Batangas City Foundation Day, observed in Batangas, Philippines, on July 23, commemorates the day when Batangas was granted cityhood in 1969. This special working holiday is part of the two-week long Sublian Festival, which honors the Holy Cross, the patron of Batangas. The festival features a ceremonial dance called subli, which is a significant highlight. Batangas, known as the Industrial Port City of Calabarzon, has a rich history, beginning with Spanish colonization in 1572 and evolving through various governance changes, including its conversion from a municipality to a city. The city is a major administrative, educational, and industrial center, housing the Batangas International Port and one of the largest oil refineries in the Philippines.