Tourism has taken a practical approach in the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas. It first became evident in 2022, when then newly-elected Mayor Arth Jhun Aguilar Marasigan vowed to devise a “consolidated development roadmap that will focus on tourism as a vector for economic growth, job creation, and investment generation.”
Before it became a city, Sto. Tomas stood as one of the oldest towns in the province of Batangas. Established in 1666 by Dominican missionaries and named in honor of St. Thomas Aquinas. Sto. Tomas rested on the western side of fabled Mt. Makiling. It is blessed with waterfalls, springs, forests, and a rich history—complete with historical sites and markers—that over the years evolved into “must visit” sites for tourists and mountain hikers.
Keen on generating much-needed revenue, jobs, and livelihood for the city and its constituents, Mayor AJAM spearheaded a practical tourism blueprint. It mounted events and spectacles to highlight the city’s natural, historical, and cultural attractions, serving as a magnet for tourists and visitors.
MOUNTAIN HIKING
The city government of Sto. Tomas through the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), and the City Tourism Office, in partnership with Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems, further developed the existing mountain trails in the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas.
Mt. Makiling, one of the picturesque mountains on the side of Sto. Tomas, includes in its entrance passageways the Sipit Trail. On Station 2 of the Sipit Trail, one finds the Lambingan Falls, perfect for a dip and swim.
Another mountain in Sto. Tomas—Mt. Malepunyo, boasts of Manabu Peak. Easily accessible to neophyte mountain climbers, the trek to Manabu Peak comes with several stations suitable for camping and sight-seeing.
Hikers crossing the Manabu forest will discover interesting vegetation. They will pass through residential houses that sell vegetables, fruits, and locally grown coffee. A white cross marks the peak of Manabu, where hikers can take a rest and enjoy the mountain view. Mt. Manabu is especially crowded during the Lenten Season because of its eight stations that are being used for the stations of the cross.
To further boost its natural attractions, the city government sponsored a series of tourism promotion activities headlined by the 1st AJAM Makiling Challenge.
Its race routes are designed to showcase the natural beauty and challenging terrain of Mount Makiling, including the elevated areas of UPLB, the Jamboree Road, and the vicinity of the Philippine High School for the Arts. Runners encountered a mix of uphill and downhill sections, making for an exhilarating race.
AGRICULTURE-CUM-ECOLOGY
An entrancing site for visitors and tourists is the city’s seven-hectare Agri-Tourism and Ecological Park at the foot of Mt. Makiling.
Combining nature and agriculture, the site boasts of a natural hot spring pool, a greenhouse, a section for floriculture, and breeding areas for goats, chickens, and lambs. It also offers agriculture-related trainings and seminars.
The city, likewise, is proud of the Castillo Farm, the first and only certified organic farm in the City. Visitors can view wide, cultivated areas devoted to organically-grown crops, ranging from leafy vegetables, fruits, legumes, tubers, herbs and spices.
RELIGION & RELICS
For years, the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas has hosted thousands of devotees to three of its most visited religious sites—the Parish and National Shrine of St. Padre Pio in Barangay San Pedro, the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Church in the heart of Barangay Poblacion, and the Sta. Clara of Assisi Parish Church in Barangay Sta. Clara.
The Padre Pio Parish was elevated into a National Shrine with approval of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CPCP) in 2015. Devotes pray for healing and guidance, and the chance to see the first-and-second-class relics of St. Padre Pio housed in the parish complex. The CBCP reported that the Padre Pio National Shrine is looking to attain the status of an international shrine, once approved by the Vatican. It will be the country’s second international shrine after the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City.
Located within the central business district of the city, the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Church is the first parish established under the Dominican friars. In 1606, a Dominican priest established the town and curacy of St. Tomas and named it after the foremost Dominican theologian, St. Thomas de Aquinas.
Meanwhile, devotees of St. Claire, the patron saint of goldsmiths, laborers, and people afflicted with eye disease, come and pray in Sta. Clara Parish Church.
HISTORY & CULTURE
In 2023, Sen. Risa Hontiveros was the guest of honor during the 158th birth anniversary of Miguel Malvar. This year, Sen. Francis Tolentino came to the flag-raising and wreath-laying rites in commemoration of Malvar’s 159th birth aniversary at the Museo ni Miguel Malvar, City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas.
One of the leaders of the August 1896 Revolution, Malvar and his 70-man army carried the fight for independence all the way to the Philippine-American war. The US government and Filipino troops combined to suppress the Batangas rebellion, leading to the surrender of Gen. Malvar in 1902.
Noted historian Teodoro Agoncillo, in his book Introduction to Filipino History, cited Malvar as the last Filipino general to surrender to American forces during the Filipino-American war.
And with Gen. Malvar serving as the President of the Revolutionary Government from March 23, 1901 to April 16, 1902 after Aguinaldo’s capture, a House Bill was filed in 2007, declaring Malvar as the 2nd President of the Philippines.
SISTERHOOD
It takes a little more than two hours of travel by bus and ferry boat to reach Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro from the City of Sto. Tomas in Batangas.
A ranking producer of coconuts and fruit crops like calamansi, rambutan, marang, lanzones, and durian, Pinamalayan also excels in manufacturing and trade.
In 2023, the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas opened a sisterhood agreement with Pinamalayan. The agreement formalized a partnership of cooperation between the two local governments in the fields of agriculture, commerce, employment, industrial health, and cultural relations.
RESTAURANTS & RESORTS
With the development of a job creation-led tourism sector, it was inevitable to witness the rise of restaurants and resorts in the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas, offering employment to workers and staff from the hospitality industry.
Row upon row of restaurants offered the city’s famous bulalo—a delicious Filipino soup loaded with beef shanks boiled with onions, garlic, black pepper, salt, corn, pechay leaves, and cabbage.
Next to the restaurants were coffeeshops that gave pride of place to the city’s much-vaunted kapeng barako, civet coffee, and other coffee blends.
Despite its being landlocked, the city has its share of resorts, which residents and tourists alike frequented for rest and relaxation.
More tourism ventures like tour operators, home stays, and souvenir shops capitalized on increased tourist visits in the city.
This year, tourist arrivals to the City of Sto. Tomas totaled 4.8 million.
FUTURE PLANS
The sustained effort to promote practical tourism has reaped a total of 4.8 million tourists for the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas in 2023 alone. Of these, 32,000 tourists had an overnight stay in the city.
For 2025, the city government will construct its first Tourism building and Events Center. Supported by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the P41 million infrastructure funding for the building is expected to be released to the city with the support of Sen. Lito Lapid and TIEZA general manager Mark Lapid. It will also be used to rehabilitate the city’s Eco Park.
Other than the building of the Tourism Center, the funds will be utilized to develop an Eco Park, set up more Padre Pio Tourism Kiosks, and fine-tune the city’s Tourism Development Plan and Local Tourism Code.
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