Malvar, Batangas

Malvar was created a municipality by virtue of a proclamation by the acting Governor General of the Philippines Charles Yeater, on December 16, 1918. The town was named in honor of the late General Miguel Malvar, the last Filipino general to surrender to the Americans. The proclamation took effect on January 10, 1919, and on the same day the municipality was inaugurated.[6]

Luta was Malvar’s old name before it became a municipality.[7]

Malvar is located at 14°02′30″N 121°09′30″E.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 33.00 square kilometres (12.74 sq mi) [2] constituting 1.06% of the 3,119.75-square-kilometre- (1,204.54 sq mi) total area of Batangas.

In the 2015 census, Malvar had a population of 56,270.[4] The population density was 1,700 inhabitants per square kilometre (4,400/sq mi).

Municipal hall

The elected officials for the 2019-2022 term are:

• Mayor: Cristeta Cuevas-Reyes
• Vice Mayor: Matt Louie M. Aranda
• Councilors:

Apart from the primary Rural Health Unit under DOH-Batangas, Mayor Carlito Reyes founded the Malvar Maternity Clinic a month after taking office. The clinic accepts emergency deliveries, and is open 24 hours daily for obstetric and other immediate health services. The clinic has doctors on duty from 7 am to 11 pm weekdays and around the clock on weekends. RHU personnel serve during the day. Nurses are on duty 24 hours daily, and a midwife is on duty weeknights. An ambulance is available for patient transfers, and all services are free of charge.

Immaculate Conception Parish Church

Calejon Falls, in Barangay San Gregorio (formerly known as Calejon), consists of two large waterfalls and two smaller ones. One of the larger falls is about 10 feet (3.0 m) high, with clear water falling into a shallow pool. One of the smaller falls is shower-like, while the other forms a series of small cascades. All the falls are in an area of about 300 square metres (360 sq yd).

The falls are located at the STAR Tollway Bulihan exit. From Manila, buses to Batangas City or Lipa City stop at Malvar. Jeepneys and tricycle service are also available from the town. The 5-kilometre (3.1 mi) stretch of road is smoothly paved. There are 300 concrete steps down the river at the falls.

The San Juan River, the longest river in Batangas, connects Lipa, and Tanauan and Santo Tomas and is a water source for vegetable and fish farms.

A recently emerged local attraction in the area is a mango farm known as Sa Manggahan.[13] Forty-five minutes away from Alabang, it is near the C-Joist Concrete Ventures Group plant. The country's third Thoroughbred race track (Metro Manila Turf Club Race Track) is in the municipality, as are the Immaculate Conception Parish Church of Malvar and the Miguel Malvar Monument at the Municipal Hall Grounds. The fiesta occurs every January 10.

Malvar is slowly establishing its reputation as a conference center in Batangas. In February 2013, the Lima Park Pavilion opened to the public with a concert by the Madrigal Singers. With a capacity of 1,000 the Lima Park Pavilion and Lima Park Hotel are located in Malvar's industrial park, the Lima Technology Center.

Landmarks

• Batangas State University - Jose P. Laurel Polytechnic College
• Immaculate Conception Parish Church of Malvar
• Metro Manila Turf Club Race Track
• Miguel Malvar Monument

Metro Manila Turf Club Race Track panorama

Miguel Malvar Shrine

Malvar is named after the Filipino hero Miguel Malvar, a native of Santo Tomas. General Malvar's life was dedicated to defending freedom and democracy for the Filipino people against Spanish and American soldiers. His guerrilla force moved against the Americans from its command post in the mountains of Batangas with the help of local residents who supported the soldiers and provided intelligence.

• Batangas State University Jose P. Laurel Polytechnic College

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Malvar, Batangas.

• Official website
• Malvar Profile at PhilAtlas.com
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code