History

Tanay was settled by early Austronesian people. Shortly after the conquest and subjugation of Manila by the Spaniards and the surrounding lake areas by Juan de Salcedo in 1570-1574, Franciscan missionaries arrived to Christianize the inhabitants of what is now the Morong-Pililla area. In 1583, both Morong and Pililla were created as separate towns with Tanay forming part of Pililla.

Tanay was founded as a separate pueblo (town) in 1606 under the name "Monte de Tan-ay". In 1620, administration was moved to San Antonio (now called Inalsan or Pantay) and Tandang Kutyo. In 1638, the town was burned during an uprising of Chinese living in the area, and the town was rebuilt in 1640 at the present day location.

In 1747, the town of Tanay was consisted of only eight barangays, namely Nuestra Senora del Rosario, Sa Josep, San Ildefonso de Tanay, San Francisco de Maytubig, San Pedro de Alcantara, San Lucas y San Antonio, San Apostol and San Agustin de Balugbog.

In 1853, a new political subdivision was formed. The town of Tanay together with Morong, Baras, Pililla, Angono, Binangonan and Jalajala form the Province of La Laguna, with the capital at Morong. This district was later changed to Distrito Politico-Militar de Morong after four years.

Tanay became a Municipality in 1894 as an effect of the Spanish Maura Law. The first election of Public Office took place in 1895-1898 and 1898-1900 under the Revolutionary Government of the Philippines.
Tanay members of the Katipunan fought valiantly during the Revolution against Spain. The town was the headquarters of the second military area of the Philippine Revolutionary Government under General Emilio Aguinaldo. And for a brief period between 1899 and 1900, Tanay served as the capital of the then Morong Province after Philippine-American War broke out and the American forces invaded the lake towns and captured Antipolo.

In 1900-1901, Tanay as was under the Government appointed by the American Military under Taft Commission. From 1903-1934 the town leadership was under the American Rule then in 1934 Tanay was under the Commonwealth of the Philippines as the Tydings-McDuffie Act was approved on March 24, 1934 until the Philippines fell to the hands of the Japanese during the Second World War in 1942.

In 1942-1945 the Mountains of Tanay served as the Guerrilla base for 'Marking's Guerrilla's, beginning the Liberation of Tanay on March, 1945 a very decorated by the Filipino soldiers of the 41st and 42nd Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, 4th Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary and the recognized guerrillas against the Japanese occupation forces during World War II. Gen. Marking is buried by the road beside his son's farm in Daraitan.

In October 2003, deposed Philippine president Joseph Estrada was transferred to a rest home in Sampaloc, a mountain barangay. He remained under house arrest until he was given executive clemency by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

During the Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) in September 26, 2009. Tanay was one hardest hit due to the rising of Laguna Lake and the flooding of Tanay River.