Padre Garcia

Padre Garcia, officially known as the Municipality of Padre Garcia (Tagalog: Bayan ng Padre Garcia), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Batangas, Philippines. As of the 2020 census, it has a population of 51,853 people.

Originally known as Lumang Bayan, Padre Garcia was once the seat of government for the neighboring town of Rosario. The town was renamed in honor of one of its most notable sons, Padre Vicente Garcia, a native of Barangay Maugat. Padre Garcia was one of the earliest defenders of José Rizal's Noli Me Tangere and a close friend of Rizal during the struggle for Philippine independence from Spain.

Geographically, Padre Garcia is bordered by Lipa City to the north and northwest, San Antonio in Quezon to the east, and Rosario to the south and southwest.

History

Initially part of Rosario and known as Lumang Bayan or Sambat, Padre Garcia became an independent municipality in 1949 through Executive Order 279 issued by President Elpidio Quirino. The town's first elected officials were Mayor Jose A. Pesigan and Vice Mayor Rustico K. Recto.

In 1952, the town council established the renowned cattle market, or bakahan, which directly competed with the established livestock market in neighboring Rosario. This rivalry occasionally led to intimidation and conflict, but the Padre Garcia market eventually grew to become the largest auction market in Southern Tagalog, hosting cattle trade every Friday.

Contemporary Developments

On July 28, 2023, Padre Garcia marked a significant milestone with the inauguration of its new five-story municipal hall, a symbol of its growth and progress.

Geography

Padre Garcia is situated at 13°53'N 121°13'E, just 27 kilometers from Batangas City, 132 kilometers from Manila, 53 kilometers from Lucena, and 11 kilometers from Lipa. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality spans 41.51 square kilometers (16.03 square miles), making up 1.33% of the total area of Batangas.

Barangays

The municipality of Padre Garcia is politically subdivided into 18 barangays, each consisting of puroks, and some have additional smaller divisions known as sitios.