The City of Tayabas, or Lungsod ng Tayabas, is a partially urban constituent city of the Quezon province found in the south Luzon region of the Philippines. It is situated on the southeastern foothills of Mount Banahaw, surrounded by several municipalitiesin the Quezon province. To its north lies Lucban, Mauban and Sampaloc, to its southeast are Atimonan and Pagbilao, to its south lays the provincial capital of Lucena City, and Sariaya to its west. The city lies approximately 150 kilometers southeast of Manila and about 10 kilometers from Lucena City. It has a total land area of 301.8 km² which is politically subdivided into 66 barangays. 19 of these are located at the city center, while 47 are classified as rural barangays. The city’s compact urban core comprises only of 82.15 hectares, which is less than 1% of its total land area.
The city’s economy is largely based on agriculture, with coconut as one of its major products.
The manufacturing and processing plants found in the city process coconut-based products, such as soaps, coconut cooking oil, and coconut wine, or lambanog. Other popular food products in Tayabas include cassava cake, espasol and nilupak. Handicrafts, such as weaving of baskets, buri hats, bags, and mats are other industries found in the city.
Aside from these, Tayabas also has a growing tourism industryas the city diligently preserves many of its historical sites that date back to the Spanish colonial era. One of its famous landmarks is the San Miguel Archangel Minor Basilica which was built in the 17th century. It is the second largest church in the Philippines and boasts of an aisle that measures 103 meters.It houses many antique religious icons and images, chandeliers, altar, and a beautifully painted vaulted ceiling which is reminiscent of Renaissance churches in Italy. The hotels and resorts set against the breath taking backdrop of nature have also attracted tourists in the city.
The founding of Tayabas as a town under the Spanish colonizersbegan in 1578 when the Franciscan missionaries Father Juan de Plasencia and Father Diego de Oropesa built a parish. In 1779, Tayabas town was made the capital of Tayabas province, which was later named Quezon, and had served this purpose for 131 years.
Tayabas took a spot in history when its most famous son, Apolinario De La Cruz (Hermano Pule), led the Confradia de San Jose which was a prayer movement against Spanish oppression. On October 23, 1841, the movement fought a battle in barrio Isabang where they won and killed many Spanish officials, including the town’s alcalde mayor. But during a battle at the Alitao River in November 1, 1841, over a hundred members of the Confradia were massacred by Spanish soldiers and Hermano Pule was captured. He was executed by beheading in the town plaza. His death and the massacre of the Confradia members resulted in an attack on the walled city of Intramuros in Manila by Sergeant Samaniego on January 28, 1843. Two days after, the city was recaptured by the Spanish and the rebels were executed.
In 1910, after the defeat of Spain to the United States over the Philippines and under the American occupation, the provincial capital was moved to Lucena City. On March 18, 2007, Tayabas was converted into Quezon province’s second constituent city upon the enactment of Republic Act No. 9398.
Residential Places in Tayabas
Tayabas is politically subdivided into 66 barangays, all of which are composed of residential neighborhoods. Some of these residential neighborhoodsare found in gated communities which are locally referred to as subdivisions and villages. These are the often preferred residence of middle to upper class families. They often feature a walled perimeter with guarded entrances and a list of attractive facilities and amenities. Their most common amenities are lighted streets, a centralized water distribution system, concrete paved streets, and garbage management.
Some of Tayabas City’s subdivisions and villages are Vista Verde Executive Village, Talaverde Heights, St. Dominic Village I, San Juan Estates, Divine Mercy Subdivision, and MSN Subdivision.
Hospitals and Universities of Tayabas
Healthcare and medical services in the city are provided by the Tayabas community Hospital found in Barangay Wakas. This private tertiary care hospital carries a 135 bed capacity as well as most modern medical and diagnostic facilities. It is staffed with qualified and experienced physicians and visiting specialist consultants to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment. The hospital provides services in general medicine and other subspecialties in internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and obstetrics-gynecology.
To make up for the lack of hospitals and medical centers in the city, private dental and medical clinics have become an integral part of the healthcare system in the city. In addition to these, barangay health centers serve as vehicles in the local government’s delivery of healthcare services to rural barangays.
There are no educational institutionsin Tayabas that provide tertiary education to its residents. Most college students from Tayabas simply opt to travel to the capital city where most tertiary educational institutions are located, or to the adjoining provinces of Laguna and Batangas.
Commercial Places in Tayabas
Although Tayabas is a fast-growing progressive city, it still lacks in large modern shopping malls that have been the usual trademarks of most modern cities. Its close proximity to Lucena City seems to make up for this lack. In place of these large shopping malls are several small retail centersthat can provide most common commodities.
One must not also disregard the public open-air markets that are staple commercial centers in any location in the Philippines. These are often the prime venues for shopping for fresh seafood, meat and meat products, and poultry. Fresh produce, rice, most basic cooking ingredients, house wares, some items of clothing, and footwear are also found here.
Tayabas is home to the renowned restaurants Kamayan sa Palaisdaan and Palaisdaan Restaurant. Their customers are given a unique dining experience as these establishments have their chairs and tables set on bamboo rafts in the middle of fish ponds. Orders are caught fresh from these ponds and are cooked right in front of their customers.
Alternatively, the hotels and resorts found in the city may also serve as venues for dining and recreation. One of these most prominent establishments is the Nawawalang Paraiso Hotel & Restaurant found in Barangay Camysa. Surrounding its summer cottages and pools are lush trees, ferns, and flowering plants to create the perfect relaxing atmosphere. Its restaurant is set al fresco to take advantage of the natural ambiance. Another premiere recreational destination in Tayabas is the Graceland Resort and Country Club. It boasts of a beautifully landscaped golf course, a horseback riding range, and a restaurant set in the middle of a man-made lagoon.
Other notable resorts and hotels found in the city include the Mariposa Picnic Grove, Mainit Hot springs, and the Villa Cecilia Resort,.
Service Establishments of Tayabas
Electricity in the city is generated by the National Power corporationand distributed by the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO). The company has 100% coverage in urban and rural barangays.
Telecommunication companies servicing the city are the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and Digitel Telecommunications. Both companies provide traditional fixed line services and internet access via dial-up and digital subscriber line (DSL). Alternative internet service provider in the city is SmartBro of Smart Communications, a subsidiary of PLDT. SmartBro provides wireless internet connection via broadband.
Smart Communications, together with Globe Telecom and Sun Cellular of Digitel Telecommunications, are the major cellular service providers in the city. All companies provide postpaid and prepaid subscription packages.
The Quezon provincial police station is located at Camp Guillermo Nakar in Lucena City. Tayabas City police stations are found in every barangay to ensure the safety and orderliness in the city.
Embassies in Tayabas
Tayabas City does not have any foreign embassies or consulateslocated in its locality. The bulk of these diplomatic missions to the Philippines have their offices located in the cities of Makati and Manila in the National Capital Region. Air-conditioned buses travel from Makati to Lucena City daily.
The city’s economy is largely based on agriculture, with coconut as one of its major products.
The manufacturing and processing plants found in the city process coconut-based products, such as soaps, coconut cooking oil, and coconut wine, or lambanog. Other popular food products in Tayabas include cassava cake, espasol and nilupak. Handicrafts, such as weaving of baskets, buri hats, bags, and mats are other industries found in the city.
Aside from these, Tayabas also has a growing tourism industryas the city diligently preserves many of its historical sites that date back to the Spanish colonial era. One of its famous landmarks is the San Miguel Archangel Minor Basilica which was built in the 17th century. It is the second largest church in the Philippines and boasts of an aisle that measures 103 meters.It houses many antique religious icons and images, chandeliers, altar, and a beautifully painted vaulted ceiling which is reminiscent of Renaissance churches in Italy. The hotels and resorts set against the breath taking backdrop of nature have also attracted tourists in the city.
The founding of Tayabas as a town under the Spanish colonizersbegan in 1578 when the Franciscan missionaries Father Juan de Plasencia and Father Diego de Oropesa built a parish. In 1779, Tayabas town was made the capital of Tayabas province, which was later named Quezon, and had served this purpose for 131 years.
Tayabas took a spot in history when its most famous son, Apolinario De La Cruz (Hermano Pule), led the Confradia de San Jose which was a prayer movement against Spanish oppression. On October 23, 1841, the movement fought a battle in barrio Isabang where they won and killed many Spanish officials, including the town’s alcalde mayor. But during a battle at the Alitao River in November 1, 1841, over a hundred members of the Confradia were massacred by Spanish soldiers and Hermano Pule was captured. He was executed by beheading in the town plaza. His death and the massacre of the Confradia members resulted in an attack on the walled city of Intramuros in Manila by Sergeant Samaniego on January 28, 1843. Two days after, the city was recaptured by the Spanish and the rebels were executed.
In 1910, after the defeat of Spain to the United States over the Philippines and under the American occupation, the provincial capital was moved to Lucena City. On March 18, 2007, Tayabas was converted into Quezon province’s second constituent city upon the enactment of Republic Act No. 9398.
Residential Places in Tayabas
Tayabas is politically subdivided into 66 barangays, all of which are composed of residential neighborhoods. Some of these residential neighborhoodsare found in gated communities which are locally referred to as subdivisions and villages. These are the often preferred residence of middle to upper class families. They often feature a walled perimeter with guarded entrances and a list of attractive facilities and amenities. Their most common amenities are lighted streets, a centralized water distribution system, concrete paved streets, and garbage management.
Some of Tayabas City’s subdivisions and villages are Vista Verde Executive Village, Talaverde Heights, St. Dominic Village I, San Juan Estates, Divine Mercy Subdivision, and MSN Subdivision.
Hospitals and Universities of Tayabas
Healthcare and medical services in the city are provided by the Tayabas community Hospital found in Barangay Wakas. This private tertiary care hospital carries a 135 bed capacity as well as most modern medical and diagnostic facilities. It is staffed with qualified and experienced physicians and visiting specialist consultants to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment. The hospital provides services in general medicine and other subspecialties in internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and obstetrics-gynecology.
To make up for the lack of hospitals and medical centers in the city, private dental and medical clinics have become an integral part of the healthcare system in the city. In addition to these, barangay health centers serve as vehicles in the local government’s delivery of healthcare services to rural barangays.
There are no educational institutionsin Tayabas that provide tertiary education to its residents. Most college students from Tayabas simply opt to travel to the capital city where most tertiary educational institutions are located, or to the adjoining provinces of Laguna and Batangas.
Commercial Places in Tayabas
Although Tayabas is a fast-growing progressive city, it still lacks in large modern shopping malls that have been the usual trademarks of most modern cities. Its close proximity to Lucena City seems to make up for this lack. In place of these large shopping malls are several small retail centersthat can provide most common commodities.
One must not also disregard the public open-air markets that are staple commercial centers in any location in the Philippines. These are often the prime venues for shopping for fresh seafood, meat and meat products, and poultry. Fresh produce, rice, most basic cooking ingredients, house wares, some items of clothing, and footwear are also found here.
Tayabas is home to the renowned restaurants Kamayan sa Palaisdaan and Palaisdaan Restaurant. Their customers are given a unique dining experience as these establishments have their chairs and tables set on bamboo rafts in the middle of fish ponds. Orders are caught fresh from these ponds and are cooked right in front of their customers.
Alternatively, the hotels and resorts found in the city may also serve as venues for dining and recreation. One of these most prominent establishments is the Nawawalang Paraiso Hotel & Restaurant found in Barangay Camysa. Surrounding its summer cottages and pools are lush trees, ferns, and flowering plants to create the perfect relaxing atmosphere. Its restaurant is set al fresco to take advantage of the natural ambiance. Another premiere recreational destination in Tayabas is the Graceland Resort and Country Club. It boasts of a beautifully landscaped golf course, a horseback riding range, and a restaurant set in the middle of a man-made lagoon.
Other notable resorts and hotels found in the city include the Mariposa Picnic Grove, Mainit Hot springs, and the Villa Cecilia Resort,.
Service Establishments of Tayabas
Electricity in the city is generated by the National Power corporationand distributed by the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO). The company has 100% coverage in urban and rural barangays.
Telecommunication companies servicing the city are the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and Digitel Telecommunications. Both companies provide traditional fixed line services and internet access via dial-up and digital subscriber line (DSL). Alternative internet service provider in the city is SmartBro of Smart Communications, a subsidiary of PLDT. SmartBro provides wireless internet connection via broadband.
Smart Communications, together with Globe Telecom and Sun Cellular of Digitel Telecommunications, are the major cellular service providers in the city. All companies provide postpaid and prepaid subscription packages.
The Quezon provincial police station is located at Camp Guillermo Nakar in Lucena City. Tayabas City police stations are found in every barangay to ensure the safety and orderliness in the city.
Embassies in Tayabas
Tayabas City does not have any foreign embassies or consulateslocated in its locality. The bulk of these diplomatic missions to the Philippines have their offices located in the cities of Makati and Manila in the National Capital Region. Air-conditioned buses travel from Makati to Lucena City daily.