Tarlac City

Brief history of tarlac city
Tarlac's name was derived from a talahib weed called "Matatarlac" Tarlac was originally a part of the provinces of Pampanga and Pangasinan. It was tahe last Central Luzon province to be organized under the Spanish administration in 1874. 

History of Tarlac
The terrain formerly belonging to Pangasinan and Pmpanga make the territory of what is now the Tarlac province. This Central Luzon province was the last to be organized under the Spanish Regime. In 1874, its nuclei were the towns of Concepcion, Capas, Bamban, Mabalacat, Magalang, Porac, Floridablanca , Victoria and Tarlac (now City) which constituted the military 'Commandancia'. 

Some of these municipalities were returned to Pampanga but the rest were incorporated into new province of Tarlac, together with municipalities from the province of pangasinan.

Tarlac became briefly the seat of the Philippines Republic headed bay Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo when he abandoned Malolos, Bulacan in the face of the advancing American Force. Pacification was considered complete when civil government was instituted by the Americans in the whole Archipelago on Februaty 18, 1901. 

It was in Tarlac that President Aquinaldo issued the now famous "Rosena Verdica de la Revolicion Fajardo. This was the first history of the revolution ever published, and it gained significance because it contained an indictment against the abuse of the Americans Expeditionary Force in the country.

It was in this province that Apolinario Mabini was appointed Foreign Minister of the Philippines, and on the same year, Msgr. Gregorio Aglipay, protesting against the Philippines Independent Church.

Likewise, the first paper money and the first coin of the Independent regime were issued in Tarlac.

The province was again mush in the public eye in 1942 when thousand of wounded, sick and starved American and Filipino soldier marched on foot after their surrender in Bataan across rough, sun-drenched roads resulting in the death of hundreds on their way to Capas Camp O'Donnell became so overcrowded that many Allied prisoners died of hunger and disease. The infamous "Death March" of World War II ranks high among the most inhuman acts committed by the Japanese Imperial Army.

CREATION OF TARLAC

May 28, 1873

Early in the dawn, of history, what come to be know as Tarlac today once a thickly forested area, people by roving tribes of nomadic Aetas said to be the aboriginal settlers of the Philippines. The name "Tarlac" was derived from a 'Talahib' like weed called by the Aetas "Matarlac". Along the year word MALA was removed and shortened to TALAC. 

Tarlac was the last province in Central Luzon created by Spanish Colanial Government. Tarlac Started as a Spanish Commandancia Militar (establish in Tarlac Town in 1960) which policed the towns of Mabalacat, Porac, Magalang, Florida Blanca, Bamban, Concention, Capas, Tarlac and Victoria, all town of Pampanga, in 1871, and virtue of royal decree, the above named town were grouped together to from newly created province of Tarlac . In 1973, further reorganization was made. Mabalacat, Porac, Magalang and florida Blanca were separated from Tarlac Province and retuned to mother province Pampanga. On the other hand, then the pangasinan town of Anao, Gerona, Camiling, and Paniqui were transferred to Tarlac. On May 28, 1873. Tarlac was inaugurated as an ALCALDIA or a regular province Philippines. 

In Been the year 1873 and 1874 a margin of 23 years Sta Ignacia and Mayantoc and San Clemente, all barios of Camiling, became independent towns, O'Donnell and Murcia, from Capas, Moriones of the town of Donell, Pura of Gerona, Moncada, Paniqui and Lapaz of Tarlac. These added to the existing nine towns. the new set-up did not last long. On recommendation of the Philippines Commision og 1902 (Americans Administration) the smaller town were turned barrios to be made integral parts of town close to them.with this reconversion,important record and documents of the respective towns were turned over to town they wewre attached.

In 1907 and 1922, San Manuel (barrio of  Moncada) and Ramos (of Paniqui) became towns,respectively.With the exception of O'Donell. Moriones, and Murcia, all towns reconverted into barrios by the Philippines Commision of 1902 were to regain their township.

In January 05 1990, by the virtue of Republic Act. No. 6842. The Municipality of San Jose was created. The province was subsequently divided into three congressional district.

In April 1998, by virtue of R.A. No. 8593, the capital town of Tarlac was converted into a component City. Thus, the Province has the "Melting Pot of Cental Luzon"

During the Philippine Revolution of 1896, Tarlac was one of the first eight provinces to rise in arms againts Spain. It became the new seat of the first Philippine Republic in March 1899 when Emilio Aguinaldo abandoned the former capital, Malolos, Bulacan. This lasted only fot a month, as the seat was moved to Nueva Ecija in Aguinaldo's attempt to elude the pursing Americans.

On October 23, 1899, Gregorio Aglipay, military vicar general of the revolutionary forces, called the Filipino clergy to a conference in Paniqui. There, they drafted the constitution of the Philippines Independent Church. They called the Filipinization of the clergy, which eventually led to a schism in the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines.

TARLAC was captured by American forces in November 1899. A civil government was established in the province in 1901.

During the World Was II, Camp O'Donnnell in Capas Became the terminal point of the infamous "Bataan Death March", involving Filipino and American soldiers who surrendered in Bataan on April 9, 1942. The camp was so overcrowded that many Allied prisoners who survived the grueling march died here of hunger and disease.

In the early 1950s, Tarlac was the hotbed of the Hucks, a local communist movement.It was suppressed at first had resurgence in 1965.