Tagaytay

City of Tagaytay Lungsod ng Tagaytay
—  Component City  —
Postcard view of Taal Lake and Volcano from Tagaytay
Seal
Map of Cavite showing the location of Tagaytay.
Country	Philippines
Region	CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province	Cavite
Districts	7th District of Cavite
Barangays	34
Government
• Mayor	Abraham N. Tolentino
• Vice Mayor	Celso P. de Castro
Elevation	634 m (2,080 ft)
Population (2007)
• Total	61,623
• Density	932/km2 (2,410/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
Area code(s)	46
Website	www.tagaytay.gov.ph

The City of Tagaytay (Filipino: Lungsod ng Tagaytay) is a component city in the province of Cavite, in the Philippines. It is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations because of outstanding scenery and cooler climate provided by its high altitude. Tagaytay overlooks Taal Lake in Batangas and provides one of the iconic views of the Philippines, the view of Taal Volcano Island in the middle of the lake, viewable from several vantage points in the city.

Tagaytay is relatively close to the capital city of Manila, only 55 km (34 mi) away via Aguinaldo Highway, providing an easy escape for the locals from the heat of the big city.

Geography

Land area

Tagaytay City has a total land area of 66.1 km² (26 sq mi) which represents about 4.37% of the total area of the Province of Cavite. It lies within 120° 56' longitude and 14° 6' latitude and overlooks Manila Bay to the North, Taal Volcano and Lake to the south and Laguna de Bay to the east.

Topography

Satellite view of Taal Lake and Volcano in the middle. The northern edge of the D-shaped Taal Caldera is the 32-Km Tagaytay Ridge.

The southern and eastern portions of Tagaytay City are covered by hills and mountains which is generally forests and open grasslands. The city lies along Tagaytay Ridge, a ridge stretching about 32 kilometres (20 mi) from Mount Batulao in the west to Mount Sungay (now People's Park in the Sky) in the east with elevations averaging about 610 metres (2,000 ft) above sea level.. Mount Sungay, in Tagaytay, is the highest point of the province of Cavite at 709 metres (2,326 ft).

The ridge, which overlooks Taal Lake in Batangas province, is actually the edge of Taal Caldera. The 25-by-30-kilometre (16 × 19 mi) wide cavity is partially filled by Taal Lake. Tagaytay's built-up areas including the urban center is situated in the relatively level top of the caldera rim but beyond the edge are deep ravines that drop straight down to Taal Lake. The portions adjoining the municipalities of Mendez, Indang, Amadeo and Silang are level to nearly level areas interspersed with very gently sloping surface. Across the southern edge of the lake on the opposite side of the city is Mount Macolod, the highest point of the Taal Caldera rim.

Climate

Temperature and precipitation

Tagaytay City's climate is characterized by relatively low temperature, low humidity and abundant rainfall. The City is endowed with a cool and invigorating climate with an average temperature of 22.7 °C (72.9 °F). With its high elevation, the city could be misty at times and is relatively cooler during the months of December, January and February. Like most areas in the province of Cavite, the city has two pronounced seasons: dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. The climate has made the city ideal for sports, picnics, conferences, honeymoons, country homes, and spiritual retreats.

Humidity

Tagaytay has an average humidity of 78% which makes the city cooler than Metro Manila where relative humidity exceeds 81%. Northeasterly winds prevail in the City from October to April. Winds come from southwest from May to September. The cool Tagaytay breeze has made the city ideal for casual and competitive kite flying.

Taal Volcano's Binintiang Malaki cinder cone as seen from the Tagaytay Picnic Grove

History

Etymology

Legend has it that the word Tagaytay came from "taga" meaning to cut and "itay" which means father. A father and son were said to be on a wild boar hunt when the animal they were chasing turned and attacked them. As the boar charged towards the old man, the son cried "taga itay!". The boy's repeated shout reverberated in the alleys of the ridge. Heard by the residents, hunters and wood gatherers, the cries became subject of conversation for several days in the countryside. In time, the place where the shouts came from became known as Tagaytay.

Philippine revolution

During the Philippine revolution of 1896, the ridges and forests of Tagaytay became the sanctuary for revolutionaries including those from nearby provinces. The passage to and from towns via Tagaytay added the word "mananagaytay" to the native's vocabulary. It means "to traverse ridges."

World War II

On February 3, 1945, the 11th Airborne Division of Lt. Gen. Robert L. Eichelberger's 8th Army performed a combat jump of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment and associated elements on the ridge, with a drop zone around the Manila Hotel Annex, which had been cleared of Japanese forces by Filipino soldiers of the 4th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 45th and 46th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, 4th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary and recognized guerillas. To commemorate this event, a marker was installed in 1951 at the junction of Silang, Canlubang-Nasugbu roads by the city officials in coordination with the National Historical Institute of the Philippines.

Timeline

• 1749. Taal Volcano destroyed the entire Volcano Island and the towns of Taal, old Sala and part of old Tanauan.

• 1754. The eruption of Taal Volcano destroyed towns of Sala, Lipa, Tanauan and Talisay.

• 1911. Another eruption devastated Volcano Island killing 1,334 people with ashes reaching Manila.

• 1937. Construction ensues on Tagaytay ridge. Taal Vista Lodge is built, to be run by the Manila Hotel Corporation. Cavite prisoners construct the long highway stretching from Silang up to the ridge. This is the continuation of the Aguinaldo Highway, named after the First President of the Republic of the Philippines, Emilio Aguinaldo.

• 1938. Tagaytay became a chartered city with the passing and signing of Commonwealth Act no. 338 by President Manuel L. Quezon on January 21, 1938, as authored by Rep. Justiniano Montano of Cavite.

• 1965. The Volcano affected the entire Volcano Island; ashfall covered an area of 60 square kilometres (23 sq mi) and killed 200 people.

• 1979. Former First Lady Imelda Marcos brought a major change to the landscape of the city. Mount Sungay was leveled to about half of its former prominence to accommodate the Palace in the Sky, a mansion originally intended as a guesthouse for former California Gov. Ronald Reagan - who never arrived. The half-finished Palace in the Sky became the People's Park in the Sky after the People Power Revolution, which toppled the government of President Ferdinand Marcos.

• 1992. Mayor Benjamin Erni improved the roads that lead to the smaller barangays and erected the fruit arch on the city boundary to welcome visitors and investors.

Barangays

Tagaytay City is administratively subdivided into 34 barangays, six of which are classified as urban and the rests are classified as rural.

• Asisan
• Bagong Tubig
• Calabuso (Calabuso South & North)
• Dapdap East
• Dapdap West
• Francisco (San Francisco)
• Guinhawa North
• Guinhawa South
• Iruhin East
• Iruhin South
• Iruhin West
• Kaybagal East
• Kaybagal North
• Kaybagal South (Pob.)
• Mag-Asawang Ilat
• Maharlika East
• Maharlika West
• Maitim 2nd Central
• Maitim 2nd East
• Maitim 2nd West
• Mendez Crossing East
• Mendez Crossing West
• Neogan
• Patutong Malaki North
• Patutong Malaki South
• Sambong
• San Jose
• Silang Junction North
• Silang Junction South
• Sungay East
• Sungay West
• Tolentino East
• Tolentino Wes
• Zambal

Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Tagaytay

Tourism

The city of Tagaytay is a favorite tourist attraction among local and foreign visitors seeking respite from the humid weather in the lowlands with several tourist establishments providing food and accommodations, some with scenic views of the Taal Lake and Volcano. This view supports Tagaytay's main industry, which is tourism. The lake is also popular for its oddity - a lake with a volcano with a lake within, and an island in the middle of that small lake.

Places of interest

11th Airborne Division Marker

On February 3, 1945, the 11th Airbourne Division of Lt. Gen. Robert L. Eichelberger’s 8th Army airdropped military supplies and personnel together with the Philippine Commonwealth troops on the Tagaytay Ridge amidst enemy groundfire. Their mission was to secure Tagaytay City and guarantee the easy flow of troops and supplies to Manila, an action later proved as significant to the liberation of Manila. A marker was erected at the Silang Crossing to honor the event.

41st Division USAFFE Marker

Tagaytay played a significant role in Philippine history. During World War II, Filipino soldiers and military officers found refuge on its vast forests and ridges. It was used as landing site and sanctuary for the Filipino USAFFE soldiers and paratroopers on their way to liberate Manila on February 3 to March 3, 1945. The 41st USAFFE marker is a place where one can know more about Tagaytay’s rich political history. It is located adjacent to the Metro Tagaytay College of Business and Arts in Brgy. Kaybagal South.

Divine Word Seminary

Divine Word Seminary, one of biggest schools of theology in the Philippines in terms of population and land area, is also one of the oldest religious institutions in the city. It is run by Divine Word Missionaries also known as SVD.

Japanese Friendship Garden

This 1,200-square-metre (13,000 sq ft) garden was constructed to inculcate the value of freedom, peace and international unity into the hearts and minds of the people. It is located in front of Development Academy of the Philippines Conference Center, in Brgy. Sungay East.

One Destination

This new travel spot in the sky city is a strip of fancy restaurants and bars. Being the nightlife hub of Tagaytay, it offers varied cuisine and entertainment to tourists. Some of the noted establishments around are Dencio's Grill, Pancake House, Starbucks Coffee, Yellow Cab, RSM, Leslies, Max's Restaurant, Cliffhouse, Antonio's Grill, and Henlin.

Mount Malepunyo in Batangas, southeast of the city, as seen from People's Park in the Sky

People's Park In The Sky

An artful blending of natural and man-made attractions, poised on the highest point of Tagaytay City and the province of Cavite. It stands on a 4,516 square metres (48,610 sq ft) of solid ground and overlooks four bodies of water – Taal Lake, Balayan Bay, Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay - including nearby mountains. It is located at Dapdap West and Dapdap East, approximately 8 km (5.0 mi) east from the Tagaytay City Circle. The construction of a building of a weather station violated Proclamation no. 740 (s-1996) which states to preserve the ecological balance within 1-kilometre (0.62 mi) radius area around People's Park in the Sky.^{[citation needed]}

Pink Sister's Convent

Behind the bars and glass of the Adoration Convent of Divine Mercy are those who answered the call to live in silence. Located at the Holy Spirit Drive in Barangay Maitin in the city, the convent often called the Pink Sisters Chapel has endless visitors carrying their own list of prayers. Also included in their visit is the chance to see nuns praying with them 24 hours a day — although they can only be seen behind the iron grilles of the altar.

The pool at the exclusive Tagaytay Highlands.

Tagaytay Highlands

Tagaytay Highlands is an exclusive, for-members-only, recreational and residential complex located southeast of Mount Sungay.

Tagaytay Picnic Grove

Tagaytay's playground is the popular Picnic Grove. It features huts line along the gentle slopes of the Tagaytay Ridge. It is a prime location, providing the finest view of the volcano far below. It is located in Barangay Sungay East.

Accessibility

Roads

The City is linked by national highways to the Metropolitan Manila Area and to the provinces of Batangas and Laguna. It is also connected by secondary roads to the adjoining municipalities of Amadeo, Mendez, Indang, Silang and Alfonso in Cavite towards the northwest, and to the cities of Calamba and Santa Rosa in Laguna in the northeast and to the town of Talisay in Batangas in the south.

From Manila

Tagaytay is about one hour and 15 minutes drive from Manila via the South Luzon Expressway, exiting at Santa Rosa then via Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road. It can also be reached via the Coastal Road Expressway and then taking Aguinaldo Highway heading south towards Tagaytay.

By public transportation, there are buses that ply to Tagaytay from Manila on a daily basis. Several bus companies have their terminals in Cubao, EDSA, Pasay City, and at Baclaran, below LRT, Manila.

From Batangas and Laguna province

From Batangas, the best way to reach Tagaytay is to head to Talisay, Batangas, then go up to Tagaytay via the 12-kilometre (7.5 mi) Tagaytay-Talisay Road, which ends at the Tagaytay City Circle. From Laguna, one may head to Santa Rosa, Laguna and take the Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road.

Sister cities

• Amman, Jordan
• Baguio City, Philippines
• Bacolod City, Philippines
• Cuernavaca, Mexico
• Daraga, Albay, Philippines
• Fukuoka, Japan
• Goulbourn, Ontario, Canada
• Iriga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines
• Las Vegas, NV, U.S.A.
• Manningham, Victoria, Australia
• Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
• Tainan City, Taiwan

External links

• Official Website - City of Tagaytay
• Tagaytay Blog
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 2007 Philippine Census Information