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Tayabas is the former provincial capital of Quezon. The city is home to much Spanish-era architecture, including historic ancestral houses and stone bridges.
Understand
[edit | edit source]The city lies in the middle of Quezon, at the foot of Mt Banahaw. The old town has many old Spanish-era houses, once enough to rival those in Vigan or Taal, but many were burned down during World War II.
Despite being designated a city after long legislative debates, Tayabas feels more like a town, and is far quieter than nearby Lucena. It is home to about 115,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
History
[edit | edit source]Tayabas was founded as a Spanish Augustinian mission to evangelize the native Tagalog population, and was the capital of the province of Tayabas (now Quezon) until 1901 when nearby Lucena became the capital. After a prolonged legal battle, Tayabas became an officially-recognized city in 2013.
Climate
[edit | edit source]Tayabas has a rainforest climate, with no dry season. Temperatures vary little by year, and rainfall is distributed all throughout the year.
Get in
[edit | edit source]Tayabas is a stop for the daily Manila-Mauban route operated by JAM Liner. NCR-Rienton Lines has ordinary buses plying Lucena-Mauban, with a stop at downtown. Tayabas is also directly served by jeepneys from Lucena, while jeepneys plying Lucban-Lucena serve the outer areas of town and bypass its center. The main transport terminal is in Tayabas Public Market.
Tayabas is served by the Maharlika Highway (Route 1) which passes through barangay Calumpang and is connected to the town center through the Tayabas-Sariaya Road. Most commuters heading to downtown Tayabas from Sariaya usually disembark at Calumpang and then take a P40-tricycle ride to town. As of 2026, access to the road is limited to light vehicles due to structural issues involving its Spanish-era bridges.
Tayabas town proper is also connected by a two-lane provincial Route 603 (Pagsanjan-Lucban-Lucena Road) from Lucena which directly serves the old town, where it becomes the narrow Quezon Avenue and Luis Palad Street. Tayabas-Mauban Road (Route 605) runs from the coastal town of Mauban and ends at Tayabas. The Tayabas-Pagbilao Bypass Road leads to the town from Pagbilao and Bicol Region.
Get around
[edit | edit source]Tricycles are the main form of transport within town. Fares start at P20.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Tayabas Basilica (Minor Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel), Apolinario de la Cruz Street, San Roque Zone 1, tayabasbasilica1585@gmail.com. A Spanish-era church designed in a key-like shape. Its nave measures more than 100 metres (330 ft) in length. It was declared a national cultural treasure by the Philippine government in 2001.
- 2 Casa Comunidad de Tayabas, J.P. Rizal Street. M-Th. Stone house built in 1831, used as a guesthouse for visits by Spanish dignitaries. This house also served as the place of the trial of Hermano Pule after his arrest on 1841. The ground floor houses the offices of the city tourism office and has a small exhibit on local history and culture. There are two Spanish-era cannon at the entrance.
- 3 Malagonlong Bridge, Tayabas-Pagbilao Road, Malagonlong. A Spanish-era stone bridge along the highway to Pagbilao, built between 1840 and 1850. The bridge is no longer passable and has been superseded by a newer adjacent bridge, but is still in good condition.
- 4 Mount Banahaw. An inactive volcano straddling the provinces of Laguna and Quezon. At 2,170 metres (7,120 ft), it is the highest mountain in the Calabarzon region, and a sacred monument for the Tagalog people.
- 5 Tayabas Parke Rizal, J. Rizal Street. Open 24 hours. Great place for relaxation and family bonding at the heart of Tayabas. Free.
- 6 Saint Joseph Chapel (Santuario de las Almas), Tayabas-Lucena Road, Zone I. A Spanish-era Catholic funeral chapel that used to cater to the town's rich residents and Spaniards during the colonial era. The site was declared a national cultural treasure by the Philippine government in 2018.
- 7 Ermita Church (Ermita de la Virgen de las Angustias), M.H. del Pilar Street. Spanish-era chapel dedicated to St. Diego de Alcala.
- 8 Tayabas Cemetery Chapel (Mortuario de Cementerio de los Indios), Tayabas Roman Catholic Cemetery, Tayabas-Sariaya Road. A Spanish-era chapel in the middle of the town's main cemetery.
Do
[edit | edit source]Tayabas has its reputation for festivals at various times of the year.
Festivals
[edit | edit source]- Taytsinoy Festival (February 2–5) Part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, it is celebrated as appreciation to the Filipino Chinese community in the city.
- Turumba Festival (Holy Week) - a celebration in honor of the Nuestra Senora de Turumba based in Pakil, Tayabense dance as a thanksgiving to the Virgin Mary in the main thoroughfares of Tayabas. Thousands of devotees from Quezon visit the Nuestra Senora de Dolorosa Church.
- Mayohan Sa Tayabas - (May) Celebrated since 1989, it blends Flores de Mayo celebrations with the colorful local traditions like Parada sa Baliskog.
- Hagisan ng Suman - Bundles of suman, a kind of rice cake, are paraded in bamboo bundles called bagakay, and as the image of St. Isidore the Worker passes, the suman bundles are thrown into houses and crowds.
- Pa'yas kay san Isidro (May 13-15) - Houses throughout town are decorated with native material. This celebration rivals Lucban's Pahiyas Festival festivities.
- Aguyod Festival - Showcases the local arts and the commitment to sustainable development.
- Hermano Pule Day - Commemorates the martyrdom of Apolinario dela Cruz (Hermano Pule or Ka Pule), a local of nearby Lucban who led a religiously-motivated rebellion against the Spaniards from 1832 until 1841 when he was executed and quartered in Tayabas.
- Araw ng Tayabas (August 13) - Commemorating the heroism of the locals of the city.
- Feast of San Miguel Arcangel - (September 29)- Celebration dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel.
- Festejo de los Angeles (September 22-29) - People wearing angel costumes parade through the major streets.
Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Primark Center Tayabas, 345 Luis Palad Street, Angeles Zone II, ☏ +63 998 595 7226, +63 908 818 8999, toll-free: (042) 373 4083Country code missing. 5AM–7PM. Shopping mall.
- 2 Tayabas Public Market, Luis Palad Street (facing Primark).
Eat
[edit | edit source]Among popular delicacies in Tayabas are budin (cassava cake) and yema (custard) cake.
- 1 Buddy's Restaurant, General Luna Street. A branch of a provincial restaurant chain based in Lucban serving Quezon dishes such as pancit habhab, longganisa and hardinera and has an interior decoration inspired by the Pahiyas festival.
Drink
[edit | edit source]- 1 Mallari Distillery, J.P. Rizal Street (in front of Tayabas Rizal Park), business.mallaridistillery@gmail.com. 7:30AM-5PM Mon-Sat, 7:30AM-12NN Sun. A producer of premium lambanog (spirit made from coconut) owned by the same family since 1901. It is one of a few lambanog-makers selling vintage bottles of the drink, similar to French wine production systems, and one of a few allowed to export lambanog to overseas markets. ₱130-8500.
Sleep
[edit | edit source]Accommodations in town are at a premium, but there are many forest resorts, a few with rooms for guests who will spend the night.
- Villa Cecilia Resort and Hotel, Calumpang-Tayabas Road, Malao-a.
- 1 Nawawalang Paraiso Resort and Hotel, Lucban-Tayabas Road, Camaysa, ☏ +63 947 810 0381, 0977 754 9492Country code missing, toll-free: (042) 793-3437Country code missing, (042) 793-3829Country code missing, info.nawawalangparaiso@gmail.com.
- 2 St. Jude Cooperative Hotel and Event Center, Maharlika Highway, Isabang, toll-free: (042) 719 2752Country code missing, (042) 710 3804Country code missing, stjudempc_coop@yahoo.com.
- 3 Villa Juliana Resort, 43 M.H. del Pilar Street, Angustias Zone I, ☏ +63 922 888 9094, +63 917 822 2149, villajuliana.tayabas@gmail.com.
Connect
[edit | edit source]The city's postal code is 4327.
Go next
[edit | edit source]Next to Tayabas is Lucban, a charming little town east of Mount Banahaw, with the Kamay ni Hesus shrine and Pahiyas Festival as its major tourist draws.
| Routes through Tayabas |
| Manila/San Pablo ← Sariaya ← | W  E | → Lucena → Naga |
| Pagsanjan ← Lucban ← | N  S | → Lucena |