A century and a half ago, specifically during the early part of the 18th century, adventurous settlers from Taal, Northern Mindoro and Southern Cavite were attracted to the vast plain near the shores of Balayan Bay because of its abundance in fish and other marine life. Salting and drying fish became their major occupation due to the great demand of salted and dried fish by people coming from the provinces of Cavite, Mindoro, Laguna and Batangas. People came in great numbers to join the settlers, and the village became populous. The place was first called “PUNTA”, meaning direction, because of the influx of people who went to the village. In 1818, the village of PUNTA was converted into one of the barrios of the Municipality of Taal.
The first priest who was assigned to the village then known as “Punta” was Fr. Geronimo. Upon the suggestion of the priest who succeeded him, the place was renamed San Geronimo in honor of this priest.
Captain Roberto Lemery, the Commanding Officer of San Geronimo outpost instructed the military and the church personnel to study the language of the native and cultivate harmony with them. When Captain Lemery died in 1856, the people of San Geronimo requested their priest to change the name of the barrio to LEMERY.
In 1858, the barrio of San Geronimo became officially known LEMERY. In 1862, Lemery was separated from the Municipality of Taal and became the district municipality thru the efforts of Candida Cesario Valenzuela, Manuel Cabrera, Policarpio Mariño and Domingo Agoncillo. Jose Cabrera became the First Gobernadorcillo of the newly created town. For Economic considerations, Lemery was again annexed to Taal in 1904. Finally by virtue of Executive Order 1549 of the Philippine Civil Commission, it became an independent Municipality in 1907.
There are two (2) alternate routes going to Lemery from Manila via the City of Lipa in the South and via Tagaytay City, in the North using the R. Diokno Highway. Lemery has a distance of 113 kilometers from Manila and 26 kilometers from Batangas City, the provincial capitol. The Municipality is accessible by both water and land transportation.
Using a Public Vehicle
Going to Lemery by means of Public Transportation is easy. You just have to ride a bus with a sign Lemery and that will drop you off on the town proper. With a distance of 113 kilometers and almost an hour and a half ride only from Manila through SLEX and STAR Tollway, it’s easy to spend a weekend off here. If you would like to go to the coastline of Lemery where black sand beaches are located, you just have to ride available jeeps or tricycles and that will lead you to coast of Lemery.
Using a Private Vehicle
From Manila, Take the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) all the way to Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway. Take the Talisay-Tanauan exit all the way to Talisay-Tanauan Road. Continue to Agoncillo Laurel Road and Turn right on Diokno Hi-way.
Source: MPDC, Municipal Government Office of Lemery