San Jose, Tarlac

The municipality, comprising 13 barangays, had long been envisioned as early as 1927 by Don Benigno Aquino Sr. and later supported by his son, Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., although the plan was delayed by political circumstances and during Martial Law years, the initiative was revived in the late 1980s through petitions led by Amado de Leon, Samuel M. Eugenio, and other local leaders, with legislative support from Congressman Jose V. Yap Sr., Governor José Cojuangco, and Mayor Jose G. Macapinlac.^[6]

Pursuant to Republic Act No. 6842 which sought to create the Municipality of San Jose in the Province of Tarlac, signed by Corazon Aquino and approved on January 5, 1990.^[7] After its ratification in a plebiscite held on April 21, 1990, the Municipality of San Jose was established. The first mayor, vice-mayor, and municipal councilors were appointed by Corazon Aquino and they served their respective terms until the noon of June 30, 1992.^[8]

Today, San Jose is positioning itself as an agro-industrial and eco-tourism hub of Tarlac, noted for its natural landscapes and the Monasterio de Tarlac, which houses a relic of the Holy Cross of Jesus Christ.

San Jose is the largest municipality of the province in terms of land area. The Monasterio de Tarlac is located in this municipality.

San Jose is 42 kilometres (26 mi) from Tarlac City and 134 kilometres (83 mi) from Manila. It shares with Mayantoc the Mount Sawtooth Protected Landscape.^[9]

In the 2020 census, the population of San Jose, Tarlac, was 41,182 people,^[17] with a density of 69 inhabitants per square kilometre or 180 inhabitants per square mile.

Poverty incidence of San Jose (%)

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]}

The San Jose 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.^[27]