MATAASNAKAHOY-CANADIAN BLOGSITE. Mataasnakahoy literally means "Tall Tree". Mataasnakahoy is a municipality in Batangas, Philippines. It was created as a town on January 1, 1932. MKAHOY, as it is fondly called, has 16 barangays, population of about 40,000 and total land area of 2,376hectares. Mataasnakahoy is known for its cool climate due to its high elevation 379 metres (1,240 ft). MKAHOY is one of the lakeside towns of Taal Lake and is about 100 km South of Manila.
MATAASNAKAHOY, BATANGAS, PHILIPPINES
M-Kahoy is politically subdivided into 16 barangays as follows:
Barangay I (Poblacion), Barangay II (Poblacion), Barangay II-A (Poblacion), Barangay III (Poblacion), Barangay IV (Poblacion), Bayorbor, Bubuyan, Calingatan, Kinalaglagan (Lakeside)
Loob, Lumang Lipa (Lakeside), Manggahan, Nangkaan (Lakeside), San Sebastian, Santol and
Upa
Agriculture/Fishery/Resort
Its economy is primarily agricultural with fruit crops such as coffee, banana and coconut with few hectares of fruitfarms planted with a mixed crop of mangoes, rambutan and lanzones. Tilapia and Bangus fish culture is practiced in the lakeside barangays of Nangkaan, Lumang Lipa and Kinalaglagan. Fishermen near Taal Lake catch and sell Biya, Pauto and Tawilis, a famous local fresh water sardine, caught ONLY in Taal Lake .
MKahoy is also fast becoming well-known for its resorts.
Fiesta and Religious Celebrations
January 3 is Mataasnakahoy's town fiesta and is observed with few marching bands going around town. Food and alcohol are offered in almost every household.
During Holy Week, families usually sponsor a "Pabasa" where readers relate the passion of Christ in hymns, over loudspeakers around the clock, until it is finished.
December 8 is the feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. The Immaculate Conception is also the town's patron saint.
Christmas season starts as early as October ends in early January. Elaborate Christmas decorations, colorful lanterns and lights are displayed in every house in all corners fo the town and Christmas carols are played over the radio. Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi or Dawn Masses are observed from December 16 until Christmas.
Schools
There are several secondary schools namely La Purisima Concepcion Academy, Holy Trinity School, Mataasnakahoy National High School and Bayorbor National High School.
Colleges and Universities are in nearby Lipa City and Batangas City, about 30-45 minutes from town as well as in Metro Manila which is just 2 hours away from MKahoy.
Access
The town is easily accessible from Metro Manila via Lipa City by car or public transport such as passenger buses, FX and jeepneys. Tricycles and jeepneys ply the local route to Lipa City. MKahoy can also be reached by air through Fernando Air Base in Lipa City or by boat from Taal Lake.
Taal Lake and Taal Volcano
MKAHOY is one of Batangas' Taal Lake lakeside towns. Taal volcano is a geological phenomenon. It is actually a volcano within a lake (Taal Lake) within a volcano. Taal is the world's smallest volcano but it is quite deadly when it erupts. It is a 45-minute ride on a banca (wooden boat) or a balsa (bamboo raft) and a 15-minute trek to the top of the crater. An older and larger volcano is an hour away.
