Tayabas

Tayabas is a city, the former provincial capital of Quezon. The city is home to many Spanish-era architecture, including historic ancestral houses and stone bridges, and is also eligible for inclusion to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Understand

The city lies in the middle of Quezon, at the foot of Mt Banaha]. It once served as the provincial capital of Quezon (then Tayabas) until that honor is transferred to nearby Lucena. The old town houses many old Spanish-era houses, enough to rival those in Vigan or Taal.

Despite being designated a city after long legislative debates, Tayabas feels more like a town, and is far quieter than nearby Lucena.

History

Tayabas is founded as a Spanish Augustinian mission to evangelize the local Tagalog population, and have been the capital of the province of Tayabas (now Quezon) until 1901. The town have contained many Spanish-era stone houses that once rivalled those in Vigan and Taal, but many have been burned down during the World War II. Tayabas became a city through a plebiscite in 2007, but controversial court cases about the constitutionality of its city charter have interrupted Tayabas's cityhood for years.

Climate

Tayabas has a rainforest climate, with no dry season. Temperatures vary little by year, and rainfall is distributed all throughout the year.

Get in

Tayabas is a stop for the daily Manila-Mauban route operated by JAM Liner. NCR-Rienton Lines has ordinary buses plying Lucena-Mauban, with a stop at downtown. Jeepneys plying Lucban-Lucena also serve the town.

Tayabas is served by the Maharlika Hwy (Rte 1) which passed through barangay Calumpang; the town connected by a two-lane provincial. Rte 603 (Pagsanjan-Lucban-Lucena Rd) from Lucena directly serves the old town, where it becomes the narrow Quezon Ave and Luis Palad St. Tayabas-Mauban Rd (Rte 605) runs from the coastal town of Mauban and ends at Tayabas.

See

• 1 Tayabas Basilica, Apolinario de la Cruz St. (updated Dec 2018)
• Casa Comunidad de Tayabas. Stone house built in 1831, used as a guesthouse for visits by Spanish dignitaries. This house also served as the place of the trial of Hermano Pule after his arrest on 1841. (updated Dec 2018)
• 2 Malagonlong Bridge, Malagonlong. A Spanish-era stone bridge along the highway (Rte 603) to Mauban, built between 1840 and 1850. The bridge is no longer passable, but is still in good condition. (updated Dec 2018)
• 3 Mount Banahaw. A mountain and extinct volcano (or a potentially active volcano), straddling the provinces of Laguna and Quezon. It is the highest mountain in the Calabarzon region (2,170 m a.s.l.), and a sacred monument for the Tagalog people.  
• 4 Tayabas Parke Rizal, J. Rizal Street. Open 24 hours. Great place for relaxation and family bonding at the heart of Tayabas. Free. (updated Sep 2023)

Do

Tayabas has its reputation for festivals at various times of the year.

Festivals

• Taytsinoy Festival (February 2–5) Part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, it is celebrated as appreciation to the Filipino Chinese community in the city.
• Turumba Festival (Holy Week) - a celebration in honor of the Nuestra Senora de Turumba, Tayabense dance as a thanksgiving to the virgin Mary in the main thoroughfares of Tayabas. Thousands of devotees from Quezon visits the Nuestra Senora de Dolorosa Church.
• Mayohan Sa Tayabas - (May) Celebrated since 1989, it blends Flores de Mayo celebrations with the colorful local traditions like Parada sa Baliskog.
  • Hagisan ng Suman - Bundles of suman, a kind of rice cake, are paraded in bamboo bundles called bagakay, and as the image of St. Isidore the Worker passes, the suman bundles are thrown into houses and crowds.
  • Pa'yas kay san Isidro (May 13-15) - Houses throughout town are decorated with native material. This celebration rivals Lucban's Pahiyas Festival festivities.
• Aguyod Festival - Showcases the local arts and the commitment to sustainable development.
• Hermano Pule Day - Commemorates the martyrdom of Apolinario dela Cruz (Hermano Pule or Ka Pule), a local of nearby Lucban who led a religiously-motivated rebellion against the Spaniards from 1832 until 1841.
• Araw ng Tayabas (August 13) - Commemorating the heroism of the locals of the city.
• Feast of San Miguel Arcangel - (September 29)- Celebration dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel.
  • Festejo de los Angeles (September 22-29) - People wearing angel costumes parade through the major streets.

Buy

• 1 Primark Center-Tayabas Branch, General Luna Street. 8:30AM–8PM. Shopping mall. (updated Sep 2023)

Sleep

Accommodations in town are at a premium, but there are many forest resorts, a few with rooms for guest who will spend the night.

• Villa Cecilia Resort and Hotel, Calumpang-Tayabas Road, Malao-a. (updated Dec 2018)

Go next

Next to Tayabas is Lucban, a charming little town east of Mount Banahaw, with the Kamay ni Hesus shrine and Pahiyas Festival as its major tourist draws.

Routes through Tayabas

Manila/San Pablo ← Sariaya ←	W  E	→ Lucena → Naga
Pagsanjan ← Lucban ←	N  S	→ Lucena