TOURISM, CULTURE AND ARTS

SAN JOSE
BEFORE San Jose became a town, the barangays comprising the municipality re-
mained in a state of lethargy. Socially and economically, no significant signs of progress among
the people can be seen for many years. Led by then ABC President of Tarlac Town Amado de
Leon, and Samuel M. Eugenio, barangay captain then of Mababanaba (current Municipal
Mayor of San Jose) passed a petition creating the Municipality of San Jose, which was submitted
to President Corazon C. Aquino.
As early as 1927, the creation of the western part of Tarlac, Tarlac as municipality was
conceived. During the same year, the late Don Benigno Aquino, Sr., then Diputado and Speaker
Pro Tempore together with the Rev. Gregorio Aglipay, founder of the Aglipayan Church cele-
brated the approval of the change of name of Cadaanan into Villa Aglipay in honor of Msgr.
Gregorio Aglipay and at the same time declaring if officially as barrio. On that occasion, Don
Benigno Aquino, Sr. vowed for the creation of a municipality in the western part of Tarlac, Tarlac
with Villa Aglipay as the municipal site.

This dream was to be pursued by Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino,Jr. As governor of Tarlac,

he envisioned the same by making San Jose the site of the provincial capitol and to make Tar-
lac, Tarlac a city. Paniqui on the other hand would become the capital town of the province of
Tarlac. For political reasons, this plan was shelved. Events further dampened that vision when
Martial Law was declared. Ninoy Aquino did not live to see the birth of San Jose when he was
assassinated on his return trip to the country in 1983.

The petition creating San Jose into a municipality was coursed through Hon. Jose G.
Macapinlac, Mayor of Tarlac and Hon. Jose “Aping” V. Yap, Sr., congressman 2 nd District of Tar-
lac. Soon House Bill (HB) No. 5619 was filed in Congress for enactment. The House of Representa-
tives and Senate passed R.A. No. 6842 creating the Municipality of San Jose a supporting law, on
September 1, 1989 and October 3, 1989, respectively. The act was approved and signed in Jan-
uary 5, 1990 by Her Excellency President Corazon C. Aquino. Submitted to the people in a plebi-
scite, majority of voters ratified the Act making the Municipality of San Jose the 18 th town of the
Province of Tarlac. In administering the town, President Aquino appointed municipal officials led
by Jose A. Yap, Jr, as Municipal Mayor; Samuel M. Eugenio, as Vice-Mayor and 8 Municipal
Councilors namely: Ramon F. Dizon, Sr., Jose E. Valete, Sr., Romeo G. Capitulo, Dominador
Agdeppa, Fernando B. Dupitas, Patricio Baluyot, Juan L. Capiendo and Dominador Juan, Sr.,
and the ABC President then was Dominga B. Rivera. San Jose comprises with 13 barangays,
namely: Burgos, Iba, David, labney, Lawacamulag, Lubigan, Maamot, Mababanaba, Moriones,
Pao, San Juan de Valdez, Sula and Villa Aglipay. With an area of 65,110.26 hectares and with a
population of more than 2,430.

Today, San Jose is thriving to become the only agro-industrial and tourism destination.
Development plans are currently being undertaken by government line agencies and NGOs.
Mobilizing popular citizen participation to ensure that a development plans jibes with local, pro-
vincial, and to some extent, regional needs. Such development is viewed from the perspective
of sustainability. Hence, San Jose, as a premier town shall have rural setting enterprises, well
placed human settlements, clean and green environment, responsible citizenry and no mass
poverty, among others.
 TOURISM, CULTURE AND ARTS
CULTURE

ABELLING TRIBE
It refers to the cumulative deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, atti-
tudes, meanings, hierarchies, religion, and practices. San Jose known to its wide land
area. The abelling tribe of Tarlac is slowly vanishing and along with it, its culture, practic-
es and traditions. The abelling tribe is a little known cultural minority found in the moun-
tainous part of Western Tarlac. The Abelling tribe leave in this following areas such as Si-
tio San Pedro, Sitio Baag, Sitio Pisapungan, Agus, Sitio-Tala, Sitio Dirita, Sitio Socorro , Sitio
Tangan-Tangan and Barangay Maamot, San Jose, Tarlac with a total number of 7000
Abelling indivuduals in the town. According to their ancestor’s oral history, they have
been hunting and gathering in the province even before the Aetas, another proof that
the language ABERLING is way different from the Aetas’s Sambal dialect. As of now,
most Abelling are farmers, carpenters and fishermen. They rely heavily on the forest
around them for food, shelter and medicine.The Abelling tribe is ruled by a council of
eleders, composed of individuals, all are well versed in herbal medicine, hunting, fishing,
trade crafts like weaving, cooking, bow and arrow making. But one more important ini-
fying factor is that all are portals for the Anitos. Each elder can be possessed by the An-
ito spirit upon calling and it is in this state that important decisions are made on behalf of
the tribe. Today’s generation, many people have been already migrated in San Jose,
Such as, Ilocanos, Pampango, Tagalog, Muslims and Pangasinense were in they adapt
and practices the Culture and tradition of a San Josenians/Abelling, most of them the
major source of there income is Farming and Fishing. 90% of the population in San Jose
are all Christians and some
of them are Islam and
Tribe.
 TOURISM, CULTURE AND ARTS
MONASTERIO DE TARLAC

The Monasterio de Tarlac sits on a 278 hectare

eco tourism park, located at Barangay Lubigan,
Municipality of San Jose, Province of Tarlac and
developed by the former Congressman Jo-
se“Aping” Yap and has a 30 foot concrete statue
of Jesus Christ overseeing the town, besides the co-
lossal statue of the Risen Christ, is the Relic of the
True Cross which enshrined inside the monastery
chapel. Through the years, that cross passed
through many hands until it was split up into smaller
and smaller parts. In 2007, a splinter of that said
cross was brought from Germany to thye Philip-
pines. It now resides at the white Baroque
chapel of Monasterio de Tarlac. Monasterio de
Tarlac is considered as a pilgrimage sight were in

ECO PARK
A 278 hectares of forested area was found somewhere in
the mountains of Sitio Padlana, Barangay Lubigan—Moriones
San Jose Tarlac.
Located at an altitude of 308 meters above sea level good cli-
matic condition cause by thick begetation, boasting of natural
ecosystem of plants and disterocarp trees, accessibility to two
major road network, 6km from the nearest barangay and 30 kms
away from Tarlac City. With these findings, the eco Tourism Park
and campsite of Tarlac was born.
As envisioned by Governor Jose V. Yap the Eco - Tourism park will
showcase an array of features that will match the varied interest
or preferences of would be visitors.
As programmed, the eco tourism parks 278 hectares will be di-
vided in two categories, Ecological Park and Campsite to oc-
cupy the 50 meters and the rest as forest reseved.

Tourist may also enjoy and experience man

made view decks such as Giant
Nest,picnic grounds, campsite, activity
areas and bird watching.
 TOURISM, CULTURE AND ARTS
JOSE V. YAP RECREATIONAL & SPORTS COMPLEX
(Tarlac Recreational Parkl)

The Jose V. Yap Recreation and Sports Complex also knwn as

Tarlac Recreational Park,located at San Juan de Valdez, San
Jose, Tarlac. Managed by the local Tourism of Tarlac, this 78
hectares property offers an impressive range of activities for
sports and outdoor activities. TRP has, Athletics Oval, Olympic
Size pool, Kiddie pool, Camping Grounds, Lagoon for Kayakers,
Wall Climbing, Fishing area, Zipline, Karting Tracks, Bike Trails
and an area for airsoft. They have also pavilions for private
events, Team Building and clan reunions.

Mt. Ngile Picnic Ground

Mt. Ngile Picnic Ground opposite to the current of

the river, so if you feel to take a bath or first by to see
the rocks scattered in different shapes arrayed with
sands, the river gives a smooth refreshing sway to
ease your ears, with the sound of running waters. The
river is covered with beautiful forms of grass and
mountain trees. We can also enjoyed and avail cot-
tages and balsa that can offer by the constituents.
 TOURISM, CULTURE AND ARTS
Sitio Baag Tribal Community

Ang “BAHAG” ay hango sa salitang Ayta, na ngayon ay

“BAAG”.

Ang mga Ayta ay galing ang ninuno sa lugar ng Zam-

bales, at sila ay nakapag-asawa ng taga Tarlac. Ang lugar
ng Baag noon ay maganda, malamig ang simoy ng
hangin dahil sa malaking punong kahoy. ‘Di naglaon
ay dumating ang epidemya sa lugar maraming na-
matay halos araw-araw ay may namamatay at
umabot ng dalawang lingo, at wala na silang
panahon na gumawa ng paglilibingan, kaya
iminungkahi ng isang Elder na gawin na lang
“BAHAG” ang pagliligpit sa mga patay, at sumang-
ayon ang nakakarami lalo na yung pamilya ng na-
matayan, at may nagsabi din na mula sa araw na ito
ang lugar na ito ay tatawaging “BARYO BAAG” at ng
gumanda na ang panahon ay marami na rin ang umaakyat
doon para magbungkal at magtanim ng gabi, para guman-
da ang ani ay pinutol ang mga punong kahoy at sinunog
ang kabundukan, kaya ngayon ay wala ng mga punong
kahoy sa Baag. At ang salitang “BAHAG” ay ginawang
“BAAG” yan ang pinagmulan ng salitang Baag.

Sitio TalaTribal Community

Noong unang panahon ayun sa kwento ng mga El-

ders, ang lugar ng Tala ay mataas na parang malapit
na sa langit, at malamig ang simoy ng hangin,
kaya ang nakasanayan ng tao doon ay nag-
sisiga ng apoy para pang-alis ng ginaw, at
habang sila ay naka labas ng bahay ay
marami silang nakikitang mga bulalakaw
at ang iba ay parang nahuhulog sa mga
bundok. Isang araw ay mayroong matanda
na nakita ng malaking bulalakaw at sa bigla
ng matanda ay napasigaw na nasambit ang
“BUNTATALA! BUNTATALA!” ang sabi niya at lahat ng
nakakarinig ay lumabas at sinabi din na “BUNTATALA”
dahil ang matandang ito ay nirerespeto kaya ang sa-
bi ng mga ibang Elder, magmula ngayon ang lugar
natin ay tatawagin nating lugar ng “TALA” at mag-
mula noon ay tinawag na itong “TALA”.
 TOURISM, CULTURE AND ARTS
SAN JOSE CIRCUIT

Mt.. Tangisan - Standing At 500 above sea level, it is

translate to sorrow, this mountain is just at the back
of the community road which is Sitio San Pedro Iba,
San Jose, Tarlac.

Mt.. Bungkol Baka - Standing at 540 about sea level,

(Cow’s humps). The mountain is within the home-
land of the ethnic Abelling people.

Mt. Kawayan - Standing 500

above sea level. It is located at
the middle of the rice fields.

BIRD WATCHING

Is a form of wildlife observation in which the observation

of the birds is recreational activity and considered as a hob-
bies especially to the photographer. San Jose is open to every-
one to experience bird watching using camera, telescope
and binocular, also u can enjoyed by listening birds sound.
 CALENDAR YEAR 2020
TOURISM ARRIVALS

MONTH MALE FEMALE TOTAL

January 13 9 22
February 17 12 29
March Pandemic (Covid 19)
April Pandemic (Covid 19)
May Pandemic (Covid 19)
June Pandemic (Covid 19)
July Pandemic (Covid 19)
August Pandemic (Covid 19)
September Pandemic (Covid 19)
October 4565 3353 7921
November 4753 4260 9013
December 4877 2902 7779

TOTAL NO. OF TOURIST 24, 764 PAX

 MUNICIPALITY OF SAN JOSE

TOURISM IFORMATION OFFICE/DESK

LAWACAMULAG SAN JOSE TARLAC