Tagaytay

Tagaytay
Component city
Tagaytay Highlands Tagaytay City Track Oval Taal Vista Hotel Tagaytay Rotonda Tagaytay–Nasugbu Highway Tagaytay City Hall
Flag Seal
Nickname:  Alternative Summer Capital of the Philippines
Map of Cavite with Tagaytay highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Tagaytay Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°06′N 120°56′E / 14.1°N 120.93°E / 14.1; 120.93
Country	Philippines
Region	Calabarzon
Province	Cavite
District	8th district
Foundation and cityhood	June 21, 1938[1]
Barangays	34 (see Barangays)
Government  [2]
• Type	Sangguniang Panlungsod
• Mayor	Abraham N. Tolentino
• Vice Mayor	Agnes D. Tolentino
• Representative	Aniela Bianca D. Tolentino
• City Council	Members Michael Francis C. Tolentino Joel B. Tibayan Yolanda A. Marasigan Jojit S. Desingaño Marcelo A. Austria Reynoso M. Espiritu Lorna S. Toledo Bianca Camille U. Pello Gener M. Vergara Annabelle M. Solis
• Electorate	51,601 voters (2022)
Area [3]
• Total	65.00 km2 (25.10 sq mi)
Elevation	634 m (2,080 ft)
Highest elevation	740 m (2,430 ft)
Lowest elevation	292 m (958 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[4]
• Total	85,330
• Density	1,300/km2 (3,400/sq mi)
• Households	22,399
Demonym	Tagaytayeño
Economy
• Income class	2nd city income class
• Poverty incidence	15.28 % (2021)[5]
• Revenue	₱ 1,270 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 6,680 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 1,250 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 1,764 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Manila Electric Company (Meralco)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	4120
PSGC	042119000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)46
Native languages	Tagalog
Numbered highways	N402 (Mendez–Tagaytay Road) N410 (Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay–Nasugbu Road) N420 (Tagaytay–Santa Rosa Road) N421 (Tagaytay–Calamba Road, Ligaya Drive)
Major religions	Roman Catholicism Protestantism Eastern Orthodoxy
Feast date	February 11
Ecclesiastical diocese	Diocese of Imus (Roman Catholic) Diocese of the Philippines and Vietnam (Eastern Orthodoxy)
Patron saint	Our Lady of Lourdes
Website	www.tagaytay.gov.ph

Tagaytay (Tagalog: [tɐgaɪˈtaɪ]), officially the City of Tagaytay (Filipino: Lungsod ng Tagaytay), is a 2nd class component city in the province of Cavite, Philippines.^[1] According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 85,330 people.^[4]

It is one of the country's most popular destinations for domestic tourism because of its scenery and cooler climate provided by its altitude. Tagaytay overlooks Taal Lake in Batangas and provides views of Taal Volcano Island in the middle of the lake through various vantage points situated in the city.

Tagaytay is relatively close to the capital city of Manila, only 59 kilometers (37 mi) away via Aguinaldo Highway, providing an easy escape for the locals from the heat of the huge metropolis. It is 39 kilometers (24 mi) from Imus.

The name Tagaytay is derived from the Tagalog words tagaytay or taytay, which mean "mountain ridge" or "low mountain range", in reference to the Tagaytay Ridge on which the city sits.^[6]

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."^[7]

Tagaytay became a chartered city with the passing and signing of Commonwealth Act No. 338 by President Manuel L. Quezon on June 21, 1938,^[1] as authored by Representative Justiniano Montano of Cavite.^[8] To form the newly founded city, areas of the towns of Silang, Mendez, Indang, and Amadeo were removed from their town governments, making it the first planned community in the province and the first city to be built from scratch, given the ongoing highway works in the area then.

On April 1, 1941, portions of Talisay, Batangas and Alfonso, Cavite were ceded to Tagaytay through Executive Order No. 336 signed by President Quezon to expand its territory.^[9] However, on June 7, 1956, the lakeside barangays of Birinayan (Berinayan) and Caloocan on the shores of Taal Lake were returned to Talisay.^[10] Berinayan later became part of Laurel when the municipality was established in 1969.^[11]

On February 23, 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 Tagaytay ridge, with a drop zone around the Manila Hotel Annex, which had been cleared of Japanese forces by the Fil-American Cavite Guerilla Forces of General Mariano Castaneda, After the fall of Bataan and Corregidor, the Fil-American Cavite Guerilla Force resisted the Japanese occupation forces and were instrumental in clearing the landing zone of the 11th Airborne Division . 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.^[7]

Tagaytay has a total land area of 66.1 km² (26 sq mi) which represents about 4.63% 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 Taal Lake to the south, and Laguna de Bay to the east.

The southern and eastern portions of Tagaytay are covered by hills and mountains which is generally forests, pine trees, and open grasslands. The city lies along Tagaytay Ridge, a ridge stretching about 32 kilometers (20 mi) from Mount Batulao in the west to Mount Sungay in the east with elevations averaging about 610 meters (2,000 ft) above sea level.^[12] Mount Sungay in Tagaytay is the highest point of the province of Cavite at 709 meters (2,326 ft).^[13]

The ridge, which overlooks Taal Lake in Batangas province, is the edge of Taal Caldera. The 25-by-30-kilometer (16 mi × 19 mi) wide cavity is partially filled by Taal Lake.^[14] 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.

Temperature and precipitation

Tagaytay has a mild tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification: Am) characterized by cooler weather compared to Manila, lower humidity and abundant rainfall. The city has an average temperature of 22 °C (72 °F) and rarely exceeds 31 °C (88 °F). With its high elevation, the city gets foggy, windy, and cooler temperatures 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. This climate makes the city ideal for sports, picnics, conferences, honeymoons, country homes, and spiritual retreats.

Humidity and wind

Tagaytay has an average relative humidity of about 78%. 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 popular for casual and competitive kite flying.

Tagaytay is administratively subdivided into 34 barangays.^[16] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

In the 2020 census, the population of Tagaytay, was 85,330 people,^[4] with a density of 1,300 inhabitants per square kilometre or 3,400 inhabitants per square mile.

In the 2010 census, Tagaytay had a population of 62,030 people.^[18] 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 Christian denominations among residents of Tagaytay are Protestants which comprise 3.37% of the population including Iglesia ni Cristo (2.5%). The Eastern Orthodox Church was a part of the Philippine Orthodox Church in the Philippines under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow and its own Orthodox Diocese province in Southeast Asia, the Diocese of the Philippines and Vietnam, and the Orthodox community account for 1% of Tagaytay's population, many of whom live throughout the town.^[21][22] 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%).^[23]

Despite rapid urbanization of Tagaytay, agriculture remains an important part of the city's economy and development. As of 2009, it is recorded that there are about 1,292 hectares (3,190 acres) of agriculture land which is about 20 percent of the city's total land area. The city was once a cogon land after it was discovered during the Taal eruption. The soil was proven to be with rich volcanic components suitable to farming with main agricultural goods produced are pineapple, coffee, banana, root crops, cacao, camote, cassava other fruits and vegetables, and cut flowers which are supplied to both local and international markets. Garden plant shops thrive the Tagaytay–Calamba Road. The city was once an abundant Daisy and gladiola farming haven prior to tourism development and residential boom.^[32]

Tagaytay is considered to be the second Summer capital of the Philippines with the first being Baguio due to its cool climate and, thus, is a favored destination from those relatively more humid areas of the Philippines. Tagaytay is also a destination for tourists seeking views of Taal Volcano and the surrounding lake. In 2015, the Department of Tourism cited Tagaytay as the top tourist destination in the Calabarzon region.^{[citation needed]} Among the most visited sites in Tagaytay are the Sky Ranch, Ayala Malls Serin, Robinsons Summit Ridge (Robinsons Tagaytay), Picnic Grove Complex, People's Park in the Sky, Halfway Zoo, and different choices of restaurants known for serving the famous bulalo and crispy tawilis. Fresh beef and vegetables are sold at Mahogany Market. The fruits stands are across the Tagaytay City Market where the fresh tilapia from Taal Lake are marketed. Tagaytay's proximity to Metro Manila is attributed to the tourism in the city. Tagaytay receives a seasonal influx of tourists during Christmas season and Holy Week, and the city is a pilgrimage destination with churches, shrines, and retreat houses. The Taal Vista Hotel is a symbol of Tagaytay's past.^[33][34]

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

The South Luzon Expressway serves the city via Tagaytay–Santa Rosa Road that passes Santa Rosa and Silang from Santa Rosa and Eton City Exits, and Tagaytay-Calamba Road that traverses Calamba Premiere International Park from Batino Exit, albeit discontinuously for the public previously due to the Tagaytay Highlands right-of-way. Governor's Drive and Pala-Pala Road in Dasmariñas and Cavite–Laguna Expressway (CALAX) through its Silang–Aguinaldo Exit in Silang are the other alternative routes to the city, as those roads intersect with the Aguinaldo Highway, which ends in Tagaytay. Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEx or formerly, Coastal Road) also serves Tagaytay via the southbound Aguinaldo Highway. ^{[citation needed]}

From Batangas, the main route to Tagaytay is either Tagaytay–Nasugbu Highway, a major thoroughfare from Tagaytay Rotonda to Nasugbu, Ligaya Drive, a winding road that starts near the poblacion of Talisay and ends near the Tagaytay Picnic Grove, or Tagaytay–Talisay Road, a 12-kilometer (7.5 mi) road from Lemery–Agoncillo–Laurel–Talisay Road to Tagaytay Rotunda. From Laguna, the main route is the Tagaytay–Santa Rosa Road from Santa Rosa, Laguna and another route is Tagaytay–Calamba Road (via Tagaytay Highlands and a future link to Calamba) from Calamba, Laguna. Mahogany Avenue also serves as the alternative route of the Tagaytay–Nasugbu Highway within Tagaytay city proper.

To decongest traffic on the aforementioned major roads in Tagaytay, the partially opened Tagaytay Bypass Road and the proposed Cavite–Tagaytay–Batangas Expressway (CTBEX) were laid out to traverse parallel to the Tagaytay–Nasugbu Highway.^[35] CTBEX will connect with the CALAX in Silang to Nasugbu, Batangas.

• Francis Tolentino – Senator (2019–present), mayor of Tagaytay (1995–2004)

Local

• Legazpi
• Baguio
• Bacolod
• Murcia, Negros Occidental
• Iriga
• Iloilo City
• Cebu City
• Palayan
• San Nicolas, Batangas^[36]

International

• Manningham, Victoria, Australia
• Las Vegas, Nevada^[37]
• Rohnert Park, California^[37]
• Tainan, Taiwan

• Tagaytay Hospital and Medical Center

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tagaytay.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Tagaytay.

Wikiquote has quotations related to Tagaytay.

Wikisource has original works by or about:
Tagaytay

• Official website
• Tagaytay Website
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code