Tanay is a town in the east of the prince of Rizal, 57 kilometres south-east of Manila, bordering the Sierra Madre Mountains and the Laguna de Bay lake. In 1996, the town became a first-class municipality and now has a population of over 117,000 people. Nineteen separate barangays divide the town, and these tiny communities are scattered around Tanay, with some lying in the upland areas.

Natural beauty covers Tanay and the two landmarks of Daranak Falls and Batlag Falls are popular destinations, near to Calinawan Cave, once a stronghold of the Filipino Revolution and sanctuary during WWII. Visitors can also hike in the nearby Sierra Madre Mountains, where they can find the hidden Daraitan River or climb Masungi Rock. For local culture, visitors can enjoy the nature of Tanay Park, while watching performances of a native dance called Tariki. Tanay Church is a native architectural wonder and site of National Cultural Heritage, known for its artistic Stations of the Cross, and Tanay Coliseum is a place of lively activity, such as local boxing matches.

The journey between Tanay and Manila depends upon traffic conditions and can take anywhere between one to three hours via public transport, with many jeepneys and local buses travelling to nearby towns and cities. For independent drivers, the route to Tanay is flexible and picturesque, passing through the Marilaque Highway that goes through the Sierra Madre Mountains, and takes less than two hours from the nearest airport in Pasay.

The settlement of Tanay originated with the early Austronesian people before Spain colonised the area and Franciscan missionaries took over the local towns and villages. Tanay became its own separate town in 1606 and separated into more and more barangays over the years, eventually becoming a first class municipality. Due to its geographical location, Tanay has suffered from many natural disasters, including severe damage during the 2009 Typhoon Ketsana, in which the rising waters of Laguna Lake flooded the area.