Santo Tomas (Batangas)

Santo Tomas lies just south of Batangas's boundary with Laguna, and is a major road junction, serving the Maharlika Highway (Route 1 and Asian Highway 26) and Jose P. Laurel Highway (Route 4). The town takes its name from its patron saint, St. Thomas Aquinas, also the patron saint of Catholic schools. Santo Tomas is also the hometown of the Filipino general Miguel Malvar, who led the soldiers of the Tagalog Republic during the Philippine–American War, and also the last general to surrender to the Americans.
Santo Tomas forms part of the vast sprawl which ends at Lipa. It became a city in 2019, after a successful local plebiscite. Santo Tomas's economy is largely based on manufacturing, agriculture and real estate development. Suburbanization have resulted in most agricultural land becoming part of the sprawl.

Santo Tomas is served well by bus services from Manila, and many buses stop at the town. Jeepneys from Calamba, Lipa, and San Pablo also serve the town. If travelling by car, taking the South Luzon Expressway is advisable.

The town is served by jeepneys in major thoughfares , and tricycles in all other nooks and crannies not served by jeepneys. Car travel is advisable, especially when visiting the Padre Pio Shrine, but prepare for traffic jams in feast days.

• General Miguel Malvar Shrine

  address: Malvar Street
  Houses a statue and a museum on Miguel Malvar, Filipino general of the Tagalog Republic during the Philippine-American War.

Churches and religious sites

• National Shrine of St. Padre Pio

  address: Gov. Antonio Carpio Avenue, San Pedro
  A Roman Catholic shrine and parish devoted to St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, with buildings built to local styles. Originally a small chapel along Maharlika Highway, it is now a large complex frequented by devotees around Batangas and surrounding provinces, as well as Metro Manila.

• Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish

  address: General Malvar Street

• The Lifestyle Strip

  address: Maharlika Highway, San Antonio
  Retail center with various restaurants and coffee shops.

• Rose & Grace

  address: Maharlika Highway

• Microtel Inn & Suites

  phone: +63 43 405-6957
  address: First Philippine Industrial Park, Sto. Tomas
  A/C rooms equipped with cable TV and radio clock. The inn has a swimming pool, meeting room and Wifi connection.