Tarlac

This article is about the Philippine province. For its capital city, see Tarlac City. For the river, see Tarlac River. For other uses, see Tarlac (disambiguation).
Tarlac
Province

Flag
Seal
Nickname(s): Melting Pot of Central Luzon
Sugar Capital of Luzon

Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°30′N 120°30′E / 15.500°N 120.500°ECoordinates: 15°30′N 120°30′E / 15.500°N 120.500°E
Country  Philippines
Region Central Luzon (Region III)
Founded 1872
Capital Tarlac City
Government
 • Type Province of the Philippines
 • Governor Victor A. Yap (NPC)
 • Vice Governor Enrique "Kit" Cojuangco, Jr. (NPC)
Area[1]
 • Total 3,053.60 km2 (1,179.00 sq mi)
Area rank 47th out of 80
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 1,273,240
 • Rank 22nd out of 80
 • Density 420/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
 • Density rank 14th out of 80
Divisions
 • Independent cities 0
 • Component cities 1
 • Municipalities 17
 • Barangays 511
 • Districts 1st to 3rd districts of Tarlac
Demographics
 • Ethnic groups Kapampangan (50%), Ilocano (41%), Tagalog (9%)
 • Languages Kapampangan, Ilocano, Tagalog, Pangasinan, English
Time zone PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code 2300 – 2318
Dialing code 45
ISO 3166 code PH-TAR

Tarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region in the island of Luzon. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west.

History

Tarlac's name is a Hispanized derivation from a talahib weed called "Malatarlak". Tarlac was originally a part of the provinces of Pampanga and Pangasinan. It was the last province in Central Luzon to be organized under the Spanish administration in 1874.

During the Philippine Revolution of 1896, Tarlac was among the first eight provinces to rise against Spain. It became the new seat of the first Philippine Republic on March 1899 when General Emilio Aguinaldo abandoned the former capital, Malolos, Bulacan. This lasted only for a month before the seat was moved to Nueva Ecija in Aguinaldo's attempt to elude the pursuing Americans.

On October 23, 1899, Gregorio Aglipay, military vicar general of the revolutionary forces, called the Filipino clergy to a conference in Paniqui. There, they drafted the constitution of the Philippine Independent Church. They called for the Filipinization of the clergy, which eventually led to a separation from the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines.

Tarlac was captured by American forces on November 1899. A civil government was established in the province in 1901.

During World War II, Camp O'Donnell in Capas became the terminal point of the infamous Bataan Death March of Filipino and American soldiers who surrendered at Bataan on April 9, 1942. Many prisoners died of hunger or execution. The general headquarters of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was established from 1942 to 1946 and the 3rd Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary was founding again from 1944 to 1946 and military stationed in the province of Tarlac and some parts in Central Luzon due to Japanese Occupation. Local troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army units has sending the clearing military operations in the province of Tarlac and Central Luzon from 1942 to 1945 and aided them by the recognized guerrilla groups including Hukbalahap Communist fighters and attacking Japanese Imperial forces. But in the aftermath, some local guerrilla resistance fighters and Hukbahalap groups are became retreating Imperial Japanese troops around the province and before the liberation from the Allied forces.

In early 1945, combined American and Filipino military forces with the recognized Aringay Command guerillas liberated Camp O'Donnell. The Raid at Capas resulted in the rescue of American, Filipino and other allied Prisoners of War.

From January 20, 1945 to August 15, 1945, Tarlac was recaptured by combined Filipino and American troops together with the recognized guerrilla fighters against the Japanese Imperial forces during the liberation and beginning for the Battle of Tarlac.

In the early 1950s, Tarlac became a hotbed for the Hukbalahap, a local communist movement headed by Benigno Aquino, Sr., father of the late Ninoy Aquino. It was initially suppressed but resurfaced in 1965.

Geography

Physical

The province is situated at the center of the central plains of Luzon, landlocked by four provinces: Pampanga on the south, Nueva Ecija on the east, Pangasinan on the north, and Zambales on the west. Approximately 75% of the province is plains while the rest is hilly to mountainous.

Like the rest of Central Luzon, the province has two distinct seasons: dry from November to April and wet for the rest of the year. It is the coldest province in the region, with an average of 24 °C (75 °F).

Eastern Tarlac is a plain, while Western Tarlac is hilly to mountainous. Because of this, the province includes a large portion of mountains like Mt. Telakawa (Straw Hat Mountain), located at Capas, Tarlac. Mt. Bueno, Mt. Mor-Asia and Mt. Canouman are located also in Capas as well as Mt. Dalin. The other mountains are Mt. Dueg and Mt. Maasin, found in the municipality of San Clemente. Also noted are Mt. Damas of Camiling. The whole of Mayantoc and San Jose are mountainous so it is suitable for the highest natural resources and forest products in the province such as coal, iron, copper, vegetables, fruits, log fires, sand, rocks and forest animals such as wild boar and deer. The main water sources for agriculture include the Tarlac River at Tarlac City, the Lucong and Parua rivers in Concepcion, Sacobia Bamban River in Bamban and the Rio Chico in La Paz

Administrative

Tarlac is subdivided into 17 municipalities and 1 component city, all of which are divided into three congressional districts. There are a total of 511 barangays comprising the province.

Political map of Tarlac
  †  Provincial capital and component city
Seal Municipality
or city		 Legislative
district[3]		 Land
area
(km2)[3]		 Population
(2010)[4]		 Pop.
density
(per km2)		 No. of
barangays		 ZIP code Income
class[3]		 Location
Anao 1st 23.87 10,873 455.5 18 2310 5th
Bamban 3rd 251.98 62,413 247.7 15 2317 2nd
Camiling 1st 140.53 80,241 571 61 2306 1st
Capas 3rd 376.39 125,852 334.4 20 2315 1st
Concepcion 3rd 242.99 139,832 575.5 45 2316 1st
Gerona 2nd 128.89 83,084 644.6 44 2302 1st
La Paz 3rd 114.33 60,982 533.4 21 2314 2nd
Mayantoc 1st 311.42 29,987 96.3 24 2304 3rd
Moncada 1st 85.75 56,183 655.2 37 2408 1st
Paniqui 1st 105.16 87,730 834.3 35 2307 1st
Pura 1st 31.01 22,949 740.1 16 2312 4th
Ramos 1st 24.40 20,249 829.9 9 2311 5th
San Clemente 1st 49.73 12,510 251.6 12 2305 5th
San Jose 2nd 592.81 33,960 57.3 13 2318 3rd
San Manuel 1st 42.10 24,289 576.9 15 2309 4th
Santa Ignacia 1st 146.07 43,787 299.8 24 2303 2nd
Tarlac City † 2nd 274.66 318,322 1159 76 2300 1st
Victoria 2nd 111.51 59,987 538 26 2313 2nd
Tarlac Total 1st - 3rd
districts 		3,053.60[1] 1,273,240 417 511 2300 – 2318 1st class[1]
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Barangays

The 17 municipalities and 1 city of the province comprise a total of 511 barangays, with Cristo Rey in Capas as the most populous in 2010, and Malonzo in Bamban as the least.[4][3]

Further information: List of barangays in Tarlac

Demographics

Population census of Tarlac
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 859,708—    
1995 945,810+1.80%
2000 1,068,783+2.65%
2007 1,243,449+2.11%
2010 1,273,240+0.87%
Source: National Statistics Office[2]

As of the 2010 census, Tarlac has a population of 1,273,240.[2] Its population density is 417/km2 (1,080/sq mi).

In the city of Tarlac and the towns of Concepcion, Bamban, Capas, and parts of La Paz, Kapampangan is the spoken language whereas Ilocano and Pangasinan are used in the rest of the province. Tagalog is widely understood throughout the province.

Economy

The economy of Tarlac is predominantly agricultural. Principal crops are rice and sugarcane. Other major crops are corn and coconut; vegetables such as eggplant, garlic, and onion; and fruit trees like mango, banana, and calamansi. It is among the biggest producers of rice and sugarcane.

Because the province is landlocked, its fish production is limited to fishponds but it has vast river systems and irrigation. On the Zambales boundary to its west, forest land provides timber for the logging industry. Mineral reserves such as manganese and iron can also be found along the western section.

Tarlac has its own rice and corn mills, sawmills and logging outfits. It has three sugar centrals. Other firms service agricultural needs such as fertilizer. Among its cottage industries, ceramics has become available because of the abundant supply of clay. Some of the major industries here involve making are Chicharon and Iniruban in the municipality of Camiling, Ylang Ylang / Ilang-Ilang products of Anao and the Muscovado sugar products of Victoria. The province also boosts of sugar products in the Philippines. Tilapia production is also improving in Tarlac and is aiming to be the Tilapia capital of the Philippines.

Festivals

Chicharon Iniruban Festival.In the town of Camiling. Celebrated during the last week of October for the preparations for All Saints day and a thanks giving celebration for good harvest particularly (Iniruban) and good quality of meat products particularly the Chicharon or Bagnet. It also features the exotic but unique, delicious rice cakes the Ilocano called Iniruban. The fiesta's highlights are the street dancing competition, Miss Iniruban beauty pageant and the municipality's agri trade. It is the oldest cultural celebration in the province since 2000.

Tarlac Military Testing Ground

US and Philippine troops during a military exercise in Crow Valley, Tarlac

Recently, the Philippine Army has used Crow Valley in the borders of Barangay Patling and Sta. Lucia in Capas, Tarlac as a testing ground for both Philippine forces and allies. Many of the Philippine military testings were done on March 17, 2006 most likely as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines.

Belenismo sa Tarlac

“Belenismo sa Tarlac” (project to transform it to “Belen capital” of the Philippines) was launched by Isabel Cojuangco-Suntay, sister of former Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., president of the Tarlac Heritage Foundation. 2007 Belen Festival began in September, with the first Belen-making workshop to Dec. 16. Sen. Loren Legarda led the awarding of 16 winners in 5 categories—personal, grand, monumental, municipal and diorama. The Tarlac police office Belen, built by at least 24 policemen, won the first prize; Asiaten Hotel was second and restaurant Coconut Grill was third.[5]

Shopping

There are ten main shopping malls in Tarlac City; SM City Tarlac, which is the first SM Supermall in the province of Tarlac, is located on McArthur Highway, Brgy. San Roque, Tarlac City. The mall has a total floor area of 103,340 square meters on a 34,385 square meter land area. SM City Tarlac was opened to the public on April 30, 2010.

Other shopping centers/Supermarkets in the city are J-Mart, Robinsons Luisita (formerly Plaza Luisita Mall), Luisita Center, San Miguel, Tarlac, Robinsons Supermarket - Metrotown; Robinsons Supermarket - F. Tanedo; Robinsons Easymart - San Sebastian; Robinsons Easymart - San Vicente; Robinsons Easymart - Ligtasan; RCS - Tarlac City (u/c); Super 8 - San Nicolas; EZ City Center (5); Uniwide-Tarlac Central Mall; My Metro Town Mall; C&S Shopping Complex; Cindy's Family Plaza; Magic Star Mall - Cut-cut, Tarlac City; Magic Star Supermarket - Matatalaib, Tarlac City; Puregold-Tarlac Downtown Market; Puregold Jr. - Palm Plaza; Puregold Jr. - Citywalk; City Walk Mall; Palm Plaza Mall and The Market City (u/c)

Provincial Malls & Supermarket:

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities" (PDF). 2010 Census and Housing Population. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Province: Tarlac". Philippine Statistics Authority - National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "2010 Census of Population and Housing: Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay:as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). National Statistics Office. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Inquirer.net, Tarlac aims to become ‘Belen’ capital of RP

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tarlac.
 Pangasinan
Zambales Nueva Ecija
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