04/05/2026
Talambuhay ni Mayor Monico dela Cruz Tanyag
(Mayo 4, 1888–Hulyo 22, 1976)
Pinakamatagal na nagsilbing Punong Bayan ng Taguig
Sa pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Pamana at sa ika-138 taon kapanganakan ng isa sa pinakamatagal na nagsilbing Punong Bayan ng Taguig ay ating alamin ang kanyang naging ambag sa panahon ng kanyang panunungkulan. Balik tanaw handog ng Taguig Heritage Society sa pamumuno ni Kggl. Gigi Valenzuela De Mesa.
Si Monico Dela Cruz Tanyag, na kilala sa palayaw na “Monic,” ay isa sa mga natatanging personalidad sa kasaysayan ng Taguig. Kinikilalang pinakamatagal na nagsilbing Punong Bayan ng Taguig. Sa loob ng mahigit dalawang dekada ng pamumuno, naging saksi at kalahok siya sa mahahalagang pagbabagong panlipunan, pang-ekonomiya, at pampolitika ng bayan ng Taguig.
Kapanganakan at Maagang Buhay (1888)
Isinilang si Monico C. Tanyag noong ika-4 ng Mayo 1888 sa Calzada, Tipas, Taguig, Mula sa mag-asawang Mariano Tanyag at Marcelina dela Cruz. Ang kanyang ama ay nagsilbi bilang isang cuadrillero o lokal na pulisya noong panahon ng Espanyol na may ranggong teniente.
Si Monico ang panganay sa dalawang magkapatid. Ang kanyang nakababatang kapatid ay si Florencia Tanyag-Umali.
Noong panahong iyon ay wala pang pormal na paaralan sa Taguig. Tinatayang natutong magbasa at magsulat ang batang si Monico sa pamamagitan ng pagtuturo ng isang maestrong pang-barrio. Ayon sa kanyang apo, maaaring nag-aral ang kanyang lolo ng sekondarya sa Pasig Secondary School, na kilala ngayon bilang Rizal High School.
Mayroon ding mga dokumento at yearbook na nakita sa mga personal na gamit ni Monico na may kaugnayan sa Ateneo de Manila. Gayunman, hindi na ito masyadong nasaliksik ng kanyang mga kaanak kung doon nga siya nag-aral o nagtapos ng kolehiyo sapagkat ang mga dokumentong ito ay nawala sa isang malaking baha.
Lumaki si Monico sa isang pamayanang agrikultural kung saan ang pangunahing kabuhayan ng mga taga Taguig ay pagsasaka at pangingisda sa Laguna de Bay. Ang kanilang pamilya ay may matibay na pananampalatayang Romano Katoliko, na nakaimpluwensiya sa kanyang pagkatao.
Sa kanyang kabataan, kilala siyang masigla at palakaibigan. Isa sa kanyang mga kinahihiligan ay ang pagsasayaw. Mahusay daw ito sa boogie at tango ayon sa kanyang dating driver at aide. Mahilig din siyang dumalo sa mga pambayang pagtitipon, kapistahan, at mga personal na okasyon ng kanyang mga kaibigan at kababayan. Paborito niyang pagkain ang ayungin at pesang dalag, mga pagkain natatangi sa Taguig.
Dahil dito, ay naging malapit siya sa puso ng komunidad at nakilala bilang isang lider na madaling lapitan. Naging aktibo rin siya sa mga gawaing panlipunan at kabilang sa Tipas Varsity Club.
Propesyon Bago ang Pulitika
Noong Oktubre 14, 1912, nagsimula siyang magtrabaho bilang Clerk sa Bureau of Audits na may taunang sahod na ₱1,140. Sa paglipas ng panahon ay naitalaga siya bilang Auditor at nadestino sa iba’t ibang bayan at probinsya tulad ng Laguna at ilang lugar sa Mindanao.
Isa sa kanyang pinakahuling destino ay bilang Auditor ng Philippine Constabulary sa Maynila. Ang kanyang karanasan sa pagtatrabaho sa pamahalaan nasyunal ay naging mahalagang pundasyon sa kanyang paglilingkod sa lokal na pamahalaan ng Taguig.
Maagang Pakikilahok sa Usaping Pampamayanan (1920)
Noong Agosto 26, 1920, kabilang si Monico Tanyag sa mga lider mamamayan ng Tipas na kasapi sa Partido Nacionalista na naghain ng petisyon sa Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Rizal upang humiwalay ang Tipas sa Munisipalidad ng Taguig at maging isang bukod na munisipalidad. Bagama’t hindi ito naisakatuparan, ipinakita nito ang kanyang maagang pakikilahok sa mga usaping pampamayanan.
Buhay-Pamilya
Nagkaroon si Monico Tanyag ng dalawang asawa.
Ang kanyang unang asawa ay si Eugenia Sulit mula sa Calzada-Tipas. Sila ay nagkaroon ng anim na anak:
• Avelino S. Tanyag
• Bienvenido S. Tanyag
• Condrado S. Tanyag (nasona ng mga sundalong Hapones noong Disyembre 1, 1944)
• Jose S. Tanyag (nasona ng mga sundalong Hapones noong Disyembre 1, 1944)
• Encarnacion S. Tanyag-Ababon (pumanaw noong Hulyo 21, 2000)
• Felicitacion S. Tanyag-Sta. Barbara
Nang pumanaw ang kanyang asawa ay muling nag-asawa si Monico Tanyag sa edad na 62 kay Elfidia Carlos, isang g**o mula sa Ususan, Taguig. Ang kanilang kasal ay ginanap sa pamamagitan ng civil wedding noong Agosto 30, 1951, at sinundan ng kasal sa simbahan noong Setyembre 9, 1951 sa Simbahan ni Sta. Ana, Taguig. Hindi nagkaroon ng bunga ang kanilang pagsasama.
Pagkakahalal bilang Punong Bayan (1955–1956)
Noong Nobyembre 8, 1955, nahalal si Monico C. Tanyag bilang Punong Bayan ng Taguig sa ilalim ng Partido Nacionalista. Nagsimula ang kanyang panunungkulan noong Enero 1956, sa edad na 68 taong gulang.
Sa panahong iyon, ang Taguig ay isang ikaapat na klaseng munisipalidad na may badyet na humigit-kumulang ₱30,000 lamang. Mayroon itong walong konsehal, iisang distrito, at labintatlong barangay.
Dahil wala pang “term limit” sa panunungkulan ng mga halal na opisyal noon, si Mayor Tanyag ay limang ulit na nahalal sa magkakasunod na halalan, at sa bawat pagkakataon ay nagwagi siya sa tiwala ng mamamayan. Dahil dito, tuloy-tuloy ang kanyang panunungkulan bilang Mayor ng Taguig sa loob ng dalawang dekada, hanggang sa inabot siya ng kamatayan habang nasa panunungkulan noong 1976.
Mga Programa at Inisyatiba sa Panunungkulan
Isa sa kanyang pangunahing layunin ay ang pagpapatatag ng upuan ng pamahalaan ng Taguig. Sa kanyang pagsisikap, nakakuha siya ng pondo mula kay Pangulong Ramon Magsaysay upang makabili ng lupa sa Barrio Tuktukan, kung saan naipatayo ang dalawang palapag na konkretong gusali ng Munisipyo ng Taguig.
Sa kanyang termino ay naitatag din ang Taguig Family Supermart, na nagsilbing pamilihang bayan para sa mga mamamayan at magsasaka.
Pinayabong din niya ang Taguig Farmers Cooperative Marketing Association, Inc. (FACOMA), isang samahang kooperatiba ng mga magsasaka na naglalayong itaguyod ang kanilang kapakanan at mapabuti ang kanilang kabuhayan.
Sa kanyang panunungkulan din naitayo ang irrigation canal o patubig sa bukirin ng Tipas at Sta. Ana na suporta sa mga magsasaka. Ang pagsasa-ayos ng mga pangunahing kalsada. Gayundin ang pagkakaroon ng poso artesyano sa Barrio Hagonoy, Tuktukan at ang bombang de motor ng tubig sa Bo. Ligid-Tipas.
Pagpapaunlad ng mga Pamayanan
Isa rin sa kanyang mga inisyatiba ang pagpapagamit ng mga dating madadawag at bakanteng lupain sa Taguig bilang mga lugar ng paninirahan. Sa kalaunan, ang mga lugar na ito ay naging mga pamayanang kilala ngayon bilang:
• South Daang Hari
• North Daang Hari
• Bagong Tanyag
• Western Bicutan
• Maharlika Village
Pakikipag-ugnayan sa Pangulo para sa Kapakanan ng mga Magsasaka
Sa panahon ng kanyang pamumuno, naimbitahan nina Mayor Tanyag at Kapitan Ricardo P. Cruz Sr. na bumisita si Pangulong Diosdado Macapagal sa Barrio Bikutan. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay personal nilang iniharap sa Pangulo ang isang petisyon mula sa mga mamamayan ng Taguig na humihiling na maglaan ng bahagi ng lupain mula sa military reservation upang ipamahagi at mapakinabangan ng mga magsasaka ng Taguig.
Mga Pangyayaring Pangkasaysayan sa Kanyang Panahon
Noong 1956, matapos ang isang malalim na pagbaha sa Taguig, pinangunahan ni Mayor Tanyag ang panukalang hukayin ang Mauling Creek patungong Manila Bay, na kilala bilang Parañaque Spillway, upang magsilbing daluyan ng tubig-baha. Gayunman, ang panukalang ito ay tinanggihan ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Rizal.
Noong 1972, nang ideklara ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos ang Batas Militar, hindi ito naging malaking suliranin sa pamahalaang bayan ng Taguig. Si Mayor Tanyag ay kilala bilang masugid na tagasuporta ng Pangulo at isang matapat na kasapi ng Nacionalista Party.
Sa kanyang termino rin naganap ang ilang mahahalagang pagbabago, kabilang ang:
• Pagkakasama ng Taguig sa Kalakhang Maynila mula sa lalawigan ng Rizal
• Pagpapalit ng katawagang Barrio tungo sa Barangay
• Pagkakatatag ng Maharlika Village
• Pagkakatayo ng Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) sa Taguig
Huling Taon at Pagpanaw (1976)
Matapos ang mahigit dalawampung taon ng pamumuno, pumanaw si Mayor Monico C. Tanyag noong Hulyo 21, 1976 sa edad na walumpu at walo. Ang kanyang labi ay nakahimlay sa isang musoleyo sa Taguig Roman Catholic Cemetery sa Tuktukan.
Pamana sa Kasaysayan ng Taguig
Ang buhay ni Monico C. Tanyag ay umabot mula sa panahon ng pananakop ng mga Kastila, Amerikano, at Hapones. Ang kanyang pamumuno ay naganap sa isang mahalagang yugto ng kasaysayan ng Taguig, mula sa pagiging isang maliit na bayan sa lalawigan ng Rizal hanggang sa maging bahagi ng Metro Manila.
Sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga programa sa pamamahala, agrikultura, paninirahan, at imprastruktura, naglatag siya ng mga pundasyon na naging bahagi ng patuloy na pag-unlad ng Taguig.
Hanggang sa kasalukuyan, ang kanyang pangalan ay nananatiling mahalagang bahagi ng kasaysayan at pamana ng Taguig bilang isang lider na naglingkod nang matapat hanggang sa kanyang huling araw. Bilang pagkilala sa kanyang ambag, isa sa mga barangay ng Taguig ang ipinangalan sa kanya.
Sources/References:
Personal Interviews
Tanyag, B. (2026, 13 March). Personal interview. 75 years old, grandson of Monico Tanyag, Barangay Calzada, Taguig City.
Tanyag, R. (2026, 14 March). Personal interview. Punong Barangay, Barangay Calzada, City of Taguig.
Ababon, J. M. T. (2024, 22 July / 2026, 12 March). Personal interview. New York City, United States.
Flores, P. C. (2025, 23 Dec.). Personal interview. 90 years old, widow of Ricardo Flores, former personal driver and security aide of Mayor Tanyag.
Books / Published Sources
Pagtakhan, J. (1963). Ang Tagig at ang kanyang kasaysayan.
Tanyag, M. (1959). Tagig progress report (Copy owned by Curinio Cruz).
Tiangco, C. S. (1967). Rizal Province: A political history. Rizal Cultural Committee.
Government / Archival Records
Bureau of Civil Service. (1928, December). Official roster (p. 19).
Commission on Elections. (1967). Report of the 1967 elections.
FamilySearch. (n.d.). Philippine Civil Registration, National, 1945–1996.
Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. (1967, May 6). Official Gazette, 59(18).
National Library of the Philippines.
Office of the President of the Philippines. (1956). Official month in review. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, 52(12), ccccli–cccxlv.
Photo credits:
Taguig Heritage Society. (2016, August). Photograph acquired from the Mario Feir Rare Filipiniana Collection Library, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
Mr. Joey Monico Tanyag Ababon (2026, 12 March). New York City, United States.
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(Translated into English)
Biography of Mayor Monico dela Cruz Tanyag
(May 4, 1888 – July 22, 1976)
The Longest-Serving Municipal Mayor of Taguig
In celebration of Heritage Month and the 138th birth anniversary of one of the longest-serving Municipal Mayors of Taguig, we revisit his contributions during his time in office. This retrospective is presented by the Taguig Heritage Society under the leadership of Hon. Gigi Valenzuela De Mesa.
Monico Dela Cruz Tanyag, fondly known as “Monic,” is one of the most notable figures in the history of Taguig. He is recognized as the longest-serving Municipal Mayor of the town. Over more than two decades of leadership, he witnessed and actively participated in significant social, economic, and political transformations in Taguig.
Birth and Early Life (1888)
Monico C. Tanyag was born on May 4, 1888, in Calzada, Tipas, Taguig, to Mariano Tanyag and Marcelina dela Cruz. His father served as a cuadrillero (local police officer) during the Spanish period, holding the rank of teniente.
He was the eldest of two siblings, with a younger sister, Florencia Tanyag-Umali.
At that time, Taguig had no formal schools. It is believed that young Monico learned how to read and write through a barrio teacher. According to his grandson, he may have attended secondary school at Pasig Secondary School, now known as Rizal High School.
There were also documents and yearbook found among Monico’s personal belongings that were associated with Ateneo de Manila. However, his family was unable to verify whether he had studied or graduated there, as these materials were lost in a major flood.
Monico grew up in an agricultural community where farming and fishing in Laguna de Bay were the primary livelihoods. His family’s strong Roman Catholic faith greatly influenced his character.
In his youth, he was known to be lively and sociable. One of his passions was dancing, and according to his former driver and aide, he was particularly skilled in boogie and tango. He also enjoyed attending community gatherings, fiestas, and personal occasions of his friends and fellow townspeople. His favorite foods were ayungin and pesang dalag, culinary dishes that are distinctive to Taguig.
Because of this, he became close to the community and was known as an approachable leader. He was also active in social activities and was a member of the Tipas Varsity Club.
Professional Career Before Politics
On October 14, 1912, he began working as a Clerk in the Bureau of Audits with an annual salary of ₱1,140. Over time, he was promoted to Auditor and assigned to various towns and provinces, including Laguna and parts of Mindanao.
One of his last assignments was as Auditor of the Philippine Constabulary in Manila. His experience in the national government became an important foundation for his future service in local governance.
Early Civic Involvement (1920)
On August 26, 1920, Monico Tanyag was among the community leaders of Tipas affiliated with the Nacionalista Party who filed a petition with the Provincial Government of Rizal seeking the separation of Tipas from the Municipality of Taguig to become an independent municipality. Although the petition was not approved, it reflected his early involvement in civic affairs.
Family Life
Monico Tanyag was married twice. His first wife was Eugenia Sulit of Calzada–Tipas, with whom he had six children:
• Avelino S. Tanyag
• Bienvenido S. Tanyag
• Condrado S. Tanyag (killed by Japanese soldiers on December 1, 1944)
• Jose S. Tanyag (killed by Japanese soldiers on December 1, 1944)
• Encarnacion S. Tanyag-Ababon (died July 21, 2000)
• Felicitacion S. Tanyag-Sta. Barbara
After the passing of his first wife, he remarried at the age of 62 to Elfidia Carlos, a teacher from Ususan, Taguig. They were married in a civil ceremony on August 30, 1951, followed by a church wedding on September 9, 1951, at St. Anne Church in Taguig. Their marriage had no children.
Election as Municipal Mayor (1955–1956)
On November 8, 1955, Monico C. Tanyag was elected Municipal Mayor of Taguig under the Nacionalista Party. He assumed office in January 1956 at the age of 68. At that time, Taguig was a fourth-class municipality with an annual budget of approximately ₱30,000. only. It had eight councilors, one district, and thirteen barangays.
Since there were no term limits for elected officials during that period, Mayor Tanyag was elected five consecutive times. Each time, he earned the trust of the people, allowing him to serve continuously for two decades until his death in office in 1976.
Programs and Initiatives
One of his primary goals was to strengthen the seat of government in Taguig. Through his efforts, he secured funding from President Ramon Magsaysay to purchase land in Barrio Tuktukan, where a two-story concrete municipal building was constructed.
During his term, the Taguig Family Supermart was also established, serving as a public market for residents and farmers. He further strengthened the Taguig Farmers Cooperative Marketing Association, Inc. (FACOMA), a cooperative aimed at promoting farmers’ welfare and improving their livelihoods.
Infrastructure projects during his leadership included the construction of irrigation canals in the farmlands of Tipas and Sta. Ana, the concreting of Barrio roads, artesian wells in Barrio Hagonoy and Tuktukan, and a motorized water pump in Ligid-Tipas.
Community Development
He initiated the use of previously idle and overgrown lands in Taguig as residential areas. These eventually developed into communities now known as:
• South Daang Hari
• North Daang Hari
• Bagong Tanyag
• Western Bicutan
• Maharlika Village
Engagement with the President for Farmers’ Welfare
During his administration, Mayor Tanyag, along with Bo. Captain Ricardo P. Cruz Sr., invited President Diosdado Macapagal to visit Taguig. During this visit in Bo. Bikutan, they personally presented a petition from Taguig residents requesting that portions of military reservation land be allocated for distribution to local farmers.
Historical Events During His Term
In 1956, after severe flooding in Taguig, Mayor Tanyag proposed the excavation of Mauling Creek toward Manila Bay, later known as the Parañaque Spillway, to serve as a floodway. However, the proposal was rejected by the Provincial Government of Rizal.
In 1972, when President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law, it did not significantly disrupt the municipal government of Taguig. Mayor Tanyag was known as a strong supporter of the President and a loyal member of the Nacionalista Party.
Key developments during his tenure included:
• The inclusion of Taguig in Metro Manila from the Province of Rizal
• The transition from “Barrio” to “Barangay”
• The establishment of Maharlika Village
• The construction of the Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) in Taguig
Final Years and Passing (1976)
After more than twenty years of leadership, Mayor Monico C. Tanyag passed away on July 21, 1976, at the age of 88. He was laid to rest in a mausoleum at the Taguig Roman Catholic Cemetery in Brgy. Tuktukan.
Legacy in the History of Taguig
The life of Monico C. Tanyag spanned the Spanish, American, and Japanese periods in Philippine history. His leadership came during a crucial phase in Taguig’s transformation, from a small town in the Province of Rizal to a component of Metro Manila.
Through his programs in governance, agriculture, housing, and infrastructure, he laid foundations that contributed to the continued development of Taguig.
To this day, his name remains an important part of Taguig’s history and heritage, remembered as a leader who served faithfully until his final day. In recognition of his contributions, one of the barangays in Taguig was named after him.
Sources/References:
Personal Interviews
Tanyag, B. (2026, 13 March). Personal interview. 75 years old, grandson of Monico Tanyag, Barangay Calzada, Taguig City.
Tanyag, R. (2026, 14 March). Personal interview. Punong Barangay, Barangay Calzada, City of Taguig.
Ababon, J. M. T. (2024, 22 July / 2026, 12 March). Personal interview. New York City, United States.
Flores, P. C. (2025, 23 Dec.). Personal interview. 90 years old, widow of Ricardo Flores, former personal driver and security aide of Mayor Tanyag.
Books / Published Sources
Pagtakhan, J. (1963). Ang Tagig at ang kanyang kasaysayan.
Tanyag, M. (1959). Tagig progress report (Copy owned by Curinio Cruz).
Tiangco, C. S. (1967). Rizal Province: A political history. Rizal Cultural Committee.
Government / Archival Records
Bureau of Civil Service. (1928, December). Official roster (p. 19).
Commission on Elections. (1967). Report of the 1967 elections.
FamilySearch. (n.d.). Philippine Civil Registration, National, 1945–1996.
Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. (1967, May 6). Official Gazette, 59(18).
National Library of the Philippines.
Office of the President of the Philippines. (1956). Official month in review. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, 52(12), ccccli–cccxlv.
Photo credits:
Taguig Heritage Society. (2016, August). Photograph acquired from the Mario Feir Rare Filipiniana Collection Library, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
Mr. Joey Monico Tanyag Ababon (2026, 12 March). New York City, United States.
