Tagaytay

Tagaytay, officially the City of Tagaytay ( fil, Lungsod ng Tagaytay), is a 2nd class component city in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 85,330 people.

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 away via Aguinaldo Highway, providing an easy escape for the locals from the heat of the huge metropolis. It is from Imus.

Etymology

Legend has it that the word Tagaytay came from "tagâ" meaning to cut and "itáy" 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 "Tagâ, Itáy!". 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. The most plausible origin is that city is named after the Tagalog word "tagaytay" which means ridge.

History

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."

World War II

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 the ridge, with a drop zone around the Manila Hotel Annex, which had been cleared of Japanese forces by Filipino soldiers of the 4th, 42nd, 43rd, 45th and 46th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, 4th Constabulary 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.

Cityhood

Tagaytay became a chartered city with the passing and signing of Commonwealth Act no. 338 by President Manuel L. Quezon on June 21, 1938, as authored by Rep. Justiniano Montano of Cavite. Like Trece Martires, it is a planned city, with segments created from the towns of Mendez, Indang, Silang and Amadeo.

Geography

Land area

Tagaytay has a total land area of 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

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 from Mount Batulao in the west to Mount Sungay

HOME


Content is Copyleft
Website design, code, and AI is Copyrighted (c) 2014-2017 by Stephen Payne


Consider donating to Wikimedia



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases