Tarlac City, Tarlac

The precolonial history of Tarlac City is rooted in the cultural heritage of the indigenous peoples who have inhabited the region for centuries.

Tarlac has always been home to indigenous groups with their own distinct languages, cultures, and traditions. Some indigenous groups that historically inhabited and/or continue to reside in Tarlac are the nomadic to semi-nomadic Aeta, Sambal, and Ibaloi, Kankanaey, and Tinggian or Itneg, the latter three groups originating from the Cordillera region but have also migrated to other areas of Luzon.

The arrival of the Spanish colonizers in the 16th century marked a significant turning point in the history of Tarlac. The influences of colonial rule, changes in governance, and the introduction of Christianity have shaped the modern cultural landscape of the area.

The leaders and early settlers from the now-Bacolor in Pampanga played a pivotal role in clearing the land, cultivating the soil, leading up to the formal establishment of present-day Tarlac.

The name Tarlac is a Hispanized adaptation from the Pangasinan term "Malatarlak," referring to a talahib weed. Originally, Tarlac was divided into two parts: the southern section affiliated with Pampanga and the northern section with Pangasinan. It was the final province in Central Luzon to be established under Spanish colonial rule in 1874.