French
DeutschTanay is a town in Rizal, Philippines. The northern portion of the town lies within the Sierra Madre mountains.
Understand
[edit | edit source]The town's name was derived from its old name "Monte de Tan-ay", meaning "Mountain of Tanay", which reflects the area's mountainous location within the Sierra Madre. This explains the existence of Camp Capinpin, a military camp in the highland barangay of Sampaloc where the Philippine Army trains its soldiers in jungle warfare.
Tanay virtually has two town centers: the old poblacion at the floodplain of the Tanay River leading to Laguna de Bay, and Sampaloc, the commercial hub of the upland barangays that has grown thanks to the opening of the Marcos Highway, the presence of the Camp Capinpin garrison, and an influx of hikers and affluent people and property developers seeking to find a spot in the Sierra Madre to build their dream resthouse far from the stress of Metro Manila.
It is home to about 146,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
Get in
[edit | edit source]Tanay is 46 kilometres (29 mi) away from Manila and 22 kilometres (14 mi) away from Antipolo. It is accessible via Manila East Road (for the barangays along Laguna de Bay) and Marcos Highway (for Sampaloc and other upland barangays). A two-lane inner road parallel to Manila East Road connects the town center of Tanay with those of Baras and Pililla. The Tanay-Sampaloc Road serves as a capillary between the three roads and runs from Sampaloc to the town market at Plaza Aldea.
Jeepneys from the terminal in the town market are bound for Cainta, Starmall EDSA in Mandaluyong, Pililla, Jalajala and Siniloan. Jeepneys from the terminal in Sampaloc are bound for Cogeo in Antipolo. The minibus service from SM Masinag in Antipolo bound for Pililla passes through Tanay.
There is an airfield in Camp Capinpin in Sampaloc, but is only used for military purposes.
Get around
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Places within the town proper are accessible by tricycle. Northernmost barangays, such as Daraitan, San Andres and Santa Ines, are accessible by jeep from the town market via Sampaloc Road.
Jeepneys heading to Sampaloc and nearby areas are of the bulkier type used to carry large loads and even livestock through the mountain roads and can get pretty cramped. You may expect to have to ride on top of the vehicle even if it is illegal, especially during rush hour and at night when most trips wrap up.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Regina Rica (Regina Rosarii Institute for Contemplation in Asia), San Antonio Avenue, Brgy. Sampaloc (near Marcos Highway), toll-free: +63 2 372 5327, regina.rica@yahoo.com. Wed-Sun 8AM-5PM. A 13.5 hectares (33 acres) Roman Catholic pilgrimage site run by the Dominican Sisters of Regina Rosarii. It is visited by tourists for its 71 feet (22 m) high Virgin Mary statue. PHP100.
- 2 Daranak Falls, Brgy. Tandang Kutyo. 8AM-5PM. Derived from the word "dadanak", which means "to flow", describing the falls.
- 3 Calinawan Cave, Calinawan Road, Brgy. Tandang Kutyo. 7AM-5:30PM. A cave that served as a neutral ground for negotiations between warring forces in the Philippine wars of independence against the Spanish and later the Americans. The chambers have not been fully explored, leaving open the possibility that the cave system could extend to neighboring towns.
- 4 San Ildefonso de Toledo Parish Church (Tanay Church), M.H. del Pilar Street, Brgy. Katipunan-Bayan, toll-free: +63 2 8654-1015, sanildefonsoparishchurch@yahoo.com. A Spanish-era Baroque church that is was designated in 2001 as a National Cultural Treasure Church by the NCCA due to the five rococo-influenced retablos and wood-carvings depicting the stations of the cross.
- 5 Parola, P. Burgos Street, San Isidro (Dike at the end of the road.). A lighthouse that provides a view of Laguna de Bay and Rizal's nearby towns.
- 6 Tinipak River and Rock Formation, Daraitan. A series of white stone rapids and boulders along the Agos River.
- 7 Mount Irid. A 1,467 metres (4,813 ft) high peak near the triboundary with Rizal, Laguna and Quezon Provinces that is also claimed by the municipality of Rodriguez, although hikers generally enter the area through a trail that begins at Barangay Santa Ines in Tanay. The mountain is home to a few endemic wildlife including subspecies of orchids, rafflesias, pitcher plants and forest mice.
Do
[edit | edit source]There are a lot of restaurants and cafes along Marcos Highway in Cuyambay and Sampaloc that provide the overlooking views of Rizal province.
An annual Tanay Rodeo is celebrated every third week of January in line with the celebration of Tanay Town Fiesta to promote the cattle and agri-eco tourism in the town.
Buy
[edit | edit source]Malls
[edit | edit source]- 1 Tanay Town Center, F.T. Catapusan Street, Plaza Aldea, ☏ +63 927 435 1444. 9AM-9PM. The only mall in Tanay, with the Savemore grocery chain as one of its tenants.
Markets
[edit | edit source]- 2 Tanay Public Market, Market Road, Plaza Aldea.
Eat
[edit | edit source]Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Pranjetto Hills Resort and Conference Center, Marcos Highway, Sitio Mayagay, Brgy. Sampaloc, ☏ +63 917 144 6232, cs.pranjettohills@gmail.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 12NN. A hotel, resort and activity center.
- 2 Momarco Resort & Hotel, Sampaloc Road, Sitio Bathala, Plaza Aldea, ☏ +63 927 822 9865, +63 917 154 9865, sales@momarcoforestcoveresortandhotel.com.
- 3 Keno's Lodge, Sampaloc Road corner Manila East Road, Plaza Aldea, ☏ +63 917 741 5881, fernando_padua2000@yahoo.com. from P1200.
Stay safe
[edit | edit source]The Tanay stretch of the Marilaque Highway is a known accident-prone area with its winding curves and the occasional horde of motorcyclists and drag racers turning the road into a playground for stunts they cannot do in Metro Manila.
Respect
[edit | edit source]The highlands of Tanay are inhabited by indigenous Dumagat communities who still adhere to their precolonial customs and belief systems and are widely respected even by the non-Dumagat resident population. As they are the most experienced in dealing with the natural settings of Tanay, you are expected to exercise maximum respect for their traditions and when visiting them.
Connect
[edit | edit source]The town's postal code is 1980.
Cellphone service in parts of the Marilaque Highway can be weak or non-existent.
Go next
[edit | edit source]| Routes through Tanay |
| Taytay ← Baras ← | W  E | → Pililla → Pagsanjan |
| Marikina ← Antipolo ← | W  E | → Santa Maria → Infanta |
