Padre Garcia, officially the Municipality of Padre Garcia (), is a first class municipality in the province of Batangas, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.

It is recognized as the "Cattle Trading Capital of the Philippines," being notable for its strong agricultural heritage, highlighted by the town’s bustling cattle market, locally known as the bakahan. This livestock auction market has developed into the largest in Southern Tagalog, attracting traders from various regions and serving as a major contributor to the local economy.

Etymology

Padre Garcia's old name is Lumang Bayan, as it is the former seat of government of the neighboring town of Rosario. The town is named for one of its most famous sons, Padre Vicente García, a native of Barangay Maugat. He was one of the first defenders of José Rizal's Noli Me Tángere, and he was friends with Rizal were friends during the struggle for Philippine independence from Spain.

History

The town was originally part of Rosario and known as Lumang Bayan or Sambat. It officially became a separate municipality on December 1, 1949 through Executive Order No. 279 signed by President Elpidio Quirino on October 11, 1949, with José A. Pesigan and Rústico K. Recto as the first elected mayor and vice mayor, respectively. It originally consisted of barrios Banaba, Banay-banay, Bawi, Castillo, Maugat, Lumang Bayan (población), Pansol, Payapa, Quilo-quilo, San Miguel, San Felipe, and Tangob.

In 1952, the town council founded the cattle market or bakahan in direct competition to the established one of neighboring Rosario. This resulted in rivalry, intimidation, and violence at times, but the market succeeded and became the biggest in Southern Tagalog. Cattle trade happens every Friday of the week.

Geography

Padre Garcia is located at . It is from Batangas City,

from Manila, from Lucena, and from Lipa. It is bounded on the north and northwest by Lipa; east by San Antonio, Quezon; and south and southwest by Rosario.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of constituting of the total area of Batangas.

Barangays

Padre Garcia is politically subdivided into 18 barangays, as shown in the matrix below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

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Climate

Demographics

In the 2024 census, Padre Garcia had a population of 53,526 people. The population density was .

Economy

thumb|Inside the Padre Garcia Market

Education

The Padre Garcia Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.

Primary and elementary schools

  • Ages and Stages School of Padre Garcia Batangas
  • Banaba Elementary School
  • Bawi Elementary School
  • Bukal Elementary School
  • Castillo Elementary School
  • Cawongan Elementary School
  • Domingo M. Zuno Elementary School
  • Holy Family Academy
  • Holy Trinity School
  • Magnum Opus Formation School
  • Manggas-Tamak Elementary School
  • Maugat East Elementary School
  • Paaralang Elementarya ng Banaybanay
  • Padre Garcia Central School
  • Pansol Elementary School
  • Payapa Elementary School
  • Quilo-Quilo Elementary School
  • Quilo-Quilo North Elementary School
  • San Felipe Elementary School
  • San Miguel Elementary School
  • Tangob Elementary School
  • Touching Minds Learning Center

Secondary schools

  • Bukal Integrated National High School
  • Padre Garcia National High School
  • Pansol Integrated National High School

<gallery widths=200 heights=150>

File:PadreGarciaChurchjf9806 13.JPG|Parish of the Most Holy Rosary

File:PadreGarciaMunicipalHalljf9925 28.JPG|Old municipal hall

File:PadreGarciaChurchjf9863 14.JPG|Padre Garcia Health Center

File:PadreGarcia,Batangasjf9983 08.JPG|Multi-purpose Hall

</gallery>

References

  • [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]