Tayabas

For other places with the same name, see Tayabas (disambiguation).

Tayabas City Lungsod ng Tayabas
—  Component City  —
City of Tayabas
Tayabas Basilica
Seal
Nickname(s): The City of Festivals Home of The Finest Lambanog Rest and Recreation Destination of Quezon The City of 11 Bridges The former capital of Tayabas now Aurora and Quezon
Map of Quezon showing the location of Tayabas
Tayabas City Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°1′1.2″N 121°34′58.8″E
Country	Philippines
Region	CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province	Quezon
District	1st district of Quezon
Founded	1578
Barangays	66
Government
• Mayor	Faustino Silang (Lakas–CMD)
Area
• Total	230.95 km2 (89.17 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	91,428
• Density	Bad rounding here400/km2 (Bad rounding here1,000/sq mi)
Demonym	Tayabense (In Tayabasin)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	4327
Dialing code	+42/042
Income class	4th class, partially urban
Website	tayabas.gov.ph

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1990	54,355	—
1995	64,449	+18.6%
2000	70,985	+10.1%
2007	87,252	+22.9%
2010	91,428	+4.8%

The City of Tayabas (Filipino: Lungsod ng Tayabas) is a city located in Quezon Province, the Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 91,428 people. Tayabas is known for lambanog (coconut arrack) and sweet food/delicacies, as well as tourism resorts. Tayabas is also known as the City of Festivals because of its wonderful and colorful festivals. The city is famous for resorts, heritage houses, historical landmarks, rest and recreation destination and festivities.

Barangays

Tayabas is politically subdivided into 66 barangays.

• Alitao
• Alsam Ibaba
• Alsam Ilaya
• Alupay
• Angeles Zone I (Pob.)
• Angeles Zone II
• Angeles Zone III
• Angeles Zone IV
• Angustias Zone I (Pob.)
• Angustias Zone II
• Angustias Zone III
• Angustias Zone IV
• Anos
• Ayaas
• Baguio
• Banilad
• Ibabang Bukal
• Ilayang Bukal
• Calantas
• Calumpang
• Camaysa
• Dapdap
• Kanlurang Domoit
• Silangang Domoit
• Gibanga
• Ibas
• Ilasan Ibaba
• Ilasan Ilaya
• Ipilan
• Isabang
• Katigan Kanluran
• Katigan Silangan
• Lakawan
• Lalo
• Lawigue
• Lita (Pob.)
• Malaoa
• Masin
• Mate
• Mateuna
• Mayowe
• Ibabang Nangka
• Ilayang Nangka
• Opias
• Ibabang Palale
• Ilayang Palale
• Kanlurang Palale
• Silangang Palale
• Pandakaki
• Pook
• Potol
• San Diego Zone I (Pob.)
• San Diego Zone II (Pob)
• San Diego Zone III
• San Diego Zone IV
• San Isidro Zone I (Pob.)
• San Isidro Zone II
• San Isidro Zone III
• San Isidro Zone IV
• San Roque Zone I (Pob.)
• San Roque Zone II
• Talolong
• Tamlong
• Tongko(AETA Community)
• Valencia
• Wakas

History

In 1578, Fray Juan de Plasencia and Fray Diego de Oropesa, two Franciscan missionaries from Spain founded the town of Tayabas in order to spread Christianity to its natives. Prior to the occupation, however, the native Tayabenses lived in rural settings typical to those times, with barangays headed by village chiefs and councils of elders.

From 1749 to 1901, Tayabas was the capital of the Province of Tayabas, now known as Quezon. In the 19th century, Tayabas was among the biggest towns in the country. Its Minor Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, which was enlarged in the mid-1850s, is the longest church in the country and is a lasting testament to its glorious and historic past.

In more than three centuries of Spanish occupation, only eight cities and towns were given the title of Villa, and Tayabas was one of them. These are La Villa del Santisimo Nombre de Jesus de Cebu in 1565, La Villa de Santiago de Libon (Albay, 1573), La Villa Fernandina de Vigan (Ilocos, 1574), La Villa Rica de Arevalo (Iloilo, 1581), La Noble Villa de Pila (Laguna, 1610), La Muy Noble Villa de Tayabas, (Tayabas, 1703), La Villa de Bacolor (Pampanga, 1765), La Villa de Lipa (Batangas, 1887). Interestingly, that Tayabas was given the title of 'most noble' villa even before it became the provincial capital shows its importance even before 1749.

In the book "The Philippines," written by French traveler Jean Baptiste Mallat, and published in 1846, it appears that Tayabas had more than 21,000 people at that time. This was reduced to 16,000 when Lucena became an independent town in 1879. Due to low population growth during the Spanish period, this number remained unchanged until the coming of the Americans.

Tayabas is at the center of the province's long-settled heartland, which possessed the best lands, the oldest parishes, and the most active commercial centers. The provincial heartland was described by Pres. Manuel L. Quezon as having the “richest and gayest places in the province.”

Tayabas has many places of interest. Its Casa Comunidad, a centuries-old building, is the place where Apolinario "Hermano Pule" Dela Cruz was tried and sentenced to death in 1841. It was restored in the 1990s through funds donated by the "Friends of Casa Comunidad," an organization of affluent Manila-based Tayabenses.

Its numerous Spanish-era bridges mirror its rich architectural past. Two of the longest are the Malagonlong and the Malaoa bridges. Malagonlong's high and beautiful arches and its solid design are some of the reasons why it was declared a national historical site. It is so strong that it withstood the dynamites planted there to stop the Japanese advance during World War II.

Tayabas suffered a terrible blow near the end of World War II when it was completely burned to the ground after a bombing raid on March 15, 1945. Prior to that, the old houses of Tayabas rival those of Vigan's Spanish-era structures.

Cityhood

On March 18, 2007, Republic Act No. 9398, An Act Converting the Municipality of Tayabas in the Province of Quezon into a Component City to be known as City of Tayabas, was enacted into law. On July 14, 2007, the municipality held a plebiscite to ratify the conversion of the said act, with the residents voting in favor of the move, although there was a low turnout of voters for the plebiscite.

However, in its Decision dated November 18, 2008, the Supreme Court revoked the cityhood of Tayabas and 15 other cities, and declared their cityhood laws unconstitutional. According to the High Court, the cityhood laws violated Section 10, Article X of the Constitution as well as the equal protection clause. More than a year later, on December 22, 2009, acting on the appeal of the so-called "League of 16 Cities" (of which Tayabas is a part), the Supreme Court reversed its earlier ruling and ruled that "at the end of the day, the passage of the amendatory law (regarding the criteria for cityhood as set by Congress) is no different from the enactment of a law, i.e., the cityhood laws specifically exempting a particular political subdivision from the criteria earlier mentioned. Congress, in enacting the exempting law/s, effectively decreased the already codified indicators."

But on August 24, 2010, in a 16-page resolution, the Supreme Court reinstated its November 18, 2008 decision striking down the Cityhood laws making Tayabas a municipality again.

The most recent development in the legal battle surrounding the "League of 16" came on February 15, 2011. Voting 7-6, the Supreme Court ruled that the 16 towns can stay as cities. It is the fourth time that the Supreme Court ruled on the case, and the third reversal, something that is unprecedented in its history. It said the conversion of the 16 towns into cities met all legal requirements.

Economy

The major agricultural products of Tayabas are rice and coconut. It is also known for Sweet delicacies and lambanog. However, the city is growing at a very slow rate, slower even than its population growth. Based on data published by the city, it has an annual economic growth rate of 1.38%. This is largely due to the ineptness and lack of initiative on the part of its present crop of political leaders.

Transportation

Jeepneys and tricycles are common options when travelling to destinations within the downtown and the city.

Government officials

• Mayor: Hon. Faustino Alandy Silang
• Vice Mayor: Hon. Luz Cuadra
• Councilors:
  • Hon. Brando Rea
  • Hon. Wenda Saberola
  • Hon. Ugto Abadilla
  • Hon. Jerry Caagbay
  • Hon. Jackpot Maphet Jacela
  • Hon. Lovely Reynoso
  • Hon. Nick Abesamis
  • Hon. Ondong Abrigo
  • Hon. Macky Reyes
  • Hon. Dino Romero

Public/Private Education Institutions

• Luis Palad National High School
• St. John Bosco Academy
• Kiddie School Early Childhood Learning Center
• Our Lady of Victory Integrated School
• San Roque Parochial School
• West Palale National High School
• Tayabas East Central School
• Tayabas West Elementary School
• Ilasan Elementary School
• Masin Elementary School
• East Palale Elementary School
• Ibabang Palale Elementary School
• Ilayang Palale Elementary School
• Lawigue Elementary School
• Lakawan Elementary School
• Mate Elementary School
• Isabang Elementary School
• Dapdap Elementary School
• Potol-Anos Elementary School
• Busal Elementary School
• Casa del Nino Jesus de Tayabas
• Calumpang Elementary School
• Pillars of Faith Christian Academy
• Quezon Science High School (Brgy. Isabang, Tayabas City)
• Bahay ni Tita Auring sa Munting Bayan

The City of Festivals

Tayabas is a City of Festivals in the Philippines because of its numerous numbers of celebration and colorful festival. Tayabas a visited-town due to its wonderful festivals and it continually draws large of crowd since it started.

Festivals/ Celebration

• Mayohan sa Tayabas - A stellar attraction during the month of May. A grand, colorful and folsky Parada ang Baliskog welcomes a guest to Mayohan Festival. "kog" means arc, a welcome arc. The more the imaginative decked it with local flowers and palay. Yearly, 66 barangays, government and non-government organizations, art groups join the parade. A display of baliskog made indigenous materials like coco leaf, coco husk, bamboo poles, buli, rattan, dried flowers and tistis fiiled the streets of Tayabas and joyously welcome visitors and the summer season.Mayohan Festival ranks as major festival in the region. It continually draws large number of crowd since it started in 1989.
• Hagisan ng Suman (Mayohan Festival) - Suman is the ritual gift of Hagisan. Hagisan is an opportunity for the Tayabasin to share their prosperity. Bundles of suman are gaily tied in a bamboo called bagakay, exhibited and installed at households along the procession route. As soon as the image of San Isidro passes by the bagakay must be emptied of its colourful array of abundance, which aside from suman, includes banana, mango, buko, pineapple and other local farm produce. In most houses, suman and other farm produce are no longer tied in bagakay, they simply throw them with passion and great enthusiasm from their decks, balconies, or windows to the multitudes of peasants and workers. Hagisan means throwing or sharing away.
• Pa'yas kay san Isidro (Mayohan Festival) -“Pa’yas kay San Isidro” is visual delight. All houses along Felimon Perez Street in the four barangays of Muntingbayan District are decked with indigenous materials and fresh farm produce. Viewing is every May 13th to 15th.
• Aguyod Fetival - Ang pagdiriwang ng Aguyod Festival ay hindi lamang naglalayong linangin ang kakayahan ng mga Tayabasin sa larangang ng sining kagaya ng pagsayaw, pag-arte at pagrampa sa entablado, manapa’y nilalayon din ng pagdiriwang na maipamulat sa mga Tayabasin ang kahalagahan ng pangangalaga sa kalikasan at sa kanilang kapaligiran sa pamamagitan ng wastong “waste manangement”at mabigyan ng pansin ang pagpapaunlad ng lokal na turismo kaalinsabay ng pagpapasigla ng negosyo ng mga lokal na mamumuhunan.
• Taytsinoy Festival - As part of Chinese New Year the City of Tayabas celebrated its Taytsinoy Festival last February 2-5, which served as a connecting bridge between the Chinese and Tayabense people. The festivity also aimed to heal discrimination between the Tayabenses and Chinese folks.Tayabenses commemorated the event to impart themselves with the tradition and belief of Chinese society. Aligned with this were some Chinese activities being adopted by Tayabenses and contests like Chinese Garter Contest, Kiamoy Eating Contest, Chopstikan ng Pancit Habhab, Binibining Taytsinoy, and a lot more. The highlight of the event was the Dragon and Chinese Presentation in Parke Rizal and Pagdalaw ng Leon at ng Dragon at Tayabas Poblacion wherein all people undeniably enjoyed, especially the children.The four days celebration embodying numerous events greatly gave bunch of fun to all Tayabenses and guests. Ultimate learning, awareness of the Chinese culture and tradition, and endless merriment were being brought out by the municipality.
• Hermano Pule A.K.A. Apolinario Dela Cruz - A commemoration of the martyrdom of Apolinario dela Cruz (Ka Puli). A native of Lucban who organized and led the Cofradia de San Jose, a confraternity which resisted the Spanish rule from 1832 until the time of his death in 1841.Puli was shot by firing squad on November 4, 1841 outside the vicinity of Casa de Comunidad in Tayabas. His body was cut up into pieces and his head put in a cage, stuck into a pole, and placed in front of his mother’s house.The event aims at gaining respect and national recognition to the heroic deed of Apolinario dela Cruz or Hermano Puli.
• Feast of San Miguel Arkangel - (September 29)- Celebration of the fiesta.
• Araw ng Tayabas (August 13) - Designated as the day for commemorating heroism of Tayabasins. The event calls for unity, strengthens social bonding and encourages Tayabasins to renew commitment to service.
• Festejo de los Angeles -(sept.22-29 ) -celebration of the fiesta. It is where people wearing an Angel suit parades all over the main thoroughfares of the city.

Places of Interest

Casa Comunidad de Tayabas

Malagonlong Bridge

• Minor Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel
• Santuario de las Almas
• Lita Spa and Resort
• Ermita Church
• Taao Cave (Ilasan)
• Missionary Catechist of St. Therese of Infant Jesus (MCST) Mother House
• Casa Comunidad de Tayabas
• Alitao River
• St. Roche Parish Church (Ilasan)
• Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church (Potol)
• Malagonlong Bridge
• Calle Budin
• Tayabas Racing Circuit (TRC)
• Mallari Distillery (Since 1908. Oldest Lambanog distillery in the Philippines)
• Kamayan sa Palaisdan (Restaurant, Resort and Hotel)
• Bulwagan ng Tayabas Reception Hall and Catering Services
• El Pescado Bar Cafe
• Kundiman Restaurant
• Nawawalang Paraiso Resort and Hotel
• Mainit Hot Spring Resort
• Talolong Resort
• Villa Cinco Resort
• Villa Cecilia Resort and Hotel
• Mariposa Spring Resort
• Graceland Country Club
• Max Restaurant -Tayabas Branch

Notable people from Tayabas

• Orlando Nadres--1938-1991 - writer
• Bishop Alfredo Maria Obviar - first bishop of the Diocese of Lucena, founder of MCST, declared a Servant of God
• Hermana Fausta Labrador - born in Tayabas/founder of Sacred Heart College (Lucena City). her father's surname was originally San Agustin until he changed it to Labrador in compliance with the decree of Governor General Narciso Claveria
• Paraluman (Sigrid Sophia Agatha von Giese y de Torres)--December 4, 1923-April 27, 2009 - Award-winning actress active from the 1940s to the 1970s
• Isidro Cabuyao Sia - 1992 TOYM awardee for Pharmacology
• Victor Emmanuel Carmelo "Vim" D. Nadera, Jr. - 2003 TOYM awardee for Literature
• Heidi Lloce Mendoza - the truth teller during the anomaly in AFP.

External links

• The Official Website of the Municipality of Tayabas
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 1995 Philippine Census Information
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• 2007 Philippine Census Information (1)
• 2007 Philippine Census Information (2)
• Local Governance Performance Management System