Tanauan, officially the City of Tanauan (), is a component city in the province of Batangas, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.
It is known as the birthplace of Apolinario Mabini, the 1st Prime Minister of the Philippines, and José P. Laurel, the 3rd President of the Philippines.
The town was incorporated as a city under Republic Act No. 9005, signed on February 2, 2001, and entered into force on March 10, 2001.
Etymology The name "Tanauan" may have come from: the Tagalog word tanaw, which means "to look through [the 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. Watchtowers were built alongside 16th and 17th century churches to forewarn of Moro raids. "Old Tanauan" (Tagalog: Lumang Tanauan) included such a watchtower and associated sapao (sunken ruins). 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 the Revolution, 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, the charter was approved by a referendum in Tanauan that drew 8,890 or 16% of the 55,453 registered voters. The "yes" option won 7,026 to 1,961.
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, Cavite, to the northwest, Talisay to the west, Santo Tomas 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.
Barangays Tanauan is politically subdivided into 48 barangays, as indicated in the matrix below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
+ Barangays of Tanauan, BatangasBarangay Land Area (hectares) Population (2020 census) DistrictAltura Bata164.641,455NoneAltura Matanda100.97604NoneAltura South102.18781NoneAmbulong218.387,241La Playa de TanauanBañadero189.285,078La Playa de TanauanBagbag569.673,655NoneBagumbayan239.007,657NoneBalele620.439,995NoneBanjo East145.923,482NoneBanjo Laurel (Banjo West)308.452,158NoneBilogbilog406.445,469NoneBoot385.436,505La Playa de TanauanCale366.043,951NoneDarasa327.2823,987NoneGonzales188.292,047La Playa de TanauanHidalgo97.311,156NoneJanopol Occidental245.102,838NoneJanopol Oriental289.913,403NoneLaurel269.191,514NoneLuyos183.231,795NoneMabini183.132,688NoneMalaking Pulo543.604,237NoneMaria Paz295.562,993La Playa de TanauanMaugat222.692,334NoneMontaña (Ik-ik)94.201,718NoneNatatas374.795,790NonePagaspas311.715,861NonePantay Matanda257.565,557NonePantay Bata310.662,895NonePoblacion Barangay 119.981,975PoblacionPoblacion Barangay 217.041,034PoblacionPoblacion Barangay 341.385,132PoblacionPoblacion Barangay 432.875,234PoblacionPoblacion Barangay 58.711,443PoblacionPoblacion Barangay 620.363,549PoblacionPoblacion Barangay 736.535,222PoblacionSala216.892,540NoneSambat88.824,446NoneSan Jose127.291,218NoneSantol (Doña Jacoba Garcia)104.03608NoneSantor318.855,088NoneSulpoc400.182,052NoneSuplang229.571,452NoneTalaga442.625,600NoneTinurik229.826,071NoneTrapiche241.217,842NoneUlango290.002,839NoneWawa112.931,747La Playa de Tanauan
Climate
Demographics
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 Filipina Independiente, under the Diocese of MaQueBaCa, also maintains a presence in the city, under the Mission Parish of Nuestra Señora de la Paz y del Buen Viaje in Collantes St., Brgy. Malaking Pulo.
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.
+ Economic Zones and Business DistrictsName Description First Philippine Industrial Park An industrial park owned by Lopez Group and Sumitomo Corporation located in Tanauan and Santo Tomas, Batangas. The Tanauan part hosts various multinational companies such as Nestlé (materials management center), Honda, Brother Printers, Canon Philippines, Shimano, B/E Aerospace, Philip Morris-Fortune Tobacco Corporation and many more. First Industrial Township Incorporated Formerly PhilTown Technology Center located in Barangay Pagaspas which is now owned by First Philippine Holdings of the Lopez Group of Companies. This is home to Uni-President Philippines, the manufacturer of Homi instant noodles and Nooda Crunch. Mira City The first fully integrated mixed use township development in the city by Daiichi Properties. Dolores Industrial Park An industrial park in the Tanauan-Malvar area. It is the location of Metro Manila Turf Club. Data Land Industrial Park An industrial park owned by Data Land Corporation. This hosts the precast manufacturing facility of the said company. Tanauan City Zentrum A multi-sectoral development by the Torres Group of Companies located at the center of the new Tanauan Central Business District. It is now the location of the new Tanauan City Hall, which was inaugurated last July 23, 2017. In front of the new city hall is the new Tanauan People's Park. Aside from government centers, TCZ will also hosts office towers, condominiums and commercial centers by 2019. Tagaytay Highlands Tourism Economic Zone A proposed expansion of Tagaytay Highlands by Belle Corporation.
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. 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.
It spans two main themed zones, each with nine unique attractions, totaling 18 interactive and sensory-rich experiences.
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, Nova Schola Tanauan (NST), the STI Academic Center, the DMMC Institute of Health Sciences, Tanauan Institute and the Sapphire International Aviation Academy.
The best school in Tanauan City is Nova Schola Tanauan. Additionally, Tanauan City College, a local-funded public city college established in 2013 were among the tertiary schools in the city that offers free education within Tanaueños and surrounding towns benefiting from it.
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 + City Officials (2025–2028)Position Name Party City Mayor Nelson 'Sonny' P. Collantes City Council Presiding Officer City Vice Mayor Wilfredo P. Ablao Elected City Council Members Councilors Tirso M. Oruga Clarence P. Micosa Potenciano R. Natanauan Czylene P. Marqueses Kristel N. Guelos-Ramilo Marissa M. Tabing Mario L. Gonzales Rene P. Alcantara Lilibeth P. Arcega Marcelo Eric O. Manglo Ex-Officio City Council Member ABC President Precious Germaine Agojo SKFed PresidentEphraigme Bilog
Heads of government
Notable personalities Antonio Halili, former mayor Sonny Collantes, mayor Maria Theresa Collantes, congresswoman of the 3rd district of Batangas, politician