Santo Tomas, Batangas

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Santo Tomas
City of Santo Tomas
National Shrine of St. Padre Pio, Sto. Tomas, Batangas.jpg
9171Santo Tomas Batangas Calamba City Roads Barangays Landmarks 24.jpg
SantoTomas,Batangasjf0589 05.JPG
Sto. Tomas City Hall, Batangas, Apr 2024.jpg
9021Santo Tomas, Batangas Roads Barangays Landmarks 14.jpg
PUP Santo Tomas, Batangas, Apr 2024.jpg
Clockwise from top: Padre Pio Shrine, First Philippine Industrial Park, Santo Tomas City Hall, PUP Santo Tomas, Light Industry and Science Park III, Malvar Shrine
Santo Tomas City flag.jpg
City seal of Santo Tomas, Batangas (2023).jpg
Nickname: 
Gateway to Batangas
Motto(s): 
Magandang Bukas, Santo Tomas
Anthem: Ako ay Tomasino (I am a Tomasino)
Ph locator batangas santo tomas.svg
Map of Batangas with Santo Tomas highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Santo Tomas, Batangas
Philippines location map (square).svg
Red pog.svg
Santo Tomas
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°05′N121°11′E / 14.08°N 121.18°E / 14.08; 121.18
Country Philippines
Region Calabarzon
Province Batangas
District 3rd district
Founded 7 March 1666
CityhoodSeptember 7, 2019 [1]
Named for St. Thomas Aquinas
Barangays 30 (see Barangays)
Government
[2]
  Type Sangguniang Panlungsod
   Mayor Arth Jhun A. Marasigan
   Vice Mayor Catherine J. Perez
   Representative Ma. Theresa V. Collantes
   City Council
Members
   Electorate 111,393 voters (2022)
Area
[3]
  Total95.41 km2 (36.84 sq mi)
Elevation
239 m (784 ft)
Highest elevation
1,094 m (3,589 ft)
Lowest elevation
5 m (16 ft)
Population
 (2020 census) [4]
  Total218,500
  Density2,300/km2 (5,900/sq mi)
   Households
59,686
Economy
   Income class 1st city income class
   Poverty incidence
8.37
% (2018) [5]
   Revenue 1,238 million (2020)
   Assets 3,045 million (2020)
   Expenditure 900.4 million (2020)
   Liabilities 471.8 million (2020)
Service provider
  ElectricityManila Electric Company (Meralco)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
4234
PSGC
IDD : area code +63(0)43
Native languages Tagalog
Patron saint St. Thomas Aquinas
Website https://cityofstotomas.gov.ph/

Santo Tomas, officially the City of Santo Tomas ( Filipino : Lungsod ng Santo Tomas), is a 1st class component city in the province of Batangas, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 218,500 people. [4]

Contents

The city is part of Mega Manila resulting from the continuous expansion of Metro Manila. It borders the cities of Calamba to the north, Los Baños to the north-east, Alaminos to the east, Tanauan and Malvar to the west, and Lipa to the south.

Santo Tomas is the hometown of Philippine Revolution and Philippine–American War hero Miguel Malvar, the last Filipino General to surrender to the Americans.

Etymology

The place got its name from Saint Thomas Aquinas, a Catholic saint whose patronal feast day is celebrated every March 7.

History

Sto. Tomas de Aquino Church Sto. Tomas de Aquino Church, Sto. Tomas, Batangas, Apr 2024.jpg
Sto. Tomas de Aquino Church

Santo Tomas was founded in 1666, with 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 inclination for water. Thus, the present site of a Roman Catholic church was chosen near the San Juan River. As years went by, 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 of coffin-shaped stones along the road; "Putol" because the trail was cut short by Mount Makiling; "Aptayin", because "apta" or fine shrimps were found in the brook; "Biga", because biga trees abounded there; and "Camballao", as in "kambal" (twin) 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. Colonial officials did not much have difficulty 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 and called San Bartolome, "Kabaong" was changed to San Vicente, "Biga" to Santa Anastacia, and "Camballao" to San Isidro Sur and San Isidro Norte. The whole town was given the name of Santo Tomas de Aquino, after a saint of the Dominican Order to where most of the first friars belonged. As time went by, more barrios were added to the list each with an assumed name of a saint.

From the year 1666, the head of the town had different titles, 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 mayor from 1931 to present. [6]

Cityhood

In 2016, Nelson P. Collantes, the then-representative of Batangas's 3rd District, filed a House bill to convert Santo Tomas into a component city. [7] After few years, with a unanimous vote of 19–0, the Senate approved a bill for the municipality's conversion into a city on March 19, 2018. [8] On October 5, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11086, [9] making Santo Tomas the first municipality to be converted into a city under his administration. [10] It was effectively ratified on September 7, 2019 through a plebiscite wherein majority of residents who voted approved the cityhood. [1]

Geography

Mount Makiling, Light Industry and Science Park III and Pueblo de Oro as seen from South Luzon Expressway Mount Makiling from SLEX Santo Tomas (Batangas; 04-21-2022).jpg
Mount Makiling, Light Industry and Science Park III and Pueblo de Oro as seen from South Luzon Expressway

Santo Tomas is located at 14°05′N121°11′E / 14.08°N 121.18°E / 14.08; 121.18 . It is situated at the foot of Mount Makiling and is 61 kilometers (38 mi) south of Manila and 44 kilometers (27 mi) from Batangas City.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the component city has a land area of 95.41 square kilometers (36.84 sq mi) [11] constituting

Barangays

Santo Tomas is politically subdivided into 30 barangays. [12] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2020 [4] 2010 [13]
041028001 Barangay I ( Poblacion ) 0.8% 1,846 1,766 0.44%
041028002 Barangay II (Poblacion) 1.3% 2,777 2,291 1.94%
041028003 Barangay III (Poblacion) 1.2% 2,543 1,933 2.78%
041028004 Barangay IV (Poblacion) 1.6% 3,542 2,806 2.36%
041028005 San Agustin 1.1% 2,400 2,374 0.11%
041028006 San Antonio 5.3% 11,657 9,085 2.52%
041028007 San Bartolome 3.3% 7,205 5,897 2.02%
041028008 San Felix 2.5% 5,548 4,388 2.37%
041028009 San Fernando 1.1% 2,507 2,174 1.44%
041028010 San Francisco 1.2% 2,623 2,469 0.61%
041028011 San Isidro Norte 1.0% 2,289 1,663 3.25%
041028012 San Isidro Sur 1.2% 2,653 2,309 1.40%
041028013 San Joaquin 2.0% 4,417 3,844 1.40%
041028014 San Jose 1.3% 2,785 2,160 2.57%
041028015 San Juan 1.5% 3,177 3,012 0.53%
041028016 San Luis 1.3% 2,932 2,414 1.96%
041028017 San Miguel 4.6% 10,087 6,550 4.41%
041028018 San Pablo 2.8% 6,083 5,057 1.86%
041028019 San Pedro 2.6% 5,741 5,202 0.99%
041028020 San Rafael 5.3% 11,654 6,632 5.80%
041028021 San Roque 4.5% 9,745 8,909 0.90%
041028022 San Vicente 5.7% 12,360 8,606 3.69%
041028023 Santa Ana 0.7% 1,432 1,358 0.53%
041028024 Santa Anastacia 6.7% 14,666 7,555 6.86%
041028025 Santa Clara 3.3% 7,231 5,046 3.66%
041028026 Santa Cruz 1.1% 2,504 2,104 1.76%
041028027 Santa Elena 1.1% 2,358 1,638 3.71%
041028028 Santa Maria 12.7% 27,843 10,169 10.60%
041028029 Santiago 2.7% 5,978 4,277 3.40%
041028030 Santa Teresita 0.6% 1,261 1,052 1.83%
Total218,500124,7405.76%

Climate

Climate data for Santo Tomas
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)28
(82)
29
(84)
31
(88)
32
(90)
31
(88)
29
(84)
28
(82)
28
(82)
28
(82)
28
(82)
28
(82)
28
(82)
29
(84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)19
(66)
19
(66)
20
(68)
21
(70)
23
(73)
24
(75)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
22
(72)
21
(70)
20
(68)
22
(71)
Average precipitation mm (inches)11
(0.4)
13
(0.5)
14
(0.6)
32
(1.3)
101
(4.0)
142
(5.6)
208
(8.2)
187
(7.4)
175
(6.9)
131
(5.2)
68
(2.7)
39
(1.5)
1,121
(44.3)
Average rainy days5.25.07.411.519.823.527.025.925.223.215.58.3197.5
Source: Meteoblue [14]

Demographics

Population census of Santo Tomas
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 9,488    
1918 13,125+2.19%
1939 16,544+1.11%
1948 17,022+0.32%
1960 22,716+2.43%
1970 31,935+3.46%
1975 37,452+3.25%
1980 43,010+2.81%
1990 58,209+3.07%
1995 65,759+2.31%
2000 80,393+4.40%
2007 113,105+4.82%
2010 124,740+3.63%
2015 179,844+7.22%
2020 218,500+3.90%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [15] [13] [16] [17]

In the 2020 census, Santo Tomas had a population of 218,500. [4] The population density was 2,300 inhabitants per square kilometre (6,000/sq mi).

Economy

Public market Sto. Tomas Public Market, Batangas.jpg
Public market

The First Philippine Industrial Park which is owned by the Lopez Group of Companies is located in the city. [25]

Most of the city is residential with a lot of farmlands. There are also some developed subdivisions along the city like the San Antonio Heights in Barangay San Antonio which was developed by Avida Land, a division of Ayala Land, [26] Camella Homes, [27] and Terrazza de Santo Tomas in Barangay San Roque which was developed by Ovialand. The city is well known for an entire strip of bulalo (bone marrow soup) restaurants and to a hospital named Saint Cabrini Medical Center which is located inside the city center.

Aside from various real estate development in the city, Santo Tomas also has a popular lifestyle and commercial complex in the locality. The Lifestyle Strip, AllHome Santo Tomas, Liana's Junction Santo Tomas, and SM City Santo Tomas are known shopping destinations that operate in the city. [28] [29]

Transportation

Pan-Philippine Highway (Maharlika Highway) in Santo Tomas National Road, Santo Tomas Poblacion (Santo Tomas, Batangas; 10-27-2023).jpg
Pan-Philippine Highway (Maharlika Highway) in Santo Tomas

Roads

The Pan-Philippine Highway or Maharlika Highway connects the city with Calamba, the rest of Laguna, with the highway reaching as far as Bicol Region. The Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR Tollway) and South Luzon Expressway start at the city connects the city with Batangas City and Metro Manila, respectively. The Jose P. Laurel Highway connects the city with Tanauan City, Lipa and Batangas City.

Public transport

Jeepneys (Filipino: "dyip") connect the city 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 city. UV Express service also connects Santo Tomas with San Pablo, Santa Rosa, Lipa, and Dasmariñas. Tricycles provide transportation within the barangays.

Government

Local government

Santo Tomas City Hall MiguelMalvarShrinejf0468 01.JPG
Santo Tomas City Hall

Education

Universities

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines Santo Tomas PUP Santo Tomas New Building.JPG
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines Santo Tomas

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines has one campus in Santo Tomas. It is a constituent branch of the PUP System and the only institution of higher learning in Santo Tomas that serves the city and neighboring cities.

Public high schools

The city has 5 public high schools, all overseen by the Schools Division Office (SDO) of Sto. Tomas City. [30]

Public elementary schools

There are 28 public elementary schools within Santo Tomas, all overseen by the SDO of Sto. Tomas City. [31]

Santo Tomas North District

Santo Tomas South District

Private schools

There are 18 private schools within the Santo Tomas. [32] [33]

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

Mythology

In Philippine mythology, the homeland of the anggitays is believed to be somewhere in Santo Tomas, Batangas. The anggitays are creatures resembling centaurs but have a single horn on the forehead and are generally female. [34]

Notable personalities

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