ABOUT TAYABAS
History & Heritage
During the Spanish Period, names of various towns were changed from the original ethnic sounding to a more Hispanized or Christian inspired names. These new names were adopted either to gratify a Spanish Monarch or to venerate a saint of the Catholic Church. Unlike other towns where names had been altered, this foothill village retained its original name – Tayabas.
The place called Tayabas
But until today the origin of the word Tayabas remains unsure; its etymology requires further study. There are various versions as to the origin of the name and all of which are fascinating though. One source says Tayabas may have originated from the word Tayaban. Tayaban is a night creature known for having wings that glow like a tropical firefly (OCPDC, 2010). Another possible explanation of the origin of the name Tayabas comes from E. Arsenio Manuel’s Dictionary of Tayabas Tagalog. A word from this dictionary points to Tayaba which refers to a local practice or ritual of the natives during New Year where they open up a farm by cutting down three trees on the patch they chose to cultivate. The cut trees then were placed to the boarder of the patch to mark it. In this sense, Tayabas may be considered as a place intended for kaingin.
Another interesting theory is the one advanced by sociologist, Rolando V. Redor. He mentioned that the name Tayabas was suggested by the abundance of the well-loved fern (pako) called Tagabas thus, putting to rest the more popular theory which points to bayabas, guava fruit (Psidium guajava) as the etymology of the name Tayabas; bayabas, that endearing fruit as not being native to the Philippines (Zialcita,2009).
History of the city of Tayabas
Early history
In 1578, Fray Juan de Plasencia and Fray Diego de Oropesa, two Franciscan missionaries from Spain, founded the town of Tayabas in order to spread Christianity to its natives. Prior to the occupation, however, the native Tayabenses lived in rural settlements (barangay) typical of those times, headed by chiefs and a council of elders. During this time, ancestral stones and rocks that the people believed to be abodes of nature spirits were turned into stone crosses due to the influx of Christianity. They exist up to this day, however, many have been stolen, uprooted, sold, and destroyed due to the belief of foreign treasure hunters that each cross contains treasure.
Philippine Revolution
Casa Comunidad, a centuries-old building, is the place where Apolinario “Hermano Pule” Dela Cruz was tried and sentenced to death in 1841. It was restored in the 1990s through funds donated by the Friends of Casa Comunidad, an organization of affluent Manila-based Tayabenses.
During the Philippine Revolution, a Spanish garrison occupying the massive church and convent buildings was besieged by Miguel Malvar’s forces. The siege lasted three months, spanning from 24 June 1898 to 13 August 1898. The siege ended when the Spanish garrison unconditionally surrendered to Malvar’s forces.
World War II
Tayabas features numerous Spanish-era bridges which mirror its rich architectural past and serve as crucial connections to the city. Two of the longest bridges in Tayabas are the Malagonlong Bridge and the Malaoa Bridge. During the Second World War, Imperial Japanese forces rapidly advanced toward the city, forcing the locals to rush fortifications. In a bid to slow the Japanese forces down, the locals planted explosives underneath the Malagonlong Bridge. The plan to destroy the bridge, however, was unsuccessful as the explosives failed to destroy the bridge. This may be attributed to the bridge’s design, which was made to be extremely durable. Malagonlong Bridge was later declared a national historical site.
The Cityhood
House Bill No. 12878 entitled: “AN ACT CONVERTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF TAYABAS, QUEZON, INTO A COMPONENT CITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF TAYABAS,” has been duly filed during the Eleventh Congress through the sponsorship of Congressman Rafael P. Nantes of the First District of Quezon. It was referred to the Committee on Local Government by the House of Representatives on February 5, 2001. While said house bill was pending consideration before both Houses of Congress, Senate Bill No. 2157, which calls for the amendment of Section 450 of R.A. 7160 by increasing the required average annual income from at least twenty million (P20M) to one hundred million (P100M) was passed and had lapsed into law on February 24, 2001, as Republic Act No. 9009.
Prior to June 30, 2001, which is the effectivity date of R.A. No. 9009, the municipality of Tayabas, Quezon, had already complied with all of the requisites for conversion, along with other municipalities, namely: Municipalities of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur; Borongan, Eastern Samar; El Salvador, Misamis Oriental; Baybay, Leyte; Santa Barbara, Iloilo; San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; Mati, Davao Oriental, and Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.