Locale

Prior to the year 1800 Mataasnakahoy was a land of lustrous forest. It was
then a part of old Villa de Lipa and the whole place was awarded to Silva and Templo
families of the municipality. Only a minor portion to where that barrio of Calingatan and
Loob, now lies was apportioned to the Morada’s and Aranda’s of the same town. For the
purpose of identification the place was called MATAASNAKAHOY

Tradition tells us that there once stood a very tall tree. That particular tree
was pronouncedly towering above the rest and was so situated on high ground. When
the tree was felled by a strong typhoon it was measured to be more than a hundred
meters long.

The place was endowed with fertile and loamy soil as a result of the various
eruption of Taal Volcano. Immigrants from Taal, Bauan, Cueca and San Jose came to
open the vast forested hilly lands. Slowly and pains taking the Tibayan’s Inciong’s,
Landicho’s Recinto’s, Reyes, Matanguihan and other families planted coffee, cacao,
lanzones and abaca acquires lots to call their own the original Silva’s Templo clan.

In 1878, the place was officially registered as Mataasnakahoy as barrio of

Lipa. Some of the well-known cabezas are Mariano Reyes, Alejandro Recinto, Severino
Recinto, Franciso Recinto, Camilo Recinto, Efipanio Tiquis, Manuel Vergara, Estanislao
Templo, Agapito Templo, Santiago Templo and Primitivo Silva. During the revolutionary
period more popular names came out the Mandigma brothers Antonio and Juan, Julian
Recinto Segundo Paran & Candido Recinto, Victor Templo and Vicente Gonzales were
elected Municipal Councilors of Lipa at two different elections.
 FOLKTALES

HOW MATAASNAKAHOY GOT ITS NAME

There once was a widow who lived in a small barrio. She had two sons living with
her in a nipa hut. One day the old woman becomes ill. She had taken many kinds of
medicine, but she would her. The next morning she told her dreams to her son. The two
boys left to look for the fruit. After a long search they reach the place. There they saw a
very tall tree. The boys stopped and looked for the fruit. There they found the fruit on the
top of the tree. The older brother climbed the tall tree. When he was half of the tree the
younger brother said “You might fall, the tree is very tall”. I will sacrifices to climb this tall
tree; I will get the fruit for mother’s sake”. He got the fruit.

The boys went home with the fruit. They give the fruit to their mother. She ate
the fruit. Like a miracle the mother get well. From that time on the place where the tall tree
was found was called Mataasnakahoy.

INDUSTRIES

The town’s economy is mainly dependent upon fruit growing although it grows rice,
corn, root crops, vegetable and other garden products; these are not produced in big
qualities. They, however, suffice to meet the town’s need. The income derived from fruits,
oranges, lanzones, Chico’s coffee, and bananas goes to maintain the operation of the
municipal government. Of course, these trees yield income to their owners on which they
make a living.

This stringency should not be held against the town people whom our research found
to be good natured, hospitable, and friendly.

Asked why they seem happy and contented, they replied:” we’ve got our food every
day; we’ve got our children. What more can ask from Heaven?” This is very significant, It
shows one basis principle, namely: when you place in the hands of the people the
ownership of lands, you assure them economic health and therefore peace and sense of
security. In other words, people can be contented, through influent, so long they have food
to eat, and homes they can call their own, cloth to hide their nakedness and above all lands
to make a living on. After all, they are not poor or destitute. They are only simple folks with
simple ways.

RELIGION

The town church was erected in 1932. The Patroness is the Immaculate Conception
in whose honor a town fiesta is held in January 3, every year. The Catholics dominate the
tone of 95%. The Iglesia ni Kristo, 5%. Today’s able, active and personable Pastor is no
other than Rev. Venerando Rocamora.
 BUSINESS

The rest of the people engage themselves in a small business. They are manly small
traders. But they constitute the 3rd angle in the economic triangle, the other two being the
producer and the consumer. Of course if the consumer’s income increase, it will enable the
producer to sell more and with his increase income he can increase his factory worker’s pay
to increase likewise their number.

Among these traders are Hermenio Tibayan, Melchor Silva, Victor Dimaano and
Dalmacio Tibayan.

EDUCATION

As is true elsewhere, education is the commodity most sought after.” No doubt”

people say” gold is precious but education’s highest virtue is that produces countless time.”
In truth it is the commodity which when used is not consumed. This, I call, a miracle of
miracles. Consequently, there are elementary schools in all barrios and more in the
poblacion. There is even one high in this modest two.

SETTING

Mataasnakahoy, officially the Municipality of Mataasnakahoy, (Tagalog: Bayan ng

Mataasnakahoy), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Batangas, Philippines.
According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 29,187 people.
Mataasnakahoy was created through Executive Order No. 308 signed by George C. Butte,
acting Governor General of the Philippines on March 27, 1931, effective January 1, 1932
Although the town's name is written as one word, it comes from the Tagalog phrase mataás
na kahoy, meaning "high wood".

Transportation

The town is easily accessible via Lipa City though passenger jeepneys plying the route from
dawn (3:00 AM) till night (9:00 PM). It is also accessible via the national road through a
two-kilometer concrete road along the southern boundary of Fernando Air
Base. Tricycles are available for going around town and the innermost Barangays.
 Official Seal

Company Profile

The mandate of the Municipality of Mataasnakahoy Business Permits and Licensing

Office is primarily to regulate the entry and operations of all business establishments in the
Municipality. In the fulfillment of this mandate, it undertakes business tax assessment,
issuance of business permits and licenses, monitoring and imposition of mandatory
standards to ensure compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations in order to
protect the interests of the public and to promote commercial activity for the general
welfare of the Municipality of Mataasnakhoy.

Vision

A God centered, ecologically balanced and progressive community with empowered

MKEANS guided by responsible leaders

Mission

To ensure political, economic cultural and ecological development of Mataasnakhoy

committed partnership of public and private sector with civil society organizations