 2 in the city proper.

Elected Officials

Heads of government

Notable personalities

* Antonio Halili (Former Mayor)
* Sonny Collantes (Mayor)
* Maria Theresa Collantes (Congresswoman of the 3rd district of Batangas, politician)
* Jose P. Laurel (Former President of the Philippines; Former Senator; Former Associate Justice of the Philippines; Founder, Lyceum of the Philippines – LPU Manila)
* Jose Laurel Jr. (Former Speaker of the House)
*Apolinario Mabini (The Great Paralytic)
*Salvador Laurel (Former Vice President of the Philippines)
* Sotero Laurel (Former Senator/Founder, Lyceum of the Philippines University Batangas & Laguna)
*Arsenio Laurel, 2-time Macao Grand Prix Champion
* Zanjoe Marudo ('' Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition 1'' 4th placer, actor, model, ABS-CBN)
* Jade Lopez (actress, GMA)
*Renato Corona (Former Chief Justice, 2010–2012)
* El Gamma Penumbra
*Carlo Pagulayan (cartoonist, Marvel Heroes)
* Mary Angeline Halili, (daughter of late former mayor Antonio Halili, politician)
*Joshua Garcia (actor, ABS-CBN)
*Ka Louie Tabing (veteran broadcaster, "Sa Kabukiran" on DZMM)
*Christian C. Javier, National Master (PHI), Arena Chess Grandmaster - 2018, ICCF Correspondence Chess Expert - 2021, Correspondence Chess Master - 2022 FIDE International Chess Organizer - 2021, National Arbiter of the Phils. - 2012, FIDE National Arbiter of Phils. - 2013.
*Leon Ma. A. Garcia (lawyer, appointed mayor of Davao City from 1947 to 1949)

Gallery

File:Apolinario Mabini Shrine Batangas.JPG, Apolinario Mabini Shrine
File:Pres._Jose_P._Laurel_Memorial_Shrine_(Mabini_Avenue,_Tanauan,_Batangas;_12-23-2021).jpg, Pres. Jose P. Laurel Memorial Shrine
File:Tanauan,Batangasjf8387 10.JPG, Plaza Mabini
File:La Consolacion College, Tanauan, Batangas.jpg, La Consolacion College, Tanauan
STAr Tollway, Tanauan (Batangas; 12-30-2021).jpg, STAR Tollway
Nuestra Señora dela Soledad Parish Church - Darasa, Tanauan, Batangas, Apr 2024.jpg, Nuestra Señora dela Soledad Parish Church, Darasa
Atty. Claro T. Almeda House, Tanauan, Batangas.jpg, Atty. Claro T. Almeda House

References

External links

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* Philippine Standard Geographic Code
Philippine Census Information
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Cities in Batangas
Populated places established in 1584
1584 establishments in the Philippines
Populated places on Taal Lake
Component cities in the Philippines