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Tarlac City
Component City
City of Tarlac
From top, left to right: The Tarlac City Plazuela, San Sebastian Cathedral, Aquino Center and Museum, Diwa ng Tarlac, Corazon Aquino Monument, Tarlac City Hall, and the Tarlac State University Hostel.
Seal
Motto(s):  Magkaisa: Bawat Oras, Sama-Sama
Map of Tarlac with Tarlac City highlighted
Tarlac City Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°28′N 120°35′E / 15.47°N 120.58°E / 15.47; 120.58Coordinates: 15°28′N 120°35′E / 15.47°N 120.58°E / 15.47; 120.58
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
Province	Tarlac
District	2nd District
Founded	1788
Cityhood	April 18, 1998
Barangays	76 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Panlungsod
• Mayor	Cristy Angeles
• Vice Mayor	Genaro M. Mendoza
• Electorate	184,341 voters (2016)
Area  [2]
• Total	274.66 km2 (106.05 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
• Total	342,493
• Density	1,200/km2 (3,200/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Tarlaqueño (Male), Tarlaqueña (Female), Tarlaquenean
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2300
PSGC	036916000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)45
Climate type	Tropical monsoon climate
Income class	1st city income class
Revenue (₱)	1,173,725,497.74 (2016)
Native languages	Kapampangan Ilocano Tagalog
Website	www.tarlaccity.gov.ph

Tarlac City, officially the City of Tarlac, (Kapampangan: Lakanbalen ning Tarlac; Pangasinan: Siyudad na Tarlac; Ilokano: Siudad ti Tarlac, Tagalog: Lungsod ng Tarlac), is a 1st class city and capital of the province of Tarlac, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 342,493 people.^[3]

The city was proclaimed as a Highly Urbanized City under the former President and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, but the decision was opposed by the provincial government.

Geography

The city is situated at the center of the province of Tarlac. To its north is Gerona and Santa Ignacia, west is San Jose, south is Capas and Concepcion and eastern boundaries are Victoria and La Paz. This is also the location of the Tarlac River. Tarlac City is 124 kilometres (77 mi) from Manila.

Tarlac City is approximately 24 metres (79 ft) above sea level on some parts but reaching even 50 metres (160 ft) on large western portions. Tarlac City was historically a part of what is now Porac, Pampanga. Parts of Tarlac City are claimed to be among the few portions of land in the province which was not created by ancient eruptions from Mount Pinatubo.

Barangays

Tarlac City is politically subdivided into 76 barangays.^[4]

Demographics

In the 2015 census, the population of Tarlac City was 342,493 people,^[3] with a density of 1,200 inhabitants per square kilometre or 3,100 inhabitants per square mile.

Religion

According to statistics compiled by the Philippine government, the most dominant religion in the city is Christianity. The majority of Christians are Roman Catholics followed by a large concentration of Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ). Other Christian groups belong to various Protestant denominations. There are some being non-Christian such as Muslims, etc.

Transportation

MacArthur Highway in Tarlac

Tarlac City is the usual bus stop for commuters travelling from the South to the Ilocos Region and Cordillera provinces. Bus companies that take a route through the city include Philippine Rabbit, Victory Liner, Five Star, Partas, Baliwag Transit, Farinas Transit, Genesis, Santrans, de Leon Express, GV Florida, and many others. Many of the bus companies' rest stops can be found along MacArthur Highway including Siesta and Motorway.

The MacArthur Highway goes from the southern to the northern end of the city. There are a series of roads leading to Zambales and Pangasinan as well as Baguio City. Most buses passing through the town of Camiling onwards to Pangasinan usually take the Romulo Highway which forks from MacArthur Highway along Brgy. San Roque.

Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) connects with Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) within the capital of the province. The 2 expressways serves as an alternate route for motorists going to the other parts of Northern Luzon area such as Pangasinan, La Union and Baguio.

In the future, SCTEx and TPLEx connects with the proposed Central Luzon Link Expressway. CLLEx serves as a future alternate route of motorists from Tarlac to Nueva Ecija and Cagayan Valley region.

Shopping

There are several shopping malls established within the city. To name a few, there is the SM City Tarlac, which is the first SM Supermall in the Tarlac Province, located along McArthur Highway in San Roque; Plaza Luisita Mall, which is the first shopping center in Central Luzon (now Robinsons Luisita; the Magic Star Mall along Romulo Blvd. in Brgy. Cut-cut; My MetroTown Mall in Brgy. Sto Cristo; Palm Plaza Mall located along McArthur Highway corner F. Tanedo St. Brgy. Matatalaib; CityWalk also located in Brgy. San Roque and the Double Dragon's CityMall (u/c) located in Brgy. San Rafael.

Festivals

The Malatarlak Festival, celebrated every January in Tarlac City, is one of the most remarkable festivals in the province. In 2011, the City Mayor then changed the name of the festival to Melting Pot Festival, but it is still remembered by its former name. The festival is a commemoration to the first people who built civilization in the province, the Aetas. The names and themes of the festivals in Tarlac City have changed over the years depending on the City's leadership. For the current administration (since June 2016), the local fiesta or festival has been called Magkaisa or come together as one.

Sister cities

• 
  Angeles City, Pampanga


• 
  Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija


• 
  Taguig City, Metro Manila


• 
  Baguio City, Benguet


• 
  Bauan, Batangas

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tarlac City.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Tarlac City.

• Tarlac Province Official Portal


• 
  Philippine Statistics Authority^{[permanent dead link]}