Tarlac Province is located approximately 125 kms. northeast of Metro Manila, Tarlac is the most multi-cultural of the Central Luzon provinces. A mixture of four distinct groups, the Pampangos, Ilocanos, Pangasinense and Tagalogs, share life in the province. Tarlac is best known for its fine food and vast sugar and riceplantations. That it has fine cooking to offer is due largely to the fact that it is the "Melting Pot of Central Luzon." It offers some of the best cuisines from the places of ancestry of its settlers, the province of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Pangasinan and the Ilocos Region. Historical sites, fine food, vast plantations, beautiful landscaped parks and golf course, and so many other attractions - all these make the province of Tarlac one of the best places to visit in Central Luzon. The history of Tarlac is the story of its people. Through the years, Tarlac and its people have been an epitome of the Filipino nation, resolute in times of trying challenges and united despite cultural diversities. Although it is Central Luzon's youngest province, carved out by the Spaniards on May 28,1873 from Pangasinan and Pampanga, Tarlaqueños have since played vital roles in shaping Philippine history. Tarlac was among the first eight provinces that started the 1896 revolution, earning its rightful place in the Philippine flag as one of the rays of the sun.
Calls for the “Filipinization” of the Catholic church took shape during the “Paniqui Assembly,” but later led to schism of Fr. Gregorio Aglipay from the Catholic Church and led to the establishment of the Philippine Independent Church (also called Aglipayan), regarded as the concrete testament to the revolution. The province was once a hotbed of Huk and communist rebellions that helped influence the government ‘s land reform programs. Tarlac is a landlocked province situated in the heart of Central Luzon, known not only for its vast sugar and rice plantations, but is best described for its unique cultural diversity. Its richness in culture and the hospitality of its people make the province one of the best places to visit in Central Luzon. Otherwise known as the “MeltingPot” of the region, it is composed of mixed settlers coming from Pampanga Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Pangasinan, the Ilocos Region and to include also the Chinese settlers. The fusion of aditions and culture resulted in a wide array of good food and delicacies, from the simple but mouth-watering “pinakbet” of the Ilocanos, the sisig of the Kapampangans, the Chicharon and “inuruban” rice cakes of the Camilenos, the kinalting buko of Victoria and Gerona to the best cuisines of restaurants which can be found in the province.. SOURCE:visit-tarlac.com/history-of-tarlac