Pedro Serrano Laktaw

An old Spanish-Tagalog dictionary by Pedro Serrano Laktaw in the late 1800s referred to ‘Tarlac’, as native sugar cane. Early documents referred the place as a marshland rather than a plant, which is more feasible as it had its application in other parts of the Philippnes.

1892

The Manila-Dagupan railroad further sustained the province as a transportation hub in Luzon.

May 24, 1893

The Gobierno Civil de Tarlac was created, with Don Antoniop Rodriguez Batista serving as the first civil governor.

JANUARY 24, 1897

The so-called ‘First Cry of Tarlac’ initiated by General Francisco S. Macabulos in La Paz.On the morning of January 24, 1897, Macabulos found the perfect opportunity. Macabulos along with his men charged at the Cuartel of the Spanish civil guards and soldiers in La Paz, Tarlac, armed with primitive knives and spears along with few guns. The revolutionaries triumphed and raided the Cuartel.

April 17, 1898

General Francisco M. Macabulos install the central Comite Directivo del Centro y Neorte de Luzon, With headquarters at Lomboy, La Paz Tarlac; with its own constitution, the so-called ‘Macabulos Constitution’.

July 14, 1899

The Congress of the First Philippine Republic was reconvened at the Tarlac Cathedral with Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista as the President.

August 8, 1899

The Unibersidad Literaria de Filipinas was reopen in Tarlac, with Dr. Ma Leon Guerrero as its rector. on September 29, 1899, it held its first and only graduation ceremony.

February 8, 1901

The American-sponsored civil government in Tarlac was inaugurated with Capt. Wallis O. Clark as its first governor.

1930s

La Jota Moncadenia is a cultural dance originating from the town of Moncada. The first folk dance team in the country to perform the dance is attributed to Ms. Felicidad Morales and the Moncada Central School back in 1938.

January 20, 1945

Tarlac was liberated from the Japanese on the feast of St. Sebastian.

1982

The Diwa ng Tarlac was constructed by the administration of then Governor Homobono Sawit, which was set as the civic center of the province.

June 15, 1991

Mt. Pinatubo explosion where more than 800 people died mostly from collapsing roofs. And more than two million people whose houses and livelihood were either damaged and/or destroyed. The eruption has also caused massive damage to natural resources, public sectors, public infrastructures, and agriculture.

April 2010

The province of Tarlac Hosted its First Palarong Pambansa at the newly Constructed Tarlac Recreation Park, now known as the Jose V. Yap Sports and Recreational Complex under the administration of the Governor Victor Yap.