History

The region that now comprises the province of Tarlac was sparsely settled during the pre-Spanish and early Spanish era. The area was a great forest filled with thorny shrubs called tarlak that lent its name to the earliest settlement established by Spanish missionaries. The region acted as a buffer zone that isolated the important settlements of Pampanga from Pangasinan. Martin de Goiti penetrated the forests in 1571 but the region remained lightly settled and seldom visited until the 19^th century.

The region was administered as parts of two provinces, Pampanga and Pangasinan. Tarlac, the oldest Christian settlement was established as a town in 1686. In the 17^th century several other towns were founded near the southern and northern peripheries of the region. The histories of these early settlements are closely related to the histories of the provinces from which they were taken. For example, in 1762, the town of Paniqui responded to the calls of Juan de la Cruz Palaris of Pangasinan to shed Spanish dominion.

In the early 19^th century, the pace of settlement in the region accelerated with the influx of settlers from Pangasinan, Ilocos and Pampanga in search on new land to put under the plough. By 1860, the Spaniards established a comandancia to protect the new settlers from the unsettled tribes. This military entity covered not only southern Tarlac, but several towns of present day Pampanga as well. In 1872, sections of Pangasinan and Pampanga were fused to form the province of Tarlac and the towns of Mabalacat, Magalang, Porac and Floridablanca were returned to Pampanga.

During the Philippine Revolution of the 1896, Tarlac was one of the earliest provinces that revolted against Spain. In October 1899, President Emilio Aguinaldo moved his seat of government there until Americans occupied the province. During World War II, Camp O'Donnell in Capas became the end point of the infamous "Death March" of Filipino and American soldiers who surrendered in Bataan. During the 1940s and 1950s the province became a center of operation of the communist-led Hukbalahaps an armed force that was initially an anti-Japanese force that later led an agrarian uprising against the Philippine government.

People, Culture and the Arts

Tarlac is where Ilocano settlers pushing south met with the Kapampangan settlers pushing north. About 50 percent of Tarlac’s residents are Ilocanos and 41 percent are Kapampangans. The rest are either Pangasinenses or Tagalogs. Tarlac is also home to a large community of Chinese, who have settled in the environs of the city and transformed it into a commercial center for Central Luzon.

Tarlaqueño culture is basically lowland Christian Filipino culture. Agriculture is the primary economic activity of the residents of the province, who produce rice, sugar and tobacco in large quantities. Besides agriculture, the people of Tarlac devote themselves to a number of traditional industries, such as ceramic and brick making, as well as furniture and wooden clogs manufacture.

Trade and Investments

Tarlac is the heart of Central Luzon. A variety of factors have drawn cultures, peoples and industries to this plains province and have placed it in a vibrant position to participate in the region’s economic growth. Tarlac is blessed with expansive agricultural lands, producing a variety of agricultural products like rice, sugar, corn and tobacco for local and export markets. In the mountains to the west of the province lie large mineral reserves of manganese, iron, clay, gravel and sand. Close to a million people call the province home and about 365,000 belong to the labor force. Tarlaqueños are highly-educated and easily adaptable to the needs of industry and this provides adequate manpower for industry’s needs.

Located only 89 kilometers north of the National Capital Region, Tarlac is linked by a fine network of roads to the country’s main road artery, the North Luzon Expressway. The province is less than two hours drive away from the airport and seaport of Subic Bay, and practically next door to the international airport at the Clark Special Economic Zone. The country’s major telecommunications providers serve the province while power and water are readily available.

Although agriculture remains the province’s primary economic activity, the province is rapidly building its industrial sector. The basic strategy of Tarlac’s economic development is to take advantage of its proximity to the growth centers to catapult the province into an agro-industrial growth area. Tarlac is focusing its efforts to attract new businesses and industry into special economic zones such as the Luisita Industrial Park. Aside from the investment packages being offered by the national government, the province has also designed a special program to assist investors involved in electronics and technology related industries. Luisita Industrial Park, together with the Clark Special Economic Zone, is envisioned to form a vital core under the country’s Electronics and Allied Industries Masterplan.

Outside the industrial estates, investments in trade, and micro-economic activities such as food processing, handicrafts, furniture, gifts, and toys manufacture continue to be attractive. Since the province is centrally located and easily accessible from several key industrial and commercial areas, such as Manila, Subic, Dagupan and Baguio, it is an appealing location for these endeavors.

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