Tarlac City is the nucleus of the Province of Tarlac. Tarlac City’s history may be likened to the History of Tarlac Province itself through the years, Tarlac City, formerly known as Tarlac Town, has survived natural and political crises among others, yet, has proven itself as a fast emerging cosmopolitan in the region. It was formally founded in 1788. It has been said that this town was formerly a part of Porac, Pampanga.
Tarlac City started out as the earliest native settlement occupied by the Spaniards during the Spanish Period. Tarlac was organized into a praesido (fort) as early as 1593 and was located in a sitio called Porac. By 1788, Tarlac was raised into a civil town independent of Porac.
Its early settlers came from Bacolor,Pampanga, among them were Don Carlos Miguel and Don Narciso Castañeda, who before 1788, with their families and followers trekked through the forests and hills of Porac and Bamban until they finally reached and settled down in what is today called Tarlac City. Later, the community was converted into a town in which Don Carlos Miguel prepared and forwarded the resolution to the Spanish authorities.
The first gobernadorcillo (later called municipal) was Don Carlos Miguel in 1788. Together with Don Narciso Castañeda, he established the foundation of Tarlac Town. Don Luis Briones in 1789 followed him.
The Little community grew rapidly as settlers from Zambales, Pampanga, Bataan and elsewhere flocked the town. Tarlac became the most multicultural of the Central Luzon Provinces with a mixture of four district groups, the Pampangos, Ilocanos, Pangasinenses, and Tagalogs, sharing life in the province thus making it The Pampanga dialect became the native language of the town as it was part of Pampanga province in those days.
Tarlac is represented prominently in the eight rays of the Philippine flag because it was among the first provinces to join the revolution in 1896. The K.K.K. of Andres Bonifacio found early adherents among Tarlaquenos, headed by Don Francisco Tañedo, who was killed in an encounter with the Spanish guardia civil during the beginning of the revolution. On June 25, 1898, Tarlac was liberated by Generals Francisco Macabulos and Jose Alejandrino and Spanish soldiers surrendered in Tarlac.
It has a significant share in the history of our nation since it was the last capital of the First Philippine Republic and seat of the Revolutionary Congress convened in San Sebastian Cathedral under General Emilio Aguinaldo from June 21 to November, 1899.
Although short-lived and battered by issues during that period, the cabecera became a witness to that historical event. It was the home of very significant laws enacted by the Aguinaldo Government.