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Taguig

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Taguig is a major city in the Philippines. It sits in the southeastern portion of Metro Manila. This is the national capital region. The city is located near the northwestern shores of Laguna de Bay.

Taguig City Districts
Taguig City Districts

It is also situated near the Pasig River. Taguig is a very large and busy place. According to the 2024 census, it has 1,308,085 people. This makes it the fifth-most populous city in the country. It serves as a national center for many different fields. These include finance, technology, media, and the arts.

Taguig City Hall 2025
Taguig City Hall 2025

The city is famous for its massive skyline. Taguig has the fourth largest skyline in the Philippines. There are 289 high-rise buildings in the city. Of these, 80 buildings are taller than 150 meters.

Much of this growth happened in specific districts. These include Bonifacio Global City, McKinley Hill, and the Bonifacio Capital District. These areas are part of Fort Bonifacio. Many large local and multinational corporations keep their headquarters here. The city also hosts several embassies. This makes it an important center for international diplomacy.

The name Taguig has a very old origin. It comes from the Tagalog word "taga-giik." This word refers to rice threshers. In the 1570s, the male citizens were known for this skill. There were about 800 men in the town then. They were called "mga taga-giik."

Map of Manila 1570
Map of Manila 1570

The settlement was called "pook ng mga taga-giik." Spanish explorers found the name difficult to pronounce. They used the name "Tagui-ig." Over time, this was shortened to Taguig. Spanish spelling rules also influenced how the name was written.

Archaeologists have found evidence of very early history here. Before the Spaniards arrived, Taguig was an established Tagalog settlement. Researchers found various artifacts during recent digs. These include cups, plates, and other utensils. These items bear Chinese characters. They likely originated from China's Ming dynasty.

Map of Manila 1570
Map of Manila 1570

The local people also practiced duck culture. This was common in the areas where Taguig and Pateros stand. During the Spanish colonial period, Taguig was a territory of Tondo. It became a separate "pueblo," or town, on April 4, 1587.

Simborio, Taguig Cemetery (2020)
Simborio, Taguig Cemetery (2020)

The history of the land changed during the American period. The United States government acquired land in Taguig for military use. They created a camp called Fort William McKinley.

FortMcKinley
FortMcKinley

This camp was named after the 25th U.S. president. During World War II, the Japanese Imperial Army took over the camp. They renamed it Sakura Heiei, which means Cherry Blossom Barracks.

Philippine Island - Luzon Island - NARA - 68156821 (cropped)
Philippine Island - Luzon Island - NARA - 68156821 (cropped)

They used a network of tunnels for shelter. The Japanese occupied the camp until 1945. After the war, the U.S. returned the land to the Philippines in 1946. Fort McKinley was later renamed Fort Bonifacio.

A major turning point occurred in the 1990s. The Bases Conversion and Development Authority, or BCDA, began redeveloping the military reservation. This process turned the old military land into commercial hubs.

This redevelopment created the modern districts we see today. It helped establish Taguig as a center for finance and commerce. In 2004, Taguig became a highly urbanized city. This happened after the passage of Republic Act No. 8487. The change was confirmed by a plebiscite.

Taguig City Hall 2025
Taguig City Hall 2025

Today, Taguig is a complex urban system. It is bordered by many different places. To the north are Pasig and Pateros. To the northwest are Makati and Mandaluyong. To the west are Pasay and Parañaque. To the northeast is Taytay, Rizal. To the south is Muntinlupa.

Taguig City Districts
Taguig City Districts

The city's economy is tied to its role in global business. Its skyline and technology sectors connect it to the rest of the world. It remains a vital part of the Metro Manila region.

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🖼️ Images & Media (47)
MARTSA NG TAGUIG.webm
File:Map of Manila 1570.png
Map of Manila 1570.png
File:Simborio, Taguig Cemetery (2020).jpg
Simborio, Taguig Cemetery (2020).jpg
File:Lookouts on the church top - watching the Filipinos - Taquig (i.e. Taguig), Philippine Islands LCCN2011647777.jpg
Lookouts on the church top - watching the...
File:City of Greater Manila map.jpg
City of Greater Manila map.jpg
File:Philippine Island - Luzon Island - NARA - 68156821 (cropped).jpg
Philippine Island - Luzon Island - NARA -...
File:FortMcKinley.jpg
FortMcKinley.jpg
File:Taguig City Hall (M.L. Quezon, Taguig; 04-26-2021).jpg
Taguig City Hall (M.L. Quezon, Taguig;...
File:Taguig City MNL American Cemetery and Memorial.jpg
Taguig City MNL American Cemetery and Memorial.jpg
File:Fort Bonifacio, BGC from air (Taguig; 01-09-2023).jpg
Fort Bonifacio, BGC from air (Taguig;...
File:Bonifacio Global City contested between Taguig and Makati.svg
Bonifacio Global City contested between...
File:Taguig City Districts.png
Taguig City Districts.png

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