Lipa

Lipa is a city in Batangas in the Philippines; it is the largest city in the province. The city lies approximately in the center of the province, with Malvar to the north, San Pablo and Alaminos (in Laguna), and San Antonio (in Quezon) to the east, Padre Garcia, San Jose and Ibaan to the south, and Cuenca, Mataasnakahoy, and Taal Lake to the west.

Understand

The articles covers also the nearby towns, while independent municipalities, are commonly associated with the city. Locals generally speak of Lipa to include these nearby suburban and rural towns where the daily life and tourism is essentially connected to the city.

• Lipa city proper
• Balete, to the northwest
• Mataasnakahoy, to the west

Lipa is a medium-size city, with a population of 332,386, according to the 2015 Census. The city is undergoing fast urbanization, and is the largest city in Batangas, but Batangas City still comes first in terms of economic development, as it has the Philippines's second most important port and interisland transport hub.

To Manileño folks, Lipa is associated with the Batangueño favourite, the kapeng barako (Arabica coffee), intoduced by the Spaniards. Kapeng barako production once served an important source of income to locals, but it died out in favor of other agricultural products and commercial developments.

The town of Mataasnakahoy is practically a suburb of Lipa, just behind the Fernando Airbase, and is closer to the city in its growth. Balete does not have much growth as Mataasnakahoy, but can still be considered a suburb, connected by a 11-kilometer (6.8 mi) national road through the eastern slope of Taal Lake. Their local population rely on fishing and agriculture, and usually travel to Lipa to shop, study, and work.

Lipa is the seat of its namesake Roman Catholic archdiocese, the Archdiocese of Lipa, founded in 1910. Majority of the city's population are Catholic, and church attendance remains high despite slight drops in numbers.

History

The original town center of Lipa lied in what is now Mataasnakahoy, in the slopes of Taal Lake. The old town center (Lumang Lipa) is destroyed by the 1755 eruption of Taal Volcano, and only a few of it remains today. The current downtown is the new site of the town center after 1755. Under royal decree, the new Lipa is elevated into a city in 1887. Lipa sustained heavy damage during World War II, and is almost destroyed by Japanese dive bombers. Lipa also caught international attention in 1948 after the supposed Mary Mediatrix apparition, which has not been been confirmed true by the Vatican.

Climate

Lipa
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       57     28 20       30     29 20       32     30 21       52     32 22       160     32 23       221     30 23       311     29 22       298     29 22       270     30 22       248     30 22       240     29 22       169     28 21 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       2.2     82 69       1.2     84 69       1.3     87 70       2     89 72       6.3     89 73       8.7     87 73       12     85 71       12     85 72       11     85 71       9.8     85 71       9.4     84 71       6.7     82 70 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

The climate is tropical, heavily influenced by the monsoon. Daily temperatures can be as high as 29.6 °C (85.3 °F) or low as 21.6 °C (70.9 °F), and there is less variation in temperature. Precipitation is influenced by the monsoon, and the wet season is from May to December. The city has a very short dry season. Average annual rainfall is comparable to Manila.

Orientation

Lipa is split into 72 barangays, including the 13 barangays in the Poblacion. Some barangays of interest are:

• Dagatan - The Malarayat Golf Course and County Club and Fiesta World Mall lies in this barangay. International schools are also concentrated around this area
• Marawoy - Here, you may find the City Hall and SM City Lipa.
• Mataas Na Lupa - This area has a growing nightlife and a gentrifying environment. Here you can find Robinsons Place Lipa, the Big Ben shopping center, and the city's top educational institution, De La Salle Lipa. You can also go into classy restaurants and cafés on the rise in the area.

Local orientation divide Lipa City proper into two parts, the Downtown and the Uptown. The "Downtown" included the Poblacion area, where Lipa Cathedral and the public market are found. The area along Ayala Highway (Jose P. Laurel Highway, or Route 4) is called "Uptown", a fastly gentrifying section of the city, composed of barangays Mataas na Lupa, Balintawak, and Marawoy. With developments of large malls, commercial space, and development of mid-range restaurants, bars and cafés (e.g. Starbucks, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Army Navy, Shakey's), the Uptown also houses Lipa's growing nightlife.

Get in

By bus

Lipa is well served by frequent bus service from Metro Manila. Jam Transport and DLTB has frequent regular service from Manila. Taking the bus remains the best way to reach the city, but buses become cramped in weekend and peak seasons. Trips typically take a hour (or more with frequent stopovers) and usually travel through STAR Tollway. All buses to Lipa terminate in a central terminal in SM City Lipa in barangay Marawoy.

By car

Lipa is well accessible from the tolled Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR Tollway). Those avoiding tolls may take the Jose P. Laurel Highway, but watch out for traffic jams, especially during school days.

By jeepney

You can take the Batangas–Lipa jeepney route if coming from Batangas City or San Jose, with frequent service from Balagtas or San Jose Poblacion. Fares range from ₱12-42 depending on originating point.

Get around

Lipa's old downtown, the Poblacion, is characterized by a rough grid of streets, characteristic of Spanish-era town centers. Many streets are narrow, more suited for pedestrian traffic than cars. With the exception of large shopping malls, the downtown hosts most local businesses and the public market, a staple of Philippine city/town centers. Car travel is inadvisable in the Poblacion, as parking is hard to find, and pedestrians practically cross everywhere. Most parts of the city can be reached by jeepney and tricycle.

See

• Casa de Segunda Katigbak, 198 Rizal Street. The ancestral home of prominent Batangas family, the Casa is a typical "Bahay na Bato" (stone house). It is Spanish Colonial in style, yet tropical in ambiance. It was named after Segunda Katigbak, reputed to be the first love of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the Philippines' national hero. Casa segunda is declared by the National Historical Commission as a heritage house for having harbored generations of artists, poets and persons of learning and distinction. (updated Dec 2018)
• San Sebastian Cathedral, Morada Avenue. 19th century church, serving as the seat of the Archdiocese of Lipa. (updated Aug 2018)
• 🌍 Mary Mediatrix of All Grace Parish, Lipa-Padre Garcia Road, Antipolo del Norte, ☎ [phone]. Church and monastery complex, site of the 1947 Marian apparitions that was not approved by Vatican City. (updated Dec 2018)
• 🌍 Marian Orchard, Leviste Highway, Malabanan, Balete, ☎ [phone]. Serene Roman Catholic pilgrimage site in the middle of rainforest, most frequented every Holy Week as part of Visita Iglesia itineraries. There is a chapel, Stations of the Cross, Our Lady of Lourdes grotto, carillon bell, and rows of statues of various saints. Souvenirs and food are available near the chapel and carillon bell. ₱50 per head. (updated Dec 2018)

Do

Festivals

• Lipa City Festival (January 20) - Celebrates the city's founding anniversary.
• Coffee Festival (December 11-16) - Showcases the city's barako coffee industry.

Golf courses

• 🌍 Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club, Lipa-Alaminos Road, Dagatan, ☎ [phone]. (See #Sleep) (updated Dec 2018)

Buy

• 🌍 Lipa City Public Market, P. Torres Street, ☎ [phone]. Open 24 hours. The central marketplace in town, serving fresh produce, pasalubong and cheap goods for bargain hunters. Coffee brewing lessons are available. (updated Dec 2018)

Eat

Budget

• 🌍 Lomi King, Jose P. Laurel Highway, Mataas na Lupa, ☎ [phone]. 9:30-20:00. Specializes in the local lomi recipe. Also serves pancit, all-day Filipino breakfast, rice meals, and sandwiches. From ₱95. (updated Dec 2018)

Mid-range

• 🌍 Lipa Grill, P. Torres Street (Near the Carmelite Monastery), ☎ [phone]. 9:00-22:00. Upscale dining, specializing in local recipes. (updated Dec 2018)

Splurge

Drink

The city proudly serves its local drink: barako coffee; many local restaurants serve them in their menu.

If seeking a drink to spend the night, Ayala Highway (or the "Uptown") has numerous bars serving Lipa's growing nightlife and middle class.

Cafés

• 🌍 Cafe de Lipa, Bulacnin Road, Mataas Na Lupa, ☎ [phone]. Mon-Thu 7:00-24:00; Fri-Sat 7:00-2:00; Sun 7:00-1:00. Authentic barako coffee, with a Western twist. From ₱100. (updated Dec 2018)

Sleep

• 🌍 Hotel La Corona, Ayala Highway, Marawoy (In front of SM City Batangas), ☎ [phone]. Hotel La Corona de Lipa is a party hotspot. It has 37 rooms, KTVs, function rooms, and a bar and restaurant. It's a 90-minute drive from Makati City. 
• 🌍 Cintai-Coritos Garden, Balete, ☎ [phone]. A Bali-themed resort with multi-function pavilions, 18 villas, 4 pools, and roaming animals. It is less than an hour away from Manila. ₱4000. 
• 🌍 Mount Malarayat Hotel and Suites, Alaminos-Lipa Road, Dagatan, ☎ [phone]. Within Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club. It has furnished suites, a golfer's lounge, a spa, sports pavilions, a fishing lake, a ballroom, and restaurants of various cuisines. From ₱5440. 
• 🌍 Hotel 1925, General Luna Street, Marawoy, ☎ [phone]. Colonial-themed hotel with Filipino and Italian restaurants nearby. Rooms have cable TV, WiFi, and safe, with spacious balconies added on upgraded rooms. ₱4438. (updated Dec 2018)
• 🌍 Hotel Cara, Ayala Highway, Balintawak (Near Lipa Medix Medical Center), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Has fast WiFi, free breakfast and laundry service. From ₱1981. (updated Dec 2018)
• 🌍 La Virginia Resort, Manggahan, Mataasnakahoy (About 8 km from Lipa Exit), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Choice of A/C or non A/C rooms of various themes and amenities, including simple cottages, modest A/C rooms, and the fully A/C Pagoda. Amenities and attractions restaurant, swimming pool, replica Buddha, themed cottages, hanging bridge and zipline. Resort also provides views of Taal Lake. Entrance fee of ₱300 for adults and ₱200 for children. From ₱2000. (updated Dec 2018)
• 🌍 Shercon Resort and Ecology Park, San Sebastian, Mataasnakahoy, ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Giant resort complex with themed accommodations, forest park, function hall, and teambuilding facilities From ₱4000. (updated Dec 2018)

Stay safe

Lipa is rather safe compared to Manila, but it has a share of common urban problems. The downtown can be pretty unsafe: jaywalking is everywhere, traffic is slow, unlicensed tricycle drivers may scam you, and beggars are enough to irritate you. Illegal drugs are another problem, but you will rather find them in residential areas.

Stay healthy

Hospitals

• 🌍 Lipa Medix Medical Center, J.P. Laurel Highway, Balintawak, ☎ [phone]. Open 24/7. (updated Dec 2018)

Go next

• San Pablo – City best known for its seven lakes

Routes through Lipa

Tanauan ← Malvar ←	N  S	→ San Jose → Batangas City
Manila ← Malvar ←	N  S	→ Ibaan → Batangas City
Merges with ←	N  S	→ Padre Garcia
END ←	E  W	→ Cuenca → Taal