Lipa

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), introduced 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 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) was destroyed by the 1755 eruption of Taal Volcano, and only a bit of it remains today. The current downtown became the new site of the town center after 1755. Under royal decree, the new Lipa was elevated into a city in 1887.
Lipa sustained heavy damage during World War II, and was 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

The climate is tropical, heavily influenced by the monsoon. Daily temperatures can be as high as or low as , 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.

By bus

• SM City Lipa Grand TerminalCentral terminal for buses headed for Lipa. Jeepneys and tricycles are available from the terminal.

Buses come from Manila and Batangas City, mainly via STAR Tollway or the older Jose P. Laurel Highway.
Jam has services departing from their Buendia (Pasay) or Cubao (Quezon City) terminals every 30 minutes; most head to Lemery. DLTB has hourly departures from Buendia and Cubao as well. Fares are at about per head.
ALPS the Bus and ito regional bus line, JAPS, has frequent trips from Batangas City. Fare is at about

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.
From San Pablo, Laguna, the main route is the Lipa-Alaminos Road, which mostly takes you through coconut plantations, mountains and jungle. From Quezon Province, take the Batangas-Quezon Road (Route 435), then follow Lipa-Padre Garcia Road (Route 431), which becomes P. Torres Street as it approaches downtown. There is a bypass road being constructed from Route 435 in Padre Garcia to Lipa-Alaminos Road in Dagatan, providing a bypass to Route 431 and Lipa's downtown, but is not expected to open until around 2020 or 2021.

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 depending on originating point.

Express service

• Balibago-Lipa City via Tanauan. Departs from Target Mall in Santa Rosa, with a stopover at Tanauan, and arrives at Robinsons Place Lipa's jeepney and van terminal. Fare is at 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.

• Casa de Segunda Katigbak

  address: 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.

• San Sebastian Cathedral

  address: Morada Avenue
  19th century church, serving as the seat of the Archdiocese of Lipa.

• Mary Mediatrix of All Grace Parish

  phone: +63 43 757-5430
  address: Lipa-Padre Garcia Road, Antipolo del Norte
  Church and monastery complex, site of the 1947 Marian apparitions that was not approved by Vatican City.

• Marian Orchard

  phone: +63 915 604-2566
  address: Leviste Highway, Malabanan, Balete
  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.

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

  phone: +63 43 404-3000
  address: Lipa-Alaminos Road, Dagatan
  (See #Sleep)

• Lipa City Public Market

  phone: +63 43 757-2109
  address: P. Torres Street
  The central marketplace in town, serving fresh produce, pasalubong and cheap goods for bargain hunters. Coffee brewing lessons are available.

Budget

• Lomi King

  phone: +63 43 784-2741
  address: Jose P. Laurel Highway, Mataas na Lupa
  Specializes in the local lomi recipe. Also serves pancit, all-day Filipino breakfast, rice meals, and sandwiches.

Mid-range

• Lipa Grill

  phone: +63 43 756-4660
  address: P. Torres Street
  Upscale dining, specializing in local recipes.

Splurge

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

  phone: +63 43 756-1716
  address: Bulacnin Road, Mataas Na Lupa
  Authentic barako coffee, with a Western twist.

• Hotel La Corona

  phone: +63 43 756 1223
  address: Ayala Highway, Marawoy
  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

  phone: +63 922 877 8665
  address: Balete
  A Bali-themed resort with multi-function pavilions, 18 villas, 4 pools, and roaming animals. It is less than an hour away from Manila.

• Mount Malarayat Hotel and Suites

  phone: +63 43 757-1122
  address: Alaminos-Lipa Road, Dagatan
  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.

• Hotel 1925

  phone: +63 43 757-5086
  address: General Luna Street, Marawoy
  Colonial-themed hotel with Filipino and Italian restaurants nearby. Rooms have cable TV, WiFi, and safe, with spacious balconies added on upgraded rooms.

• Hotel Cara

  phone: +63 43 741-3717
  address: Ayala Highway, Balintawak
  Has fast WiFi, free breakfast and laundry service.

• La Virginia Resort

  phone: +63 43 703-2145
  address: Manggahan, Mataasnakahoy
  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 for adults and for children.

• Shercon Resort and Ecology Park

  phone: +63 43 703-0002
  address: San Sebastian, Mataasnakahoy
  Giant resort complex with themed accommodations, forest park, function hall, and teambuilding facilities

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.

Hospitals

• Lipa Medix Medical Center

  phone: +63 43 756-2342
  address: J.P. Laurel Highway, Balintawak

• San Pablo – City best known for its seven lakes