Taal, Batangas

The name "Taal" may have come from:^[7]

• The archaic Tagalog word taal, possibly meaning pure or unadulterated;
• The Tagalog word taad, which refers to sugarcane cutting used in planting;
• A wild palm tree called tal-an or taal-an or possibly after the tala palm (Borassus flabellifer), hence the name tala-an meaning “the place where the “tala grows”; and
• The ipil tree (Intsia bijuga), which is also known as taal in some areas of the Philippines.

The town of Taal was founded by Augustinian friars in 1572.^[8] In 1575, the town transferred later to the edge of Domingo Lake (now Taal Lake) in 1575. In 1732, it became the provincial capital of Batangas. In 1754, Taal Volcano erupted, endangering the town of Taal which stood at present-day San Nicolas. Threatened by the new danger, the townspeople, together with the Augustinian Francisco Benchucillo, sought refuge in the sanctuary of Caysasay.^[9][10] The provincial capital was also transferred to the then-town of Batangas in the same year.^[11]

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 29.76 square kilometers (11.49 sq mi) ^[21] constituting 0.95% of the 3,119.75-square-kilometer (1,204.54 sq mi) total area of Batangas.

It covers an area of 270 square kilometers (100 sq mi) and is drained by Pansipit River down into Balayan Bay. Pansipit is one of the major ecological highways that allow migration of two fish species: maliputo (Caranx ignobilis), and muslo (Caranx marginalis) which are unique to Lake Taal. Adult fish migrate to the sea from Taal Lake via Pansipit River and Palanas River in Lemery. The tawilis (Harengula tawilis) is a freshwater sardine also endemic to Taal Lake.

In the 2024 census, Taal had a population of 61,559 people.^[30] The population density was 2,100 inhabitants per square kilometer (5,400/sq mi).

The first census in 1903 recorded a total population of 17,525. The 2007 population was 51,459 growing at 2.44% annually over the previous 7 years, with 7,961 households. By 2010, the population slightly increased to 51,503.

Poverty incidence of Taal (%)

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]}

• The EL PASUBAT Festival, celebrated annually during the month of April, is the conglomeration of the trademarks of Taal. "EL PASUBAT" stands for Empanada, Longganisa, Panutsa, Suman, Balisong, barong tagalog, Tapa, Tamales, Tawilis, Tulingan — the delicacies and crafts that Taal is known for.^[40]
• The Feast of St. Martin of Tours is held November 11 every year. Celebrations are in the form of prayer, hymns, declamation, flower offerings and big religious processions. Most families celebrate with food and drinks for visitors thereafter.
• The Feast of Our Lady of Caysasay, the well-known miraculous image of the Immaculate Conception, is celebrated every December 8. A joint town fiesta celebrated on December 9 honoring both Our Lady of Caysasay and Saint Martin of Tours.
• Lua is a traditional declamation in the vernacular recited by a maiden to honor the Virgin Mary or a boy in praise of a male saint like Saint Martin of Tours. In the procession, young girls and ladies in their pretty gowns make up the hila (pull), so called because they are supposed to pull the cord of lights originating from the Virgin's karosa (procession carriage) bedecked with flowers.

Since the Spanish period, the people of Taal lived by farming and commerce. The main produce are cotton, cacao and sugar which are made through the use of crude sugar mill called trapeche. Weaving and embroidery of barong and camisa (blouses) made from piña are popular home industries. Local embroidery businesses later expanded their products to include curtains, piano covers, pillowcases, tablecloth, table napkins and bed covers, adding more fame already earned by Taal embroidery.

Other products produced in the town are balisong (butterfly knife) and various food treats such as the panocha (peanut brittle candy) and suman salehiya (a sweet suman), tapa (cured pork) and the local longganisa, all of which are available at the public market. Popular Taal dishes include adobo sa dilaw (yellow adobo) and sinaing na tulingan (bonita fish soup).

The Taal 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.^[41]

• 
  Taal Basilica
• 
  Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay
• 
  Municipal hall
• 
  Felipe Agoncillo ancestral house
• 
  Taal Plaza
• 
  Our Lady of Caysasay Academy gate
• 
  Arch at Taal town proper
• 
  Welcome arch from San Nicolas
• 
  San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps
• 
  Galleria Taal
• 
  Ancestral houses
• 
  Agaton Orosa House

• Basilica de San Martin de Tours (Taal) – the biggest Catholic Basilica Church in the Far East
• Our Lady of Caysasay
• Our Lady of Caysasay Academy