Santo Tomas, Batangas

Santo Tomas
Municipality

Seal

Map of Batangas showing the location of Santo Tomas
Santo Tomas

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 14°05′N 121°11′E / 14.08°N 121.18°E / 14.08; 121.18Coordinates: 14°05′N 121°11′E / 14.08°N 121.18°E / 14.08; 121.18
Country Philippines
Region CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province Batangas
District 3rd District
Founded March 7, 1666
Barangays 30
Government[1]
 • Mayor Edna P. Sanchez
 • Vice-Mayor Armenius Silva
Area[2]
 • Total 95.41 km2 (36.84 sq mi)
Elevation 128 m (420 ft)
Population (2015 census)[3]
 • Total 179,844
 • Density 1,900/km2 (4,900/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Tomasino
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 4234
Dialing code +63 (0)43
Income class 1st class
Website stotomasbatangas.gov.ph

Santo Tomas (shortened to Sto. Tomas) is a first class municipality in the province of Batangas, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 179,844 people.[3]

With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, the municipality is now part of Manila's conurbation which reaches Lipa City in its southernmost part. It borders the cities of Calamba City to the north, Los Baños to the north-east, Alaminos to the east, Tanauan City and Malvar to the west, and Lipa City to the south. This is also the hometown of Philippine Revolution and Philippine-American War hero Miguel Malvar.

The patron of Santo Tomas is Saint Thomas Aquinas, patron of Catholic schools, whose feast day is celebrated every 7 March.

History

Sto. Tomas, one of the oldest town of Batangas, is located at the foot of the legendary and picturesque Mt.Makiling. It is sixty (60) kilometers south of Manila and known as the birthplace of Gen. Miguel Malvar, the last Filipino General to surrender to the Americans.

The town of Sto. Tomas was actually founded in 1666, with Captain Manuel Melo as its first head. Originally, it was composed of a large Poblacion. When the Spanish friars arrived their first and foremost objective was to construct a church near the river to satisfy their propensity for water. Thus the present site of the Roman Catholic Church was chosen, just as a stone’s throw from the San Juan River. As years went by, more and more houses were built around the church. This became the center of the Poblacion.

Other groups of houses were scattered all over the area. They were given such odd names as “Kabaong”, because the stones along the road were coffin shaped; “Putol” because the trail was cut short by the Makiling Mountain, “Aptayin”, because “apta” of fine shrimps were found in the brook, “Biga”, because biga trees abounded there, and “Camballao”, because twin rivers divided the place. These different unit groups comprised the barrios of the town.

The natives were by nature God-fearing, peaceful and obedient. The conquerors did not much have difficulty in enforcing decrees and orders. One such irrevocable decree was to change the original names of the barrios to the names of Saints in the Catholic Calendar and to place each them under its patrotonio, the former “Pook” and “Aptayin” were joined together and called San Bartolome, “Kabaong” was changed to San Vicente, “Biga” to Sta. Anastacia, and “Camballao” to San Isidro Sur and Isidro Norte. The whole town was given the name of Sto. Tomas de Aquino, a high Prince of the Dominican Order to where most of the first friars belonged. As time went by more and more barrios were added to the list each with an assumed name of a saint. This unchanged set-up makes Sto. Tomas the most unusual not only in Batangas but all over the Philippines.

At present, it has thirty barrios namely: Sta. Anastacia, San Rafael, Santiago, San Antonio, San Bartolome, San Miguel, San Roque, San Pedro, San Pablo, San Felix, San Jose, San Juan, San Agustin, Sta. Ana, San Joaquin, San Fernando, Sta, Clara, San Luis, Sta. Cruz, San Isidro Sur, San Isidro Norte, San Francisco, Sta. Maria, Sta. Elena, Sta. Teresita, Poblacion I, Poblacion II, Poblacion III, and Poblacion IV.

From the year 1666, the head of the town had different titles. He was variously known as “Captain” from 1666 to 1782; “Alcalde” from 1783 to 1788; “Gobernadorcillo” from 1789 to 1821; “Presidente Local” from 1822 to 1899; “Presidente Municipal” from 1900 to 1930; and “Municipal Mayor” from 1931 to the present. Lyka Alinsunurin lives here.[4]

Barangays

Santo Tomas is politically subdivided into 30 barangays. Most of the barangays were named after saints.

PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2015[3] 2010[5]
041028001 Barangay I (Poblacion) 1.0% 1,846 1,766 +0.85%
041028002 Barangay II (Poblacion) 1.5% 2,777 2,291 +3.73%
041028003 Barangay III (Poblacion) 1.4% 2,543 1,933 +5.36%
041028004 Barangay IV (Poblacion) 2.0% 3,542 2,806 +4.53%
041028005 San Agustin 1.3% 2,400 2,374 +0.21%
041028006 San Antonio 6.5% 11,657 9,085 +4.86%
041028007 San Bartolome 4.0% 7,205 5,897 +3.89%
041028008 San Felix 3.1% 5,548 4,388 +4.57%
041028009 San Fernando 1.4% 2,507 2,174 +2.75%
041028010 San Francisco 1.5% 2,623 2,469 +1.16%
041028011 San Isidro Norte 1.3% 2,289 1,663 +6.27%
041028012 San Isidro Sur 1.5% 2,653 2,309 +2.68%
041028013 San Joaquin 2.5% 4,417 3,844 +2.68%
041028014 San Jose 1.5% 2,785 2,160 +4.96%
041028015 San Juan 1.8% 3,177 3,012 +1.02%
041028016 San Luis 1.6% 2,932 2,414 +3.77%
041028017 San Miguel 5.6% 10,087 6,550 +8.57%
041028018 San Pablo 3.4% 6,083 5,057 +3.58%
041028019 San Pedro 3.2% 5,741 5,202 +1.89%
041028020 San Rafael 6.5% 11,654 6,632 +11.33%
041028021 San Roque 5.4% 9,745 8,909 +1.72%
041028022 San Vicente 6.9% 12,360 8,606 +7.14%
041028023 Santa Ana 0.8% 1,432 1,358 +1.02%
041028024 Santa Anastacia 8.2% 14,666 7,555 +13.46%
041028025 Santa Clara 4.0% 7,231 5,046 +7.09%
041028026 Santa Cruz 1.4% 2,504 2,104 +3.37%
041028027 Santa Elena 1.3% 2,358 1,638 +7.18%
041028028 Santa Maria 15.5% 27,843 10,169 +21.14%
041028029 Santiago 3.3% 5,978 4,277 +6.58%
041028030 Santa Teresita 0.7% 1,261 1,052 +3.51%
Total 179,844 124,740 +7.21%

Demographics

Population census of Santo Tomas
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 58,209—    
1995 65,759+2.31%
2000 80,393+4.40%
2007 113,105+4.82%
2010 124,740+3.63%
2015 179,844+7.21%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][5]

The population of Santo Tomas, Batangas, in the 2015 census was 179,844 people,[3] with a density of 1,900 inhabitants per square kilometre or 4,900 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Public market

The First Philippine Industrial Park which is owned by the Lopez Group of Companies is located in the municipality.[6]

Most of the town is residential with a lot of farmland. But there are also some developed subdivisions along the town like the San Antonio Heights in Barangay San Antonio which was developed by Avida Land, A division of Ayala Land,[7] Portello subdivision which was developed by Camella Homes.[8] and Terrazza de Sto. Tomas in Barangay San Roque which was developed by Ovialand. The town is also well known for an entire strip of bulalo (bone marrow soup) restaurants. Among the best known include Rose and Grace Restaurant. The town is also home to a state of the art hospital named St. Cabrini Medical Center which is located inside the town center.

Transportation

Roads

The Maharlika Highway connects the municipality with Calamba, the rest of Laguna, and the highway reaches as far as Bicol Region. The Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR Tollway) starts at the municipality from the north side of the expressway, and connects the municipality with Lipa and Batangas City. A connection with South Luzon Expressway has been opened, further connecting the municipality with Metro Manila. The José P. Laurel Highway connects the town with Tanauan City, Lipa, Batangas|Lipa and Batangas City.

Pubblic transport

Jeepneys connect the municipality with Calamba to the north, Tanauan to the south, and San Pablo to the east. Buses from Manila to Batangas City, Lucena, or Bicol serve the municipality. UV Express service also connect the municipality with San Pablo, Santa Rosa, Lipa, and Dasmariñas. Tricycles provide transportation within the barangays.

Local government

Santo Tomas Municipal Hall
Edna P. Sanchez, the incumbent mayor of Sto. Tomas

Education

Universities

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines Santo Tomas is one of the constituent branch of the PUP System and the only institution of higher learning in Santo Tomas, Batangas that serves the municipality and neighboring cities.

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines has one campus in Santo Tomas

High schools

The municipality has 4 public high schools.[9]

Public schools

There are 28 public elementary schools within the municipality.[10]

Sto. Tomas North District

A. Zone 1

B. Zone 2

C. Zone 3

Sto. Tomas South District

A. Zone 4

B. Zone 5

C. Zone 6

Private Schools

There are 15 private schools within the municipality.[11][12]

  • Almond Academy Foundation Inc.
  • AMS Learning School
  • Blue Isle Integrated School
  • Clareville School
  • Elyon Academia Foundation, Inc.
  • Greenville Academy of Sta. Clara
  • His Care Learning Center of Sta. Maria
  • Hope Christian Academy of Sto. Tomas
  • Kids for Jesus Academy Inc.
  • Maranatha Christian Academy of Sto. Tomas
  • Maranatha Christian Academy of Blue Isle
  • Mother Barbara Micarelli School
  • Pedagogia Children's School (Santo Tomas)
  • San Bartolome Adventist Elementary School
  • St. Thomas Academy
  • St. Thomas Montessori Learning Center
  • The Golden Child Literacy Place

Attractions

The World Famous Sto.Tomas Bulalo

The landmarks of Santo Tomas are:

References

  1. ↑ "Official City/Municipal 2013 Election Results". Intramuros, Manila, Philippines: Commission on Elections (COMELEC). 11 September 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  2. ↑ "Province: BATANGAS". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Region IV-A (CALABARZON)". Census of Population (2015): Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay (Report). PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. ↑ Sto. Tomas, Batangas Wordpress
  5. 1 2 "Region IV-A (CALABARZON)". Census of Population and Housing (2010): Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay (Report). NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  6. ↑ First Philippine Industrial Park
  7. ↑ San Antonio Heights
  8. ↑ Portello
  9. ↑ Batangas Province Masterlist of in Government Secondary Schools, Retrieved August 03, 2012
  10. ↑ Batangas Province Masterlist of in Government Elementary Schools, Retrieved August 03, 2012
  11. ↑ Batangas Province Masterlist of Private Elementary Schools, Retrieved August 03, 2012
  12. ↑ Batangas Province Masterlist of Secondary Schools, Retrieved August 03, 2012
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