BATANGAS
History
Long before the colonization era, a civilization had already thrived in the province of Batangas. These inhabitants were said to be found in one of the major waterway of the province, the Pansipit River. Also, historical accounts thru archeological findings suggest that the natives within the purlieu are in extensive contact with other people as far as China and other neighboring countries. This can be proved by some notable findings of relics, stone implements, jewelries, ancient potteries, finding of fossils and the likes within the province.
The name “Batangan” or “Batangas” was derived from the word “batang”, which is a term of the natives for the numerous logs found in the Calumpang River, the body of water that runs through the northeastern portion of the town and assumes the shape of a tuning fork. Originally, Batangas was comprised of Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque and portions of Laguna and Ambos-Camarines and originally known as “Coumintan” or “Kumintang”. It is a song and dance repertoire that is very popular and distinct to the province.
Batangas was officially founded in the year 1581 and became the first practically organized province in Luzon in 1534. Balayan was the capital of the province for 135 years from 1597-
1732. In 1732 it was moved to Taal, the then most progressive and flourishing town of the Province. After several calamitous eruptions of Taal Volcano that buried the old Taal town site, the capital was transferred to Batangas (now a city) in 1754 where it has remained to the present.
During the Spanish-American war, many illustrious Batangueños made some pages in our history, most particularly Apolinario Mabini, the sublime paralytic and Brains of the Revolution, Marcela Agoncillo who made the present Philippine Flag, and General Miguel Malvar who was recognized as the last Filipino general to surrender to the Americans. Upon restoration of peace in 1901, the reign of Don Jose Villanueva who was installed Civil Governor by the Americans, marked a new thrust towards education, economic development and democratic government.
The Second World War somehow slackened progress in Batangas. However, prominent Batangueños did their best and contributed efforts to the speedy growth of the province after the war. To name a few are Sanoy Leviste, the Rectos, the Dioknos, Kalaws, and the Laurels who did their best not only for Batangas but for the whole Philippines as well.
Location, Land Area and Political Subdivisions
The province of Batangas is one of the five (5) provinces that comprise the CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) Region or Region IV-A. It is located at the intersection 13°15’ north latitude and 121° east longitude in southwestern Luzon in the midst of Tagalog region.
It is bounded on the north by the province of Cavite; on the northeast and east by the provinces of Laguna and Quezon respectively; on the south by Verde Island passages and the islands of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro; and on the west by West Philippine Sea. It can be reached through good roads from Manila by way of Cavite via Taqaytay City on the northwest and by way of Laguna via Calamba-Sto. Tomas boundary on the northeast; from Quezon province by way of two entrances at the boundaries of San Antonio and Padre Garcia and Candelaria and San Juan on the east.
It has a total land area of 316,581 hectares or 3,165.81 square kilometers and accounts for 1.06 percent of the Philippines’ total land area. The largest share of the provincial land area
belongs to Batangas City which has 28,296 hectares, equivalent to 8.93 percent while the smallest land area belongs to the Municipality of Sta. Teresita with 1,250 hectares, just about 0.4 percent of the Province’s total land area.
Batangas Province is comprised of thirty (30) municipalities, four (4) component cities and has one thousand seventy-eight (1,078) barangays. Likewise, the Province is politically subdivided into six (6) congressional districts classified as follows:
District I – the western section known as Sugar, Aqua-culture and Tourism Area composed of the eight (8) Municipalities of Nasugbu, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy, Balayan, Calaca, Lemery
and Taal.
District II – the southern portion and Industrial Area comprised of Municipalities of Bauan, Mabini, Lobo, San Luis, San Pascual and Tingloy.
District III – the Taal Lakeshore Area which is the northern part of the Province, cradling Tanauan City and the eleven (11) Municipalities of Agoncillo, Alitagtag, Balete, Cuenca, Laurel, Mataasnakahoy, Malvar, San Nicolas, Sta. Teresita, Sto. Tomas, Talisay.
District IV – the eastern section and Agribusiness area comprised of the six (6) Municipalities of Ibaan, Padre Garcia, Rosario, San Jose, San Juan and Taysan.
District V – City of Batangas, regarded as the capital of the Province and the seat of the Provincial Government. It is also considered as the center of trade and commerce as well as the major urban center of CALABARZON where the international port of entry is located.
District VI – City of Lipa, considered as the Little Rome of the Philippines, and the bastion of Catholic Faith in the country.
Source: Batangas 2021 Socio-Economic and Physical Profile