More than three hundred years ago, Tiaong was a part of the municipality of San Pablo (now a city) in the province of Laguna. It is bounded by San Antonio, Quezon to the south; San Pablo City to the north; Dolores, Quezon to the northeast; Lipa City to the west; and Candelaria, Quezon to the east.
In 1691, Tiaong became an independent municipality through the efforts of a philanthropic, humanitarian, nationalistic, and religious woman living at the outskirts of the town called "Lalig." She was popularly known as "Donya Tating," who habitually went to church every day riding a cart drawn by a big black bull. Due to her sympathetic gestures, especially towards the poor, she was dearly loved and respected by the people. Even the parish priest would not start the mass unless the loud mooing of the bull — "Ooooong" — could be heard entering the churchyard.
Out of gratitude, the townspeople began calling Donya Tating "Tiya" (Auntie). The combination of "Tiya" and the sound of "Ooooong" inspired the name of the municipality, Tiaong (Tiya-ong).
The original town proper was established 4 kilometers south of the present site along a river called "Malaking Ilog." However, frequent pirate raids led the people to relocate the Poblacion to its current site. To protect against further attacks, they surrounded the town with deep trenches and bamboo stakes and erected a stone watchtower.
During the Spanish era, the local government was headed by a Gobernadorcillo, assisted by officials such as the Tenyente Mayor, Juez de Sementera, Juez de Ganados, Juez de Palayan, and Juez de Polisya. These officials were elected by nine prominent, influential individuals under the supervision of the Governador General. The first Gobernadorcillo was Don Francisco Magdami in 1691.
The church was built by Franciscan missionaries in the 1670s, northeast of the town near Burgos Street (now Escudero Street). It is one of the oldest and largest churches in the province of Tayabas (now Quezon). The majority of Tiaong's inhabitants are Roman Catholic, though there are also Protestants, Iglesia ni Cristo members, "Sabadista," Esperitista, and other religious groups.
