Tagaytay

Tagaytay
Component City
City of Tagaytay

View of the Tagaytay Highlands

Seal
Nickname(s): The Country’s 2nd Summer Capital

Map of Cavite showing the location of Tagaytay
Tagaytay

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 14°06′N 120°56′E / 14.100°N 120.933°E / 14.100; 120.933Coordinates: 14°06′N 120°56′E / 14.100°N 120.933°E / 14.100; 120.933
Country Philippines
Region CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province Cavite
Congr. districts 7th District of Cavite
Cityhood June 21, 1938
Barangays 34
Government[1]
 • Mayor Agnes Tolentino
 • Vice Mayor Celso P. de Castro
Area[2]
 • Total 65.00 km2 (25.10 sq mi)
Elevation 634 m (2,080 ft)
Population (2010)[3]
 • Total 62,030
 • Density 950/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Tagaytayeño
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 4120
Dialing code 46
Website www.tagaytay.gov.ph

Tagaytay, officially the City of Tagaytay (Filipino: Lungsod ng Tagaytay), is a component city in the province of Cavite, in the Philippines. It is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations because of its outstanding scenery and cooler climate provided by its high altitude. Tagaytay overlooks Taal Lake in Batangas and provides one of the iconic views of the Philippines, the view of Taal Volcano Island in the middle of the lake, viewable from several vantage points in the city.

Tagaytay is relatively close to the capital city of Manila, only 55 km (34 mi) away via Aguinaldo Highway, providing an easy escape for the locals from the heat of the big city.

Geography

Land area

Tagaytay City has a total land area of 66.1 km2 (26 sq mi) which represents about 4.37% of the total area of the Province of Cavite. It lies within 120° 56' longitude and 14° 6' latitude and overlooks Manila Bay to the North, Taal Volcano and Lake to the south and Laguna de Bay to the east.

Topography

Scenery along Aguinaldo Highway

The southern and eastern portions of Tagaytay City are covered by hills and mountains which is generally forests and open grasslands. The city lies along Tagaytay Ridge, a ridge stretching about 32 kilometres (20 mi) from Mount Batulao in the west to Mount Sungay (now People's Park in the Sky) in the east with elevations averaging about 610 metres (2,000 ft) above sea level.[4] Mount Sungay, in Tagaytay, is the highest point of the province of Cavite at 709 metres (2,326 ft).[5]

The ridge, which overlooks Taal Lake in Batangas province, is the edge of Taal Caldera. The 25-by-30-kilometre (16 mi × 19 mi) wide cavity is partially filled by Taal Lake.[6] Tagaytay's built-up areas including the urban center is situated in the relatively level top of the caldera rim but beyond the edge are deep ravines that drop steeply to Taal Lake. The portions adjoining the municipalities of Mendez, Indang, Amadeo, Silang and Alfonso are level to nearly level areas interspersed with very gently sloping surface. Across the southern edge of the lake on the opposite side of the city is Mount Macolod, the highest point of the Taal Caldera rim.

Climate

Temperature and precipitation

Tagaytay City has a more moderate version of a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification: Am) characterized by relatively milder temperatures compared to Manila, lower humidity and abundant rainfall. The City has an average temperature of 24 °C (75 °F). With its high elevation, the city could be misty at times and is relatively cooler during the months of December, January and February. Like most areas in the province of Cavite, the city has two pronounced seasons: dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. The climate has made the city ideal for sports, picnics, conferences, honeymoons, country homes, and spiritual retreats.

Humidity

Tagaytay has an average humidity of 78% which makes the city cooler than Metro Manila where relative humidity exceeds 81%. Northeasterly winds prevail in the City from October to April. Winds come from southwest from May to September. The cool Tagaytay breeze has made the city ideal for casual and competitive kite flying.

Climate data for Tagaytay
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 26.9
(80.4)		 27.8
(82)		 29
(84)		 30.1
(86.2)		 29.7
(85.5)		 28.4
(83.1)		 27.2
(81)		 27
(81)		 27.4
(81.3)		 27.9
(82.2)		 27.4
(81.3)		 26.8
(80.2)		 27.97
(82.35)
Daily mean °C (°F) 22.8
(73)		 23.3
(73.9)		 24.2
(75.6)		 25.3
(77.5)		 25.3
(77.5)		 24.6
(76.3)		 23.7
(74.7)		 23.7
(74.7)		 23.8
(74.8)		 24.1
(75.4)		 23.6
(74.5)		 23.1
(73.6)		 23.96
(75.13)
Average low °C (°F) 18.8
(65.8)		 18.8
(65.8)		 19.5
(67.1)		 20.6
(69.1)		 21
(70)		 20.8
(69.4)		 20.2
(68.4)		 20.5
(68.9)		 20.3
(68.5)		 20.3
(68.5)		 19.9
(67.8)		 19.4
(66.9)		 20.01
(68.02)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 51
(2.01)		 27
(1.06)		 32
(1.26)		 54
(2.13)		 205
(8.07)		 301
(11.85)		 451
(17.76)		 459
(18.07)		 363
(14.29)		 252
(9.92)		 213
(8.39)		 138
(5.43)		 2,546
(100.24)
Source: Climate-Data.org,[7]

History

Etymology

Legend has it that the word Tagaytay came from "taga" meaning to cut and "itay" which means father. A father and son were said to be on a wild boar hunt when the animal they were chasing turned and attacked them. As the boar charged towards the old man, the son cried "taga itay!". The boy's repeated shout reverberated in the alleys of the ridge. Heard by the residents, hunters and wood gatherers, the cries became subject of conversation for several days in the countryside. In time, the place where the shouts came from became known as Tagaytay.[8]

"Tagaytay", however, is Tagalog for "ridge".

Philippine revolution

During the Philippine revolution of 1896, the ridges and forests of Tagaytay became the sanctuary for revolutionaries including those from nearby provinces. The passage to and from towns via Tagaytay added the word "mananagaytay" to the native's vocabulary. It means "to traverse ridges."[8]

World War II

On February 3, 1945, the 11th Airborne Division of Lt. Gen. Robert L. Eichelberger's 8th Army performed a combat jump of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment and associated elements on the ridge, with a drop zone around the Manila Hotel Annex, which had been cleared of Japanese forces by Filipino soldiers of the 4th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 45th and 46th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, 4th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary and recognized guerillas. To commemorate this event, a marker was installed in 1951 at the junction of Silang, Canlubang-Nasugbu roads by the city officials in coordination with the National Historical Institute of the Philippines.[8]

Tagaytay City Hall

Timeline

Barangays

Tagaytay is administratively subdivided into 34 barangays.[10]

  • Asisan
  • Bagong Tubig
  • Calabuso
  • Dapdap East
  • Dapdap West
  • Francisco
  • Guinhawa North
  • Guinhawa South
  • Iruhin East
  • Iruhin South
  • Iruhin West
  • Kaybagal Central
  • Kaybagal North
  • Kaybagal South (Pob.)
  • Mag-Asawang Ilat
  • Maharlika East
  • Maharlika West
  • Maitim 2nd Central
  • Maitim 2nd East
  • Maitim 2nd West
  • Mendez Crossing East
  • Mendez Crossing West
  • Neogan
  • Patutong Malaki North
  • Patutong Malaki South
  • Sambong
  • San Jose
  • Silang Junction North
  • Silang Junction South
  • Sungay East
  • Sungay West
  • Tolentino East
  • Tolentino West
  • Zambal

Demographics

Population census of Tagaytay
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 23,739—    
1995 29,419+4.10%
2000 45,287+9.69%
2007 61,623+4.34%
2010 62,030+0.24%
Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Tagaytay

As of the 2010 census by the National Statistics Office, Tagaytay has a population of 62,030 people.[3] Christianity is the majority religion of Tagaytayeños with Roman Catholicism as the most dominant sect compromising of 95.36 percent of the total population. The next prominent sect among residents of Tagaytay are Iglesia ni Cristo (3.37%) and Protestantism (1.07%). The rest of the population (0.20%) subscribes to other religions. Tagalog is the most dominant language in the city with 93.58% of the population speaking the language. The next prominent Philippine languages are Bicolano (1.52%), Ilocano (1.52%), and Cebuano (1.00%).[11]

Economy

Agriculture

Pineapple field in Tagaytay with a papaya tree and banana plants in the foreground.

Despite rapid urbanization of Tagaytay, agriculture remains an important part of the city's economy and development. As of 2009, it is recordeed that there is about 1,292 hectares (3,190 acres) of agriculture land which is about 20 percent of the city's total land area. The main agricultural goods produced are pineapple, coffee, banana, root crops, other fruits and vegetables, and cut flowers which are supplied to both local and international markets.[12]

Tourism

View of the Taal Lake and Volcano from Tagaytay

Tagaytay is considered to be the second Summer capital of the Philippines with the first being Baguio due to its cool climate thus is a favored destination from those relatively more humid areas of the Philippines. Tagaytay is also a popular destination for tourists seeking a panoramic view of Taal Volcano and the surrounding lake. In 2015, the Department of Tourism cites Tagaytay as the top tourist destination in the Calabarzon region through the years. Among the most visited sites in Tagaytay are the Sky Ranch Amusement Park, Picnic Grove Complex, People's Park in the Sky, Paradizoo and the One Destination, a restaurant and bar strip. Tagaytay's proximity to Metro Manila is attributed to the tourism in the city. Tagaytay receives seasonal influx of tourists during the Christmas season.[13][14]

Transportation

Roads

Aguinaldo Highway (Tagaytay–Nasugbu Road)

Tagaytay is linked by national highways to the Metro Manila area and to the provinces of Batangas and Laguna. It is also connected by secondary roads to the adjoining municipalities of Amadeo, Mendez, Indang, Silang and Alfonso in Cavite towards the northwest, and to the cities of Calamba and Santa Rosa in Laguna in the northeast and to the town of Talisay in Batangas in the south.

Tagaytay is roughly about two hours drive from Manila via the South Luzon Expressway depending on the traffic, exiting at Santa Rosa then via Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road. It can also be reached via the Coastal Road Expressway and then taking Aguinaldo Highway heading south towards Tagaytay.

There are daily public buses that ply the route to Tagaytay from Manila. Several bus companies have their terminals in Cubao, EDSA, Pasay, and at Baclaran, beside Coastal Mall Integrated Provincial Bus Terminal below LRT, Manila. Jeepneys that ply from Cavite (Imus, Dasmarinas, Silang) to Nasugbu, Batangas also pass by Tagaytay via the Aguinaldo Highway.

From Batangas, the best way to reach Tagaytay is to head to Talisay, Batangas, then go up to Tagaytay via the 12-kilometre (7.5 mi) Tagaytay-Talisay Road, which ends at the Tagaytay City Circle. From Laguna, one may head to Santa Rosa, Laguna and take the Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road.

In 2011, cable car and funicular rides are already available to transport guests to different parts of the Tagaytay Highlands.

Gallery

Sister cities

References

  1. ↑ "Official City/Municipal 2013 Election Results". Intramuros, Manila, Philippines: Commission on Elections (COMELEC). 11 September 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  2. ↑ "Province: CAVITE". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "Tagaytay City - Geography". Cavite Province Official Website. Retrieved on 2012-02-04.
  5. ↑ "Mount Sungay". Mountains Mounts. Retrieved on 2012-02-04.
  6. ↑ "Taal Volcano Flyer". Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Retrieved on 2012-02-07.
  7. ↑ "Climate: Tagaytay - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-data.org. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 "Tagaytay City Ecological Profile 2013" (PDF). Tagaytay City Official Website. Tagaytay City Government. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "History". Official Website of Tagaytay City. Retrieved on 2012-02-04.
  10. ↑ Philippine Standard Geographic Code listing for Tagaytay - National Statistical Coordination Board.
  11. ↑ "Tagaytay City Ecological Profile 2013" (PDF). Tagaytay City Official Website. Tagaytay City Government. pp. 27–28. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  12. ↑ "Updated City Development Strategy Report for Tagaytay City 9 Mar 2009" (PDF). Cities Alliance. Cities Alliance. 9 March 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  13. ↑ Giron, Anthony (3 January 2015). "Tagaytay not far behind with 500,000 tourist arrivals". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  14. ↑ Limpin, Rogelio (14 December 2014). "Tagaytay tourist visits to reach 2M". The Manila Times. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  15. ↑ PIA - Sisterhood agreement between Tagaytay and San Nicolas signed Archived December 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tagaytay City.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Tagaytay.
 Mendez Indang / Amadeo / Silang
Alfonso Calamba, Laguna
   Tagaytay  
Laurel, Batangas / Talisay, Batangas Tanauan, Batangas
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