View source for Tarlac

{{Short description|Province in Central Luzon, Philippines}}
{{about|the province|its capital city|Tarlac City|other uses}}
{{distinguish|Darlac}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Tarlac
| settlement_type    = {{PH wikidata|settlement_type}}
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Capas Tarlac May 2018 (42450722332).jpg
| photo2a = Tarlac Provincial Capitol plaza side view (Romulo Boulevard, Tarlac City; 07-23-2023).jpg
| photo2b = 
San Roque Church, Tarlac City, Jul 2024.jpg
| photo3a = FvfTarlacCity9338 01.JPG
| photo3b = 
09750jfSan Roque Vicente Cristo Cut-cut College Tarlac Cityfvf 21.JPG
| size = 250
| spacing = 2
| color = transparent
| border = 0
}}
| image_caption      = (from top: left to right) [[Capas National Shrine]], [[Tarlac City|Tarlac Provincial Capitol]], [[Tarlac City|San Roque Church]], [[Tarlac Cathedral]], and [[Tarlac State University]]
| image_flag         = Flag of the Province of Tarlac.svg
| flag_size          = 120x65px
| image_seal         = Tarlac Province Seal.svg
| seal_size          = 80px
| image_shield       = 
| nickname           = Melting Pot of Central Luzon
| anthem             = ''Awit ng Tarlac''
| image_map          = Tarlac in Philippines.svg
| map_caption        = Location within the Philippines
| image_map1         = {{hidden begin|title=OpenStreetMap|ta1=center}}{{Infobox mapframe|frame-width=250|zoom=8}}{{hidden end}}
| coordinates        = {{PH wikidata|coordinates}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{PH wikidata|country}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Regions of the Philippines|Region]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{PH wikidata|region}}
| established_title  = [[Date of establishment|Founded]]
| established_date   = {{PH wikidata|founded}}
| seat_type          = Capital<br />{{nobold|and largest city}}
| seat               = [[Tarlac City]]
| government_type    = {{PH wikidata|government_type}}
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = [[Governor of Tarlac|Governor]]
| leader_name        = Christian Tell A. Yap ([[Sama Sama Tarlac|SST]])
| leader_title1      = [[Vice Governor]]
| leader_name1       = Estelita M. Aquino ([[Nationalist People's Coalition|NPC]])
| leader_title2      = Legislature
| leader_name2       = [[Tarlac Provincial Board]]
| area_footnotes     = <ref name=nscblist>{{cite web |title=List of Provinces |url=http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/listprov.asp |work=PSGC Interactive |publisher=National Statistical Coordination Board |access-date=21 August 2013 |location=Makati City, Philippines}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = {{PH wikidata|area}}
| area_rank          = 45th out of 81
| elevation_max_m    = 1,655
| elevation_max_point = [[Mount Iba]]
| population_footnotes = {{PH census|current|03}}
| population_total   = {{PH wikidata|population_total}}
| population_as_of   = {{PH wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population_rank    = 18th out of 81
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_rank = 13th out of 81
| population_demonym = {{unbulleted list|Tarlacqueño (m/n)|Tarlacqueña (f)|Tarlacense}}
| demographics_type1 = Divisions
| demographics1_title1 = [[Cities of the Philippines#Independent cities|Independent&nbsp;cities]]
| demographics1_info1 = 0
| demographics1_title2 = [[Cities of the Philippines|Component cities]]
| demographics1_info2 = {{Collapsible list
| titlestyle              = font-weight:normal;text-align:left;background-color:WhiteSmoke;
| title                   = 1
 | [[Tarlac City]]
}}
| demographics1_title3 = [[Municipalities of the Philippines|Municipalities]]
| demographics1_info3 = {{Collapsible list
| titlestyle              = font-weight:normal;text-align:left;background-color:WhiteSmoke;
| title                   = 17
 | [[Anao, Tarlac|Anao]]
 | [[Bamban, Tarlac|Bamban]]
 | [[Camiling, Tarlac|Camiling]]
 | [[Capas, Tarlac|Capas]]
 | [[Concepcion, Tarlac|Concepcion]]
 | [[Gerona, Tarlac|Gerona]]
 | [[La Paz, Tarlac|La Paz]]
 | [[Mayantoc, Tarlac|Mayantoc]]
 | [[Moncada, Tarlac|Moncada]]
 | [[Paniqui, Tarlac|Paniqui]]
 | [[Pura, Tarlac|Pura]]
 | [[Ramos, Tarlac|Ramos]]
 | [[San Clemente, Tarlac|San Clemente]]
 | [[San Jose, Tarlac|San Jose]]
 | [[San Manuel, Tarlac|San Manuel]]
 | [[Santa Ignacia, Tarlac|Santa Ignacia]]
 | [[Victoria, Tarlac|Victoria]]
}}
| demographics1_title4 = [[Barangay]]s
| demographics1_info4 = [[List of barangays in Tarlac|511]]
| demographics1_title5 = [[House of Representatives of the Philippines|Districts]]
| demographics1_info5 = [[Legislative districts of Tarlac]]
| demographics_type2 = Demographics {{small|(2000)}}
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="Tarlacethnicpop1">{{cite web|url=https://psa.gov.ph/content/tarlac-population-reached-million-mark-results-2000-census-population-and-housing-nso|title=Tarlac: Population Reached a Million Mark (Results from the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, NSO)|date=August 13, 2002|publisher=Philippine Statistics Authority|access-date=15 December 2015}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Ethnic groups]]
| demographics2_info1 = {{unbulleted list | [[Kapampangan people|Kapampangan]] (43%)| [[Ilocano people|Ilocano]] (40%)| [[Tagalog people|Tagalog]] (12%)| [[Pangasinan people|Pangasinan]] (0.01%) }}
| demographics2_title2 = [[Languages of the Philippines|Languages]]
| demographics2_info2 = {{hlist | [[Kapampangan language|Kapampangan]] | [[Ilocano language|Ilocano]]  | [[Pangasinan language|Pangasinan]] | [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] | [[Philippine English|English]] }}
| timezone           = [[Philippine Standard Time|PST]]
| utc_offset         = +8
| postal_code_type   = [[List of ZIP codes in the Philippines|ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = {{PH wikidata|postal_code}}
| area_code_type     = {{areacodestyle}}
| area_code          = {{PH wikidata|area_code}}
| iso_code           = {{PH wikidata|iso_code}}
| website            = {{URL|http://visit-tarlac.com/|visit-tarlac.com}}
}}

'''Tarlac''', officially the '''Province of Tarlac''' ({{langx|pam|Lalawigan ning Tarlac}}; {{langx|pag|Luyag na Tarlac}}; {{langx|ilo|Probinsia ti Tarlac}}; {{langx|tl|Lalawigan ng Tarlac}}; {{IPA|tl|tɐɾˈlak|}}), is a landlocked [[Provinces of the Philippines|province]] in the [[Philippines]] located in the [[Central Luzon]] [[Regions of the Philippines|region]]. It had a population of 1,503,456 people according to the 2020 census.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://psa.gov.ph/classification/psgc/citimuni/0306900000 |title=Province of Tarlac |access-date=2025-03-24 |work=Philippine Statistics Authority}}</ref> Its capital is the city of [[Tarlac City|Tarlac]], which is the most populous in the province. It is bounded on the north by the province of [[Pangasinan]], [[Nueva Ecija]] on the east, [[Zambales]] on the west, and [[Pampanga]] in the south. The province comprises three congressional districts and is subdivided into 17 municipalities and one city, Tarlac City, which is the provincial capital.

The province is situated in the heartland of [[Luzon]], in what is known as the Central Plain also spanning the neighbouring provinces of [[Pampanga]], [[Pangasinan]], [[Nueva Ecija]], and [[Zambales]]. Tarlac covers a total land area of {{convert|3,053.45|km2|ha|abbr=on}}.

Early in history, what came to be known as Valenzuela Ranch today was once a thickly-forested area, peopled by roving tribes of nomadic [[Aeta people|Aetas]] who are said to be the aboriginal settlers of the Philippines, and for a lengthy period, it was the remaining hinterland of Luzon's Central Plains. Today, Tarlac is one of the most multi-cultural provinces in the region for having a mixture of four distinct ethnic groups: the [[Kapampangan people|Kapampangans]], the [[Pangasinan people|Pangasinans]], the [[Ilocano people|Ilocanos]], and the [[Tagalog people|Tagalogs]]. It is also known for its fine food and vast sugar and rice plantations in Central Luzon.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Tarlac|url=http://visit-tarlac.com/the-beginnings-of-tarlac|access-date=30 August 2015|publisher=Tarlac Province Official Portal|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122230159/http://visit-tarlac.com/the-beginnings-of-tarlac|archive-date=22 January 2016}}</ref>

{{TOC limit|3}}

==History==
{{more citations needed section|date=July 2022}}

=== Spanish colonial era ===
[[File:1975-NHI-Tarlac.png|thumb|left|upright|National historical marker commemorating the province installed in the main campus of Tarlac State University in 1975]]
Tarlac's name is a Hispanized derivation from a ''talahib'' weed called ''tarlak'', an [[Aeta]] term.<ref name="tar">{{Cite book |last=Dizon |first=Lino A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aBBxAAAAMAAJ |title=Tarlac and the Revolutionary Landscape: Essays on the Philippine Revolution from a Localized Perspective |publisher=Center for Tarlaqueño Studies, Tarlac State University |year=1997 |isbn=978-971-91488-1-4 |page=65}}</ref> The area around the current [[Tarlac City|capital city]] was described as ''matarlak'' or ''malatarlak'', a word meaning "abundant with ''tarlak'' grass."<ref name="tar1">[http://lgu.pids.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_province&tabs=1&region_id=27 Resources for Local Governance – Tarlac] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820003007/http://lgu.pids.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_province&tabs=1&region_id=27 |date=August 20, 2011 }}</ref> Tarlac was originally divided into two parts: the southern division belonging to [[Pampanga]] and the northern division belonging to [[Pangasinan]]; the province was named after the present capital city. It was the last province in [[Central Luzon]] to be organized under the Spanish colonial administration in 1874. Its nucleus were the towns of [[Concepcion, Tarlac|Concepcion]], [[Capas]], [[Bamban]], [[Mabalacat]], [[Magalang]], [[Porac]], [[Floridablanca, Pampanga|Floridablanca]], [[Victoria, Tarlac|Victoria]], and [[Tarlac City|Tarlac]] which constituted a military comandancia. Some of these municipalities were returned to Pampanga but the rest were incorporated into the new province of Tarlac.

Unlike other provinces in Central Luzon, Tarlac was relatively free from revolts during the Spanish regime before the late 1800s rose. Only the [[Palaris revolt|rebellion]] started by [[Juan de la Cruz Palaris]] in Pangasinan spread to the northern portion of Tarlac.

====Philippine revolution====
During the [[Philippine Revolution]] of 1896, Tarlac was among the first eight provinces to rise against Spain, alongside neighbouring Pampanga. It became the new seat of the [[first Philippine Republic]] in March 1899 when General [[Emilio Aguinaldo]] abandoned the former capital, [[Malolos, Bulacan]]. This lasted only for a month before the seat was moved to [[Nueva Ecija]] in Aguinaldo's attempt to elude the pursuing Americans.

===American colonial era===
On October 23, 1899, [[Gregorio Aglipay]], military vicar general of the revolutionary forces, called the Filipino clergy to a conference in [[Paniqui, Tarlac|Paniqui]]. There, they drafted the constitution of the [[Philippine Independent Church]]. They called for the Filipinization of the clergy, which eventually led to a separation from 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.

===Japanese occupation===
During [[Pacific War|World War II]], [[Camp O'Donnell]] in [[Capas, Tarlac|Capas]] became the terminal point of the infamous [[Bataan Death March]] of Filipino and American soldiers who surrendered at [[Bataan]] on April 9, 1942. Many prisoners died of hunger, disease and/or execution. The general headquarters of the [[Philippine Commonwealth Army]] was established from January 3, 1942, to June 30, 1946, and the 3rd Constabulary Regiment of the [[Philippine Constabulary]] was founding again from October 28, 1944, to June 30, 1946, and military stationed in the province of Tarlac and some parts in Central Luzon due to Japanese occupation.{{explain|date=April 2016}} Local troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army units sent the clearing military operations in the province of Tarlac and Central Luzon from 1942 to 1945 and aided them by the recognized guerrilla groups including [[Hukbalahap]] Communist fighters and attacking Japanese Imperial forces.{{incomprehensible inline|date=April 2016}} But in the aftermath, some local guerrilla resistance fighters and Hukbahalap groups became retreating Imperial Japanese troops around the province and before the liberation from the Allied forces.{{incomprehensible inline|date=April 2016}}

In early 1945, combined American and Filipino military forces with the recognized Aringay Command guerrillas liberated [[Camp O'Donnell]]. The raid in Capas resulted in the rescue of American, Filipino and other allied [[Prisoners of War]].

From January 20, 1945, to August 15, 1945, Tarlac was recaptured by combined Filipino and American troops together with the recognized guerrilla fighters against the [[Japanese Imperial forces]] during the liberation and beginning for the Battle of Tarlac under the [[Battle of Luzon|Luzon Campaign]].{{explain|date=April 2016}}

===Postwar era===
After the social and economic upheavals of the war and with government institutions still in their nascent form after the recognition of Philippine Independence by the international community, the first few decades after the end of the war were marked by dissatisfaction and social tension.<ref name="Kasaysayan-9-6">{{Cite book |title=Kasaysayan, The Story of the Filipino People Volume 9:A Nation Reborn. |publisher=Asia Publishing Company Limited |year=1998 |editor-last=Magno |editor-first=Alexander R. |location=Hong Kong |chapter=Bandits, outlaws, and Robin Hoods}}</ref> In the largely agricultural context of Central Luzon and Tarlac those tensions tended to coalesce around the interrelated issues of land ownership, and the working conditions of agricultural workers.<ref name ="GazetteHistoryProtest">{{Cite web | url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/edsa/the-ph-protest/ | title=A History of the Philippine Political Protest | website=www.officialgazette.gov.ph}}</ref>

The Filipino [[Communism|communist]] [[Hukbalahap]] [[Guerrilla warfare|guerrilla movement]] formed by the farmers of [[Central Luzon]] to fight the Japanese occupation, had found themselves sidelined by the new post-independence [[Philippine government]] which had taken up the [[Red Scare in the Philippines|fear of communist influence]] which marked the beginning of the cold war in the west. So they decided to extended their fight into a rebellion against the new government, only to be put down through a series of reforms and military victories by [[Secretary of National Defense (Philippines)|Defense Secretary]], and later President, [[Ramon Magsaysay]].<ref>Jeff Goodwin, [https://archive.org/details/nootherwayout00jeff/page/118 <!-- quote=huk rebellion. --> No Other Way Out], Cambridge University Press, 2001, p.119, {{ISBN|0-521-62948-9}}, {{ISBN|978-0-521-62948-5}}</ref>

Ultimately more effective than those who took up arms were the numerous political and labor movements who kept working towards agricultural land reform and stronger labor rights, with laborers' and farmers' protests gathering enough steam that several Philippine presidents were forced to meet with them and then concede to their demands. Among the most successful of these  were the Land Justice March of the political group known as the Filipino Agrarian Reform Movement (FARM), which intended to march from Tarlac to Malacañang in 1969, although President Marcos was forced to give in to their demands early, meeting them while they were still at [[Camp Servillano Aquino]] in Tarlac City itself.<ref name ="GazetteHistoryProtest"/>

=== During the Marcos dictatorship ===
The beginning months of the 1970s marked a period of turmoil and change in the Philippines, as well as in Tarlac.<ref name="Robles2016">{{Cite book |last=Robles |first=Raissa |title=Marcos Martial Law: Never Again |publisher=Filipinos for a Better Philippines, Inc. |year=2016 }}</ref><ref name ="GazetteHistoryProtest"/> During his [[Ferdinand Marcos’ 1969 reelection campaign|bid to be the first Philippine president to be re-elected]] for a second term, Ferdinand Marcos launched an unprecedented number of foreign debt-funded public works projects. This caused<ref name=Balbosas1992>{{Cite journal |last=Balbosa |first=Joven Zamoras |date=1992 |title=IMF Stabilization Program and Economic Growth: The Case of the Philippines |journal=Journal of Philippine Development |volume=XIX |issue=35 |url=https://dirp4.pids.gov.ph/ris/pjd/pidsjpd92-2imf.pdf |access-date=November 6, 2022 |archive-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921141056/https://dirp4.pids.gov.ph/ris/pjd/pidsjpd92-2imf.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Balisacan&Hill2003">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O_L9k58WM9UC&q=The+Philippine+economy+under+Marcos:+A+balance+sheet |title=The Philippine Economy: Development, Policies, and Challenges |last1=Balisacan |first1=A. M. |last2=Hill |first2=Hal |date=2003 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780195158984 |language=en}}</ref> the Philippine economy took a sudden downwards turn known as the [[1969 Philippine balance of payments crisis]], which in turn led to a period of economic difficulty and a significant rise of social unrest.<ref name="Cororaton1997">{{Cite journal |last=Cororaton |first=Cesar B.  |title=Exchange Rate Movements in the Philippines |journal=DPIDS Discussion Paper Series 97-05 |pages=3, 19}}</ref><ref name="Kessler1989">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/rebellionrepress0000kess |title=Rebellion and repression in the Philippines |last=Kessler |first=Richard J. |date=1989 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=0300044062 |location=New Haven |oclc=19266663 |url-access=registration }}</ref> {{rp|page="43"}}<ref name="Celoza1997">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sp3U1oCNKlgC|title=Ferdinand Marcos and the Philippines: The Political Economy of Authoritarianism|last=Celoza|first=Albert F.|date=1997|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780275941376|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/philippinesreade00schi |title=The Philippines reader : a history of colonialism, neocolonialism, dictatorship, and resistance |last=Schirmer |first=Daniel B. |date=1987 |publisher=South End Press |isbn=0896082768 |edition=1st |location=Boston |oclc=14214735 }}</ref>

With only a year left in his last constitutionally allowed term as president Ferdinand Marcos placed the Philippines under [[Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos|Martial Law]] in September 1972 and thus retained the position for fourteen more years.<ref name ="Kasaysayan9ch10">{{Cite book |title=Kasaysayan, The Story of the Filipino People Volume 9:A Nation Reborn. |publisher=Asia Publishing Company Limited |year=1998 |editor-last=Magno |editor-first=Alexander R. |location=Hong Kong |chapter=Democracy at the Crossroads}}</ref> This period in Philippine history is remembered for the Marcos administration's record of [[Human rights abuses of the Marcos dictatorship|human rights abuses]],<ref name="McCoy199909202">{{cite web|url=http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/54a/062.html|title=Alfred McCoy, Dark Legacy: Human rights under the Marcos regime|date=September 20, 1999|publisher=[[Ateneo de Manila University]]}}</ref><ref name="Abinales&Amoroso20052">{{Cite book|title=State and society in the Philippines|last1=Abinales|first1=P.N.|last2=Amoroso|first2=Donna J.|date=2005|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-0742510234|location=Lanham, MD|oclc=57452454}}</ref> particularly targeting political opponents, student activists, journalists, religious workers, farmers, and others who fought against the Marcos dictatorship.<ref name="Rappler">{{Cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/182828-marcos-dictatorship-martial-law-youth-leaders-killed|title=Gone too soon: 7 youth leaders killed under Martial Law|work=Rappler|access-date=June 15, 2018}}</ref> At least two major military camps in Tarlac were used as [[Detention centers during the Marcos dictatorship|detention centers]] for [[Political detainees under the Marcos dictatorship|political detainees]] in Tarlac: [[Camp Servillano Aquino]] and Camp Macabulos, both in Tarlac City.<ref name="RocamoraBook">{{Cite book |last=Rocamora |first=Rick |title=Dark Memories of Torture, Incarceration, Disappearance, and Death under Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.'s Martial Law |year=2023 |isbn=979-8-218-96751-2 |location=Quezon City}}</ref><ref name="Panaglagip">Panaglagip: The North Remembers – Martial Law Stories of Struggle and Survival Edited by Joanna K. Cariño and Luchie B. Maranan.</ref>{{rp|page=32}} They were part of Regional Command for Detainees II (RECAD II) and administered under Camp Olivas in Pampanga.<ref name="DeVilla2018">{{Cite news |last=de Villa |first=Kathleen |date=September 22, 2018 |title=Remnants of a dark era |language=en |url=https://business.inquirer.net/257677/remnants-dark-era |access-date=October 19, 2022}}</ref>

Martial Law had immediate political impacts in Tarlac, since political leaders who were critical of Marcos were immediately jailed. This included Senator and Concepcion native [[Ninoy Aquino]], and Bamban Mayor Pedro D. Mendiola  who was imprisoned in [[Camp Crame]]. Other Tarlaqueño Marcos critics who had roles in government, such as [[Development Academy of the Philippines]] (DAP) executive vice president [[Horacio Morales]], tried to stay so they could pursue change from within, but eventually could not reconcile themselves with the idea of working within the dictatorship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bantayogngmgabayani.org/bayani/horacio-boy-morales/|title=Horacio Boy Morales - Bantayog ng mga Bayani|date=June 17, 2023}}</ref> Ordinary Tarlaqueños also resisted the dictatorship. Former Seminarian Teresito Sison campaigned for the rights of teachers, farmers, and of laborers in Clark Air Base, but torture during two stints in Marcos' detention centers caused a decline in his health until he died in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bantayogngmgabayani.org/bayani/teresito-sison/|title=Sison, Teresito "Sito" De Guzman - Bantayog ng mga Bayani|date=March 15, 2024}}</ref> Tarlaqueno activists decided to take up arms against the dicgtatorhip, including Eduardo Aquino,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bantayogngmgabayani.org/bayani/eduardo-aquino/|title=Eduardo Aquino - Bantayog ng mga Bayani|date=May 25, 2023}}</ref> Merardo Arce,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bantayogngmgabayani.org/bayani/merardo-arce/|title=Merardo Arce - Bantayog ng mga Bayani|date=May 25, 2023}}</ref> and Benedicto Pasetes<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bantayogngmgabayani.org/bayani/benedicto-pasetes/|title=Benedicto Pasetes - Bantayog ng mga Bayani|date=June 21, 2023}}</ref> were killed in various encounters with Marcos' forces.

Ninoy Aquino was eventually assassinated in August 1983, igniting protests throughout the Philippines which would eventually force Marcos to announce a [[snap election]] in February 1986. Even then, those who resisted Marcos were targeted for death, such as in the case of oppositionist campaign organizer Jeremias De Jesus political organizer, who was assassinated shortly before the elections <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bantayogngmgabayani.org/bayani/jeremias-de-jesus/|title=Jeremias De Jesus - Bantayog ng mga Bayani|date=May 28, 2023}}</ref>

===Contemporary===
[[File:SF Soldier in Philippines.jpg|thumb|United States and Philippine troops during a military exercise in Crow Valley, Tarlac]]

====Military testing ground====
The Philippine Army has used Crow Valley in the borders of Barangay Patling and Santa Lucia in Capas, Tarlac as a testing ground for both Philippine forces and allies. Many of the Philippine military testings were done on March 17, 2006,<ref>{{cite web|title=Tarlac Military Testing Ground|url=http://www.timawa.net/walkarounds/3-16-06/|access-date=30 August 2015}}</ref> most likely as a part of [[Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines]].

Tarlac plays a big role in the annual joint [[Balikatan|Balikatan Exercise]] as it is a main exercise ground of the US and Philippine Army.

The exercise in Tarlac conducts Combat exercise including Aviation, Artillery and Small Arms training. It is conducted in [[Colonel Ernesto Rabina Air Base|Crow Valley]] in Capas, Tarlac. Since 2022 with more than [https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/balikatan-china-reaction-04182024020433.html 10,000+ Military Personnel] and increasing.

==Geography==
[[File:FvfTarlacCity8916 17.JPG|thumb|left|Landscape along Tarlac City]]
The landlocked province is situated at the center of the central plains of [[Luzon]], landlocked by four provinces: [[Pampanga]] on the south, [[Nueva Ecija]] on the east, [[Pangasinan]] on the north, and [[Zambales]] on the west.  The province covers a total area of {{convert|3,053.60|km2}}{{PSGC detail|nscb}}. Approximately 75% of the province is plains while the rest is hilly to slightly mountainous.

Eastern Tarlac is a plain, while Western Tarlac is hilly to slightly mountainous. Because of this, the province includes a large portion of mountains like Mt. Telakawa (Straw Hat Mountain), located at [[Capas, Tarlac]]. Mt. Bueno, Mt. Mor-Asia and Mt. Canouman are also located in Capas as well as Mt. Dalin. The other mountains are Mt. Dueg and Mt. Maasin, found in the municipality of [[San Clemente, Tarlac|San Clemente]]. Also noted are Mt. Damas of [[Camiling]]. A portion of [[Mount Pinatubo]] (whose summit crater rests in neighbouring [[Zambales]]) also rests in Bamban and Capas. The whole of [[Mayantoc]] and [[San Jose, Tarlac|San Jose]] are mountainous so it is suitable for the highest natural resources and forest products in the province such as coal, iron, copper, temperate-climate fruits and vegetables, fire logs, sand, rocks and forest animals such as wild boar and deer. The main water sources for agriculture include the [[Tarlac River]] at Tarlac City, the Lucong and Parua rivers in [[Concepcion, Tarlac|Concepcion]], Sacobia-Bamban River in [[Bamban]] and the Rio Chico in [[La Paz, Tarlac|La Paz]].

===Administrative divisions===
Tarlac is subdivided into 17 [[Philippine municipality|municipalities]] and one [[Cities of the Philippines#Classification|component city]], all encompassed by [[Legislative districts of Tarlac|three congressional districts]]. There are a total of 511 [[barangay]]s comprising the province.

[[File:Ph fil tarlac.png|thumb|upright=1.1|{{center|Political map of Tarlac}}]]

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto;table-layout:fixed;text-align:right;background-color:#FDFDFD;font-size:90%;border-collapse:collapse;"
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" colspan=2 | City {{small|or}} municipality
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" | [[Legislative districts of Tarlac|District]]{{PSGC detail|nscb}}
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" colspan=3 | Population
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" | {{PSGC rubric}}
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" colspan=2 | Area{{PSGC detail|nscb}}
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" colspan=2 | Density
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Barangay|Total number of barangays}}
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" | [[Coordinates]]{{ref label|Coord|A}}
|-
! scope="col" style="border-top:none;" colspan=2 |
! scope="col" style="border-top:none;" |
! scope="col" style="border-style:hidden hidden solid solid;" colspan=2 | {{small|(2020)}}{{PH census|2020|03}}
! scope="col" style="border-style:hidden solid solid hidden;" | {{small|(2015)}}{{PH census|2015|03}}
! scope="col" style="border-top:none;" |
! scope="col" style="border-style:hidden hidden solid solid;" | km<sup>2</sup>
! scope="col" style="border-style:hidden solid solid hidden;" class="unsortable" | {{nowrap|sq mi}}
! scope="col" style="border-style:hidden hidden solid solid;" | /km<sup>2</sup>
! scope="col" style="border-style:hidden solid solid hidden;" class="unsortable" | {{nowrap|/sq mi}}
! scope="col" style="border-top:none;" |
! scope="col" style="border-top:none;" |
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" colspan=2 | [[Anao, Tarlac|Anao]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| {{percent and number|12,208|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 11,528
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|12,208|2015.3315|11,528}}
| {{convert|23.87|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|12,208/23.87|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 18
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.7293|N|120.6281|E|name=Anao|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" colspan=2 | [[Bamban, Tarlac|Bamban]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| {{percent and number|78,260|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 69,466
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|78,260|2015.3315|69,466}}
| {{convert|251.98|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|78,260/251.98|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 15
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.2732|N|120.5668|E|name=Bamban|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" colspan=2 | [[Camiling, Tarlac|Camiling]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| {{percent and number|87,319|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 83,248
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|87,319|2015.3315|83,248}}
| {{convert|140.53|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|87,319/140.53|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 61
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.6887|N|120.4140|E|name=Camiling|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" colspan=2 | [[Capas, Tarlac|Capas]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| {{percent and number|156,056|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 140,202
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|156,056|2015.3315|140,202}}
| {{convert|377.60|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|156,056/377.60|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 20
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.3361|N|120.5899|E|name=Capas|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" colspan=2 | [[Concepcion, Tarlac|Concepcion]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| {{percent and number|169,953|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 154,188
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|169,953|2015.3315|154,188}}
| {{convert|234.67|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|169,953/234.67|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 45
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.3243|N|120.6554|E|name=Concepcion|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" colspan=2 | [[Gerona, Tarlac|Gerona]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2nd
| {{percent and number|94,485|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 87,531
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|94,485|2015.3315|87,531}}
| {{convert|128.89|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|94,485/128.89|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 44
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.6069|N|120.5985|E|name=Gerona|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" colspan=2 | [[La Paz, Tarlac|La Paz]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| {{percent and number|68,952|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 64,017
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|68,952|2015.3315|64,017}}
| {{convert|114.33|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|68,952/114.33|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 21
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.4411|N|120.7288|E|name=La Paz|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" colspan=2 | [[Mayantoc, Tarlac|Mayantoc]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| {{percent and number|32,597|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 32,232
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|32,597|2015.3315|32,232}}
| {{convert|311.42|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|32,597/311.42|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 24
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.6193|N|120.3798|E|name=Mayantoc|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" colspan=2 | [[Moncada, Tarlac|Moncada]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| {{percent and number|62,819|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 57,787
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|62,819|2015.3315|57,787}}
| {{convert|85.75|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|62,819/85.75|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 37
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.7336|N|120.5726|E|name=Moncada|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" colspan=2 | [[Paniqui]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| {{percent and number|103,003|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 92,606
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|103,003|2015.3315|92,606}}
| {{convert|105.16|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|103,003/105.16|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 35
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.6686|N|120.5858|E|name=Paniqui|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" colspan=2 | [[Pura, Tarlac|Pura]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| {{percent and number|25,781|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 23,712
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|25,781|2015.3315|23,712}}
| {{convert|31.01|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|25,781/31.01|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 16
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.6236|N|120.6469|E|name=Pura|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" colspan=2 | [[Ramos, Tarlac|Ramos]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| {{percent and number|22,879|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 21,350
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|22,879|2015.3315|21,350}}
| {{convert|24.40|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|22,879/24.40|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 9
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.6658|N|120.6397|E|name=Ramos|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" colspan=2 | [[San Clemente, Tarlac|San Clemente]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| {{percent and number|13,181|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 12,657
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|13,181|2015.3315|12,657}}
| {{convert|49.73|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|13,181/49.73|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 12
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.7114|N|120.3608|E|name=San Clemente|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" colspan=2 | [[San Jose, Tarlac|San Jose]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2nd
| {{percent and number|41,182|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 36,253
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|41,182|2015.3315|36,253}}
| {{convert|592.81|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|41,182/592.81|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 13
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.4578|N|120.4683|E|name=San Jose|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" colspan=2 | [[San Manuel, Tarlac|San Manuel]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| {{percent and number|28,387|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 25,504
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|28,387|2015.3315|25,504}}
| {{convert|42.10|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|28,387/42.10|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 15
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.7989|N|120.6068|E|name=San Manuel|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" colspan=2 | [[Santa Ignacia, Tarlac|Santa Ignacia]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| {{percent and number|51,626|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 47,538
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|51,626|2015.3315|47,538}}
| {{convert|146.07|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|51,626/146.07|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 24
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.6149|N|120.4364|E|name=Santa Ignacia|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:#CCFFCC;border-right:0;" | [[Tarlac City]]∞
| style="text-align:right;border-left:0;" | †
| style="text-align:center;" | Lone
| {{percent and number|385,398|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 342,493
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|385,398|2015.3315|342,493}}
| {{convert|274.66|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|385,398/274.66|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 76
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.4859|N|120.5895|E|name=Tarlac City|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" colspan=2 | [[Victoria, Tarlac|Victoria]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2nd
| {{percent and number|69,370|1,503,456|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 63,715
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|69,370|2015.3315|63,715}}
| {{convert|111.51|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|69,370/111.51|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 26
| style="text-align:center;" | {{coord|15.5770|N|120.6812|E|name=Victoria|region:PH-TAR_type:city|format=dms}}
|-class="sortbottom"
! scope="row" colspan=4 style="text-align:left;" | Total
! scope="col" style="text-align:right;" | 1,503,456 
! scope="col" style="text-align:right;" | 1,366,027
! scope="col" style="text-align:right;" | {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|1,503,456|2015.3315|1,366,027}}
! scope="col" style="text-align:right;" | 3,046.49
! scope="col" | {{convert|3,046.49|km2|disp=number|2}}
! scope="col" style="text-align:right;" | {{sigfig|1,503,456/3,046.49|2}}
! scope="col" style="text-align:right;" | {{convert|{{sigfig|1,503,456/3,046.49|2}}|PD/km2|disp=number}}
! scope="col" | 511
! scope="col" style="font-style:italic;" | {{small|(see [[#External links|GeoGroup box]])}}
|- style="background-color:#F2F2F2;border-top:double grey;line-height:1.3em;"
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center;padding:0.7em 0 0 0;" | {{Color box|#CCFFCC|†|border=darkgray}} {{font|Provincial capital and component city|size=90%}} {{pad|5em}} {{Color box|#FDFDFD|border=darkgray}} {{font|Municipality|size=90%}} <br />
A. {{note label|Coord|A|none}} Coordinates mark the [[town center|city/town center]], and are sortable by [[latitude]].
|}
{{center|∞ Largest settlement}}

===Barangays===
The 17 municipalities and 1 city of the province comprise a total of 511 [[barangay]]s, with Cristo Rey in [[Capas, Tarlac|Capas]] as the most populous in 2010, and Malonzo in [[Bamban, Tarlac|Bamban]] as the least.{{PH census|2010|03}}

{{Further|List of barangays in Tarlac}}

===Climate===
Like the rest of [[Central Luzon]], the province has three distinct seasons: summer from March to June, monsoon rain from July to early October, and monsoon winter from late October to February. Summer months, especially during May bring severe thunderstorms with high winds, lightnings, and hails. It is the coldest province in the region, with a yearly average of {{convert|23|C}}. Cold spell is not common, which gradually receives unusual average temperature of {{convert|17|C}}, while the maximum daytime peaks at {{convert|27|C}}. It is also the windiest province in the region during February and March due to its widely lowland altitude and extreme climate transition. The lowest temperature ever recorded is {{convert|11.2|C}} and the highest temperature is at {{convert|38.8|C}}. Aside air temperature, heat index is the most common calculated temperature during extreme weather observances especially dry season. The province usually experiences a maximum heat index ranging from {{convert|40|C}} to {{convert|50|C}} based on the forecasts reported by Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. {{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

{{Weather box
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|location=Tarlac
|temperature colour=pastel
|Jan high C=32.1
|Feb high C=32.8
|Mar high C=34.4
|Apr high C=36.2
|May high C=35.3
|Jun high C=34.0
|Jul high C=32.8
|Aug high C=32.1
|Sep high C=32.4
|Oct high C=32.8
|Nov high C=32.7
|Dec high C=32.0

|Jan low C=21.1
|Feb low C=21.6
|Mar low C=22.7
|Apr low C=23.8
|May low C=24.6
|Jun low C=24.5
|Jul low C=24.2
|Aug low C=24.4
|Sep low C=24.1
|Oct low C=23.7
|Nov low C=22.9
|Dec low C=21.9

|Jan rain days=1
|Feb rain days=2
|Mar rain days=2
|Apr rain days=3
|May rain days=13
|Jun rain days=16
|Jul rain days=22
|Aug rain days=21
|Sep rain days=20
|Oct rain days=10
|Nov rain days=8
|Dec rain days=4

| source = ''Storm247'' <ref name="Storm247-Tarlac">{{cite web|title=Weather forecast for Tarlac, Philippines|url=http://uk.storm247.com/weather/tarlac/climate|website=Storm247.com|publisher=[[StormGeo|StormGeo AS]]|access-date=22 April 2016|location=Bergen, NO}}{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{Philippine Census
| align= none
| cols = 3
| title= Population census of {{PH wikidata|name}}
| 1903 = {{PH census population|1903}}
| 1918 = {{PH census population|1918}}
| 1939 = {{PH census population|1939}}
| 1948 = {{PH census population|1948}}
| 1960 = {{PH census population|1960}}
| 1970 = {{PH census population|1970}}
| 1975 = {{PH census population|1975}}
| 1980 = {{PH census population|1980}}
| 1990 = {{PH census population|1990}}
| 1995 = {{PH census population|1995}}
| 2000 = {{PH census population|2000}}
| 2007 = {{PH census population|2007}}
| 2010 = {{PH census population|2010}}
| 2015 = {{PH census population|2015}}
| 2020 = {{PH census population|2020}}
| 2024 = {{PH census population|2024}}
| 2030 = 
| footnote = Source: Philippine Statistics Authority{{PH census|2015|03}}{{PH census|2010|03}}{{PH census|2010}}
}}

The population of Tarlac in the 2020 census was 1,503,456 people,{{PH census|current|03}} with a density of {{convert|{{sigfig|1,503,456/3,053.60|2}}|PD/km2|disp=or}}.

There are two predominant [[ethnic groups of the Philippines|ethnic groups]] in the province: the [[Kapampangan people|Kapampangans]] that mainly predominate the province's southern portion and the [[Ilocano people|Ilocanos]] that mainly predominate the province's northern portion. Both ethno-linguistic groups intermingle together in the [[Tarlac City|provincial capital]]. The [[Tagalog people|Tagalogs]] and [[Pangasinan people|Pangasinans]] constitute the rest of the provincial populace; Tagalogs arrived from Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, others from Zambales,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tarlac.gov.ph/about/province/|title=Bot Verification|website=tarlac.gov.ph}}</ref> Bataan, and [[aurora (province)|Aurora]], most of them live at the boundary with Nueva Ecija.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.psa.gov.ph/system/files/main-publication/TARLAC_FINAL%20PDF.pdf | title=2010 Census of Population and Housing | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618225041/https://www.psa.gov.ph/system/files/main-publication/TARLAC_FINAL%20PDF.pdf | archive-date=2024-06-18}}</ref>

===Language===
[[Kapampangan language|Kapampangan]] and [[Ilocano language|Ilocano]] are mainly used throughout the entire province, as well as [[Pangasinan language|Pangasinan]] and [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://visitcentralluzon.com/provinces/tarlac/|title=Tarlac}}</ref> Ilocanos and Tagalogs however, speak their respective languages with a Kapampangan/Pangasinan accent, as descendants of Ilocanos and Tagalogs from the first generations who lived in the province learned Kapampangan and/or Pangasinan. Ethnic groups who grew up within environment of other ethnic group also speak other native languages as second languages, like Kapampangans who grew up within an Ilocano or Pangasinan population speak Ilocano or Pangasinan. [[Filipino language|Filipino]] is spoken as ''lingua franca'' between different languages. [[Philippine English|English]] is widely spoken and understood as well, especially in professional and educational establishments.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Languages spoken in Tarlac
|-
! Language !! Percentage of native speakers
|-
| Kapampangan || 43.1%
|-
| Ilocano || 39.8%
|-
| Tagalog || 12.1%
|-
| Pangasinan || 0.01%
|-
| Others || 2.1%
|}

===Religion===
[[File:Old St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church.jpg|thumb|upright|The Old St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church was burned in 1997.]]

Spanish influence is very visible in the province as shown by religious adherence. [[Roman Catholicism in the Philippines|Roman Catholicism]] is professed by 80%-83% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/81162-map-catholicism-philippines|title = MAP: Catholicism in the Philippines|date = 18 January 2015}}</ref> [[Protestantism in the Philippines|Protestant]] groups are also present such as evangelicals forming 5% of the province population.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://philchal.org/dawn/provinceupdates/Table%201_%20TARLAC_2009.pdf |title=Provincial Summary - Tarlac 2009 |access-date=2017-10-09 |archive-date=2014-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114113339/http://philchal.org/dawn/provinceupdates/Table%201_%20TARLAC_2009.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The St. Michael Archangel Parish Church in [[Camiling, Tarlac|Camiling]] was the oldest religious structure in the entire province until it burned down in 1997.

According to the 2010 Census, other prominent Christian groups include the [[Iglesia ni Cristo]] (7.43%) it has three subdivided districts (Capas, Paniqui and Tarlac) in the Church has numerous locales and barangay chapels for the growing numbers of worshippers, [[Aglipayan Church]]  (2.24%), Evangelicals (1.97%), [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] (0.64%) and others.{{clarify|date=February 2025}}

Muslims, [[Dambana|anitists]], animists, and atheists are also present in the province.

==Economy==
{{stack|float=right|{{PH poverty incidence}}}}
[[File:09691jfVilla Paz Matayuncab Poblacion Cardona Gerona Tarlacfvf 37.JPG|thumb|right|Rice plantations in [[Gerona, Tarlac|Gerona]]]]

The economy of Tarlac is predominantly [[agriculture|agricultural]]. It is among the biggest producers of [[rice]] and [[sugarcane]] (the principal crops) in Central Luzon. Other major crops are [[maize|corn]] and [[coconut]]s, fruits ([[banana]]s, [[calamansi]] and [[mango]]es) and vegetables ([[eggplant]]s, [[garlic]] and [[onion]]s).

Because the province is landlocked, its fish production is limited to fishpens, but it has vast river systems and irrigation. On the [[Zambales]] boundary to its west, forest land provides timber for the logging industry. Mineral reserves such as manganese and iron can also be found along the western section.

Tarlac has its own rice and corn mills, sawmills and logging outfits. It has three sugar-refining centrals and hosts many sugar products in Central Luzon, especially the [[Muscovado]] sugar of the municipality of Victoria. Other firms service agricultural needs such as fertilizers. Among its cottage industries, ceramics has become available because of the abundant supply of clay. Some of the major industries here involve making [[chicharon]] (pork skin chips) and iniruban in the municipality of Camiling and [[Ylang Ylang|Ilang-Ilang]] products of Anao. [[Tilapia]] production is also improving in Tarlac, with an aim to make the province the second "[[tilapia]] capital of Central Luzon" after its mother province, [[Pampanga]].

In recent years, Tarlac has seen an increase in commercial rooftop solar installations across manufacturing plants, agricultural facilities, and commercial buildings to help reduce energy costs and improve sustainability.<ref>{{cite news |last=Calimlim |first=Ian Ocampo |title=Tarlac businesses turn to rooftop solar to cut power costs |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1967032/pampanga/local-news/tarlac-businesses-turn-to-rooftop-solar-to-cut-power-costs |work=SunStar Pampanga |date=26 July 2023 |access-date=12 August 2025}}</ref> A notable example is the 99.68 kWp rooftop solar photovoltaic system commissioned in March 2018 at the Tarlac Provincial Hospital. The system is monitored via the Sunny Portal platform and produces about 129,584 kWh annually, offsetting approximately 122.5 tons of CO₂ each year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tarlac Provincial Hospital – Sunny Portal public system profile |url=https://www.sunnyportal.com/Templates/PublicPageOverview.aspx?plant=ec48e4e1-3f0d-4abe-953e-943bdbb170d4 |website=Sunny Portal |access-date=14 August 2025}}</ref>

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<!-- ==Infrastructure==
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==Culture==
As mentioned above, Tarlaqueño culture is a mixture of Kapampangan, Pangasinense, Ilokano, Tagalog, and Aeta cultures within the province. A melting pot of culture, the province has a varied of festivals, traditions, and beliefs that constitute Tarlaqueño heritage, along with tangible heritage structures, scenes, and objects.

===Belenismo sa Tarlac===
''Belenismo sa Tarlac'' was launched by Isabel Cojuangco-Suntay, sister of former Ambassador [[Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.]], to transform the province into the "[[Christmas in the Philippines#Belén|Belén]] capital of the Philippines". The Belen Festival began in September 2007, with the first Belen-making workshop conducted on December 16, 2007. Organizers have intended the festival to become an annual event in the province. Senator [[Loren Legarda]] led the awarding of the first Belen-making competition where Tarlac PNP Office Belen, built by at least 24 policemen, won the first prize.

Belenismo in Spanish means the art of making [[Christmas in the Philippines#Belén|Belén]], a representation of the [[Nativity of Jesus|Nativity]] scene in which the [[Holy Family]] (Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus) is visited by the three wise men who came to the manger through the guidance of a star.<ref>{{cite web|title=Belenismo sa Tarlac|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20071225-108714/Tarlac_aims_to_become_Belen_capital_of_RP|access-date=30 August 2015|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer|quote=Tarlac aims to become ‘Belen’ capital of RP|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730100901/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20071225-108714/Tarlac_aims_to_become_Belen_capital_of_RP|archive-date=30 July 2013}}</ref>

===Chicharon Iniruban Festival===
This annual festival is celebrated in the town of [[Camiling]], during the last week of October. It is intended as a preparation for [[All Saints' Day]] and a Thanksgiving celebration for the good harvest and meat products, especially the ''chicharon'' or [[Bagnet]]. It also features the exotic and delicious rice cake ''iniruban'', as called by the [[Ilocano people|Ilocanos]]. The festival's highlights are the street dancing competition, Miss Iniruban beauty pageant, and the municipality's agri-trade. It is the oldest cultural celebration in the province, introduced in 2000.

==Provincial capital==
The highest seat of political power of the province is located on a hill in Barangay San Vicente, Tarlac City. The present structure was finished in 1909. During the [[Japanese occupation of the Philippines|Japanese occupation]], the provincial capitol was vacated and used as the provincial headquarters of the [[Japanese Imperial Army|Imperial Army]]. The capitol suffered great damage during the [[Second World War]], but afterwards, in 1946, the United States helped rebuild and improve its structure. Because of its historical background, the picture of the capitol façade appeared in the previous version of the [[Philippine five hundred peso note|500 peso bill]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Tarlac Provincial Capitol|url=http://tarlacprovincialcapitol.weebly.com/about.html|access-date=30 August 2015}}</ref>

== Notable people==
=== National heroes and patriots ===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Servillano Aquino]] – Filipino revolutionary general
*[[Benigno Aquino Jr.]] – former [[Philippine senator]] and opposition leader during [[Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos|Martial Law dictatorship]] of dictator [[Ferdinand Marcos]]
*[[Francisco Makabulos]] – Filipino revolutionary general, and former governor of Tarlac
{{div col end}}

=== Politics and government ===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Bam Aquino]] – former [[Philippine senator]]
*[[Benigno Aquino III]] – 15th [[president of the Philippines]]
*[[Benigno Aquino Sr.]] – 6th [[Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines]], and 10th [[Secretary of Agriculture (Philippines)|Secretary of the Department of Agriculture]] and former [[Philippine senator]]
*[[Butz Aquino]] – former [[Philippine senator]]
*[[Corazon Aquino]] – 11th [[president of the Philippines]]
*[[Herminio Aquino]] – former congressman and former Tarlac vice governor
*[[Tessie Aquino-Oreta]] – former [[Philippine senator]]
*[[Jesus Barrera]] – 67th [[Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines|associate justice]] of the [[Supreme Court of the Philippines]]
*[[Nicanor Bartolome]] – 16th [[Chief of the Philippine National Police]]
*[[César Bengzon]] – 9th [[Chief Justice of the Philippines|Chief Justice]] of the [[Supreme Court of the Philippines]], and first Filipino Justice of the [[International Court of Justice]]
*[[Onofre Corpuz]] – 23rd [[Secretary of Education (Philippines)|Secretary of the Department of Education]], 13th President of the [[University of the Philippines]], and [[National Scientist of the Philippines]] for Political Economics and Government
*[[Ricardo David]] – 41st [[List of AFP Chiefs of Staff|Chief of Staff]] of the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines]]
*[[Voltaire Gazmin]] – 26th [[Secretary of National Defense (Philippines)|Secretary of the Department of National Defense]]
*[[Eva Estrada Kalaw]] – former [[Philippine senator]]
*[[Jesli Lapus]] – 31st [[Secretary of Trade and Industry (Philippines)|Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry]], and 34th [[Secretary of Education (Philippines)|Secretary of the Department of Education]]
*[[Horacio Morales]] – 8th [[Secretary of Agrarian Reform|Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform]]
*[[Macario Peralta Jr.]] – former [[Philippine senator]], and 13th [[Secretary of National Defense (Philippines)|Secretary of the Department of National Defense]]
*[[Alberto Romulo]] –  23rd [[Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Philippines)|Secretary of the Department of the Foreign Affairs]], 34th [[Executive Secretary (Philippines)|Executive Secretary of the Philippines]]
*[[Jose Roy]] – former [[Philippine senator]]
*[[Carlos P. Romulo]] – 4th [[president of the United Nations General Assembly]], 14th [[Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Philippines)|Secretary of the Department of the Foreign Affairs]], 11th President of the [[University of the Philippines]], and [[National Artist of the Philippines]] for Literature
*[[Paulino Santos]] – 2nd [[List of AFP Chiefs of Staff|Chief of Staff]] of the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines]]
*[[Gilbert Teodoro]] – 25th [[Secretary of National Defense (Philippines)|Secretary of the Department of National Defense]]
{{div col end}}

=== Historical personalities ===
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*[[Bernabe Buscayno]] – founder of the [[New People's Army]], the military wing of the [[Communist Party of the Philippines]]
*[[Leonor Rivera]] – [[José Rizal]]'s second cousin and love interest well known as [[Maria Clara]]
{{div col end}}

=== Arts and sciences ===
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* [[Gregorio C. Brillantes]] – fiction writer
* [[Benjamin Cabrera]] –  Filipino [[physician]] who was known for his research on medical [[parasitology]] and [[public health]]
*[[Xiao Chua]] – public historian
*[[Alex Niño]] – [[Filipinos|Filipino]] [[comics artist]] best known for his work for the American publishers [[DC Comics]], [[Marvel Comics]], and [[Warren Publishing]], and in ''[[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal]]'' magazine
*[[Pinggot Zulueta]] – Filipino visual artist and photojournalist

{{div col end}}

=== Religion ===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Alberto Ramento]] – ninth [[Obispo Máximo|Supreme Bishop]] and chairperson of the Supreme Council of Bishops of the [[Iglesia Filipina Independiente]] (IFI)
{{div col end}}

=== Business ===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Danding Cojuangco]] – chairman and CEO of [[San Miguel Corporation]],<ref name=NYT>{{cite news |last=Conde |first=Carlos H. |title=Spotlight: The Philippines' power broker |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 18, 2005 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/business/worldbusiness/17iht-wbspot18.html |access-date=November 3, 2011}}</ref> the largest food and beverage corporation in the Philippines and Southeast Asia He was widely considered a [[Cronies of Ferdinand Marcos|crony]] during the [[Ferdinand Marcos|Marcos]] regime.
*[[Lucia Cunanan]] – Filipina [[restaurant|restaurateur]] best known for having invented or at least re-invented [[sisig]], a popular [[Kapampangan people|Kapampangan]] dish in the Philippines and [[Filipino diaspora|Filipino diasporas worldwide]]
{{div col end}}

=== Entertainers ===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Ion Perez]] {{ndash}} TV host personality
* [[Lorna Tolentino]] {{ndash}} veteran actress
* [[Arron Villaflor]] {{ndash}} actor
* [[Brent Manalo]] {{ndash}} actor

{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[Diocese of Tarlac]]
* [[Super regions of the Philippines]]
* [[Pampanga]]
* [[Pangasinan]]
* [[Nueva Ecija]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{GeoGroup}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{OSM relation|52307}}
* [http://visit-tarlac.com/ Official Portal of the Province of Tarlac]

{{Geographic location
 | Centre    = Tarlac
 | North     = [[Pangasinan]]
 | East      = [[Nueva Ecija]]
 | South     = [[Pampanga]]
 | West      = [[Zambales]]
}}

{{Tarlac|state=expanded}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Articles related to Tarlac
|titlestyle = background:white;color:#464646;border:1px solid #330033;
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{{Central Luzon}}
{{Provinces of the Philippines}}
{{Philippines topics}}
{{Educational institutions in Tarlac |state=collapsed}}
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[[Category:Tarlac| ]]
[[Category:Provinces of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Provinces of Central Luzon]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1873]]
[[Category:1873 establishments in the Philippines]]