Tanza

Tanza, officially the Municipality of Tanza (Tagalog: Bayan ng Tanza), is a municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 339,308 people. It has a land area of 95.59 square kilometers (36.91 sq mi), making it the third largest municipality by land area in the province. Tanza was awarded the "Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping" in 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, and 2021 and the "Seal of Good Local Governance" in 2016 by the Department of the Interior and Local Government. The municipality was named 2014 most competitive in economic dynamism by the National Competitiveness Council, eighth most populous municipality (2015 NSO Census), and 15th largest Municipality Revenue Earner based on the 2016 Bureau of Local Government Finance Financial Report. Tanza is the place where Emilio Aguinaldo was sworn in as the president of the revolutionary government of the Philippines, in front of the ancient Santa Cruz or Holy Cross (the titular of Tanza's main Catholic parish). Other officials elected at Tejeros Convention elections, including Mariano Trias as vice president, also took their oath with Aguinaldo. Also, Tanza was the birthplace of Felipe G. Calderon, the person who drafted the Malolos Constitution. Tanza is the home of Cavite Gateway Terminal, the first roll-on, roll-off barge terminal in the Philippines. History Tanza was formerly a strip of land incorporated for official purpose to the municipality of San Francisco de Malabon, now called General Trias. The first settlers were the Fabian brothers who migrated here. This place was particularly devoted to grazing and was called Estancia Santa Cruz de Malabon (1780). The 1818 Spanish census showed the area had 2,090 native families and 3 Spanish-Filipino families. In the mid-19th century, the Secularization movement that was largely centered in Santa Cruz de Malabón led by Pedro Pelaez. On October 15, 1903, the Philippine Commission approved Act No. 947, annexing Santa Cruz de Malabon to the adjacent town of San Francisco de Malabon. In 1909, a resolution was passed by the San Francisco de Malabon municipal council to reconvert Santa Cruz de Malabon into a separate and independent municipality; it took effect in 1910. In 1914, Florentino Joya, the then-representative of Cavite to the Philippine Assembly, worked for the passage of a bill which renamed the town of Santa Cruz de Malabon to Tanza by virtue of Philippine Legislative Act No. 2390 dated February 28, 1914. Geography Tanza is among of the 23 cities and municipalities that comprise Cavite. It is located in the northwestern part of Cavite lying within latitudes 140° 24’ north and longitude 120° 51’ east. It is bounded by Rosario to the North; General Trias to the east; Trece Martires and Naic to the south; and Manila Bay on the west. Tanza is 23 kilometres (14 mi) from Imus and 33 kilometres (21 mi) from Manila. Barangays Tanza is politically subdivided into 41 barangays, as indicated below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios. Climate Demographics In the 2024 census, the population of Tanza was 339,308 people, with a density of 3,500 inhabitants per square kilometer or 9,100 inhabitants per square mile. Religion Christianity The majority of the people of Tanza are Roman Catholic under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Imus, but there has been fast growth of Protestant and other non-Catholic denominations in the town, including Iglesia ni Cristo, Baptist, Seventh-day Adventist, Jehovah's Witnesses, Members Church of God International, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Islam With the influx of migrants from other provinces especially from Mindanao, other non-Christian faiths particularly Islam are practiced in the town. Other faiths Non-Abrahamic faiths include native-Tagalog Anitism, Animism, and within the local Indian and Chinese communities Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism are followed. Languages The main languages spoken are Tagalog, and English. A large number of people from farther provinces have migrated to Tanza, resulting in minor but significant usage of the Bicolano, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon and Waray languages. Economy Poverty incidence Poverty incidence of Tanza Source: Philippine Statistics Authority Retail and business process outsourcing Large retail operators have shown significant interest to the growth and increase of land value in cities throughout the Philippines. They are seen as highly developed urban centers where a lot of economic activities take place and is important to urbanization and development. Tanza is eyed as a center of exponential growth for commerce, industry and service, strengthening its stature as one of the fastest growing municipalities in Cavite province. SM Supermalls, a subsidiary of SM Prime, the largest mall operator in the country, since 2014 is negotiating with other landowners nearby Antero Soriano Highway in Barangay Daang Amaya 2 on their plan to build a new SM Mall in the town. SM City Tanza was opened in October 2022 as their 80th mall in the country. Municipal income Government Elected officials The following are the elected officials of the town elected last May 12, 2025 which serves until June 30, 2028: Municipal Government of Tanza (2022–2025): Representative (7th District): Crispin Diego Remulla (NUP) Mayor: Archangelo B. Matro (NUP) Vice Mayor: Raymundo A. Del Rosario (Aksyon) Sangguniang Bayan members: Myron S. Ner Concepcion Jocelyn D. Pangan Joselito P. Arca Antonio A. Del Rosario Jr. Niño Federico B. Matro Sheryl Lyn Langit-Gervacio Alexis B. Dones Ryan G. Mintu List of former municipal heads Gobernadorcillos: Jose Cristobal (1870) Ignacio Fabian (1892) Capitan Municipal: Jose del Rosario (1896) Francisco Valencia (1896) Eladio Bocalan (1896) Jacinto Pulido (1898) Ciriaco Montano (1898) Presidente Municipal: Municipal Mayor: Education The Tanza 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. There are 32 government-owned daycare centers in Tanza, which is being managed by the MSWD. Primary and elementary schools High schools Higher educational institutions Notable personalities Jesus Crispin Remulla — Ombudsmann Juanito Victor Remulla — DILG Secretary; Cavite Governor Lyca Gairanod – The Voice Kids Philippines grand champion Felipe Calderón – National hero; Father of the Malolos Constitution. Epimaco Velasco – DILG Secretary; Cavite governor Justiniano S. Montano – Senator; creator of Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Antero Soriano – Cavite governor; senator Mars Ravelo – graphic novelist Jasmine Trias – American Idol (3rd runner-up) Louise delos Reyes – actress and model Josefino Cenizal – composer, most notably Ang Pasko ay Sumapit Olivia Cenizal – actress Ranidel de Ocampo – basketball player Yancy de Ocampo – basketball player Aleona Denise Santiago – volleyball player Jaja Santiago - volleyball player Mikey Bustos - Filipino-Canadian vlogger Ralph de Leon - actor See also List of renamed cities and municipalities in the Philippines List of sister cities in the Philippines References External links Official website