Welcome to Cavite, Philippines

I. OVERVIEW

Mini-Profile
Capital : Trece Martires
Area : 142,706 hec.
Population : 1,610,324
Cities : 3
No. of Municifalities : 20

Cavite Province is rich in culture and history. Imus, Cavite is the site where the first successful Philippine revolution was waged. It is also the place where the flag of the Philippine Republic was first hoisted to proclaimed the country's independence.

The province is the birth place of Filipino heroes, among them Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the republic. It is similarly where many of the country's foremost decisions which caused a turning point in its political cycle were made.

Cavite is one of the gateways to the booming business capital of the Metro Manila from the south, making it one of the , most accessible of the southern provinces. It is not only largely affordable to the foreigners but alaso to millions of Filipino residents of Manila. The Manila-Cavite coastal road greatly facilitates traffic flow to the different historical-scenic travel lures of Cavite. North of Cavite, large-scale industrial estate development and urbanization is rapidly taking place.

Vast tracts of land have been identified for the massive development likewise of leisure estates, including world class golf courses.

By air, Cavite is a checkerboard of residential and commercial complexes catering not only to local Cavitenos but also to the working class of Metro Manila. Local and foreign investors find it conductive to invest in the province as industrilization is being prodded by the increasing number of companies locating in the Cavite Export Processing Zone. Closely coordinated development of existing facilities greatly boost tourism in this part Luzon.

A. Brief History

Cavite got its name comes from a Filipino world "Kawit" (which means "Hook.") owing
to the hook-shaped land on the Old Spanish map. The land was formerly known as "Tangway" where Spanish authorities contructed a fort from which the city of Cavite rose. Archeological evidence in coastal areas shows prehistorical settlements. According to local folklore, the earliest settlers of Cavite came from Borneo. In the 1600s, encomiendas or Spanish Royal land grants were given in Cavite and Marsgondon. Jesuit priests brought in settlers from Mollucas. These settlers, known as "Mardicas," settled in Ternate and Maragondon.

Other settlements grew and by the turn of the century, Cavite towns were already trading with one another. Traditional industries began to thrive as Manila's commerce grew. In 1872, Filipinos launched its revolt againts Spain. Three Filipino priests--Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez,and Jacinto Zamora--were implicated in the Cavite mutiny when 200 Filipinos staged a rebellion within Spanish garrisons. In 28 August 1896, when the revolution against Spain broke out, Cavite became a became a bloody theater of war. Led by Emilio Aguinaldo, Caviteños made lightning raids on Spanish headquarters, and soon liberated the entire province. Aguinaldo commanded the Revolution to its successful end:the proclamation of the first Republic in Asia, the Republic of the Philippines, on 12 June 1898 in Kawit.

Cavite proudly stands as a place with a glorious past. Its warm and friendly people, whose ancestors came down with a noble cause, manifest industry and patience in various skills and professions, openly receptive to the entry and exchange of culture and technology that are of value to the province.

B. Political Subdivision

The province of Cavite has three cities and 20 municipalities. The provincial capitol is located in Imus, but the seat of provincial government is Trece Martinez. The three cities are Cavite, Trece Martinez, and Tagaytay.

Municipalities of Cavite

Alfonso Gen. Trias Gen. Alvarez Amadeo
Imus Noveleta Bacoor Indang
Rosario Carmona Kawit Silang
Dasmariñas Magallanes Tanza Ternate
Gen. Aguinaldo Maragondon Mendez Naic

C. Climate

Cavite has two pronounced seasons-the dry season , which usually begins in November and ends in April, and the rainy season, which starts in May and ends in October. Cavite's cool periods are during December to February, while summer months are from April to May.

D. Population

The province of Cavite has a population of 1,610,324 as of 1995. Population density is 10.16 persons per hectare. The annual population growth rate is 6.47% while birth rate is 19.48%. The annual death rate is 4.05% Cavite's 805,800 strong labor force comprises 54.12% of the provincial household population 15 years old and above and most of these are in agriculture, forestry, fishing, tourism, trade and industry endeavors. Underemployment rate is 9.66%, while literacy rate stands at a height of 98%, making the province a reliable source of proficient, skilled and semi-skilled labor forced.

E. Language/Dialect

Majority speak Tagalog while in Cavite City and in some areas they speak Chabacano. English is considered as the second language and is widely used as a medium of communication in business and higher education. Other indigenous languages are Waray, Bicolano, Cebuano, Ilocano, Pangasinese and Hiligaynon. Meanwhile, Chinese and Spanish are also slightly spoken by some local residents.

F. How to get there

The historical province of Cavite is very accessible from Manila. Public transport is available from about 5 a.m. to around 10 p.m. daily.

Saulog and St. Anthony buses (many of them with air-con) going to Cavite load and unload passengers at Vito Cruz corner Harrison Street across from the Central Bank of the Philippines (near the Horrizon Plaza). Tamaraw-FX taxis are parked a short distance away in front of McDonald's (beside Harrizon Plaza). These buses and taxis usually take the Roxas Blvd. Coastal Road route going to Cavite (by passing Bacoor, Imus, Kawit and Noveleta). Others are bound for Rosario, Naic or Tanza (by passing the same towns.)

There are also mini-buses going to Tagaytay or Trece Martines (by passing Bacoor, Imus, Silang, Indang and other towns). These are found in Baclaran. These mini-buses usually take the route via Parañaque/Las Piñas.

If one is in Metro Manila, it is best to take a taxi and ask to be taken to either Harrison Plaza or Baclaran, depending on the intended destination in Cavite.

Normal travel time (when traffic is not heavy) to Cavite is as short as 20-30 minutes (if you are going to Bacoor, the closest town to Mnila) or about 2 1/2 hours ( if you are going to the farthest point). Kawit, is about 30-45 minutes away. Saulog and St. Anthony buses going to Cavite City pass by the Aguinaldo Shrine.

G. Getting around the Place

Jeepneys and tricycles are found in every town in Cavite, ready to take the travellers around.

G. Geography

Cavite occupies land area of 142,706 hectares which is approximately 2.74% of the regional land area and 0.42% of the total land area of the Philippines. The land area of the province is classified as follows: 5.9% (7,833 hectares) public forests; 90.07% (119,280 hectares) alienable and disposable; and 4.02% (5,320) unclassified forest land. It has three distinct physiological features: the lowlands, rolling undulating transition lands, and the rugged uplands of the Dos Picos mountains.

II. TOURIST ATTRACTION

A. Historical

Aguinaldo Shrine and Museum
The town of Kawit played an important role in Philippine political history.
The proclamation of the Republic of the Philippines was made in this town in the
balcony of the home of General Emilio Aguinaldo. Now a national shrine, it was
in this house where the Philippine flag was first unfurled. Emilio Aguinaldo
became the first president of the Philippine Republic. Philippine independence
from Spain was proclaimed on June 12, 1998. Guided tours offered in the shrine.
Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except Mondays.

Location : Kawit
How to get There : From Manila, take buses for Cavite City from
Manila. In Kawit, the shrine is accessible
within the main highway going to Cavite City.
Travel time : 1 to 1 1/2 hours from Manila.

Battle of Julian Bridge Marker
An old 1859 cannon stands as the lone reminder of a battle that took place long
ago between the Spanish and the Filipino forces. The marker is placed on the
cannon while old ammunitions are laid on its concrete base. The cannon and
marker are found near the north side of the bridge where steps briefly descend
to this old emplacement.

Location : Barangay Bayan Luma, Imus
How to get there : From the Imus town proper, take a jeepney or
tricycle and head two kilometers down south until you reach the Marker.
Travel time : 15 to 20 minutes from the town proper.

House of Tirona
The house belonging to an illustrations Caviteños family is well-maintained and was restored to its original grandeur except for its galvanized roofing. The place has a garden and a marker set within the lot arresting to notable personalities who once
dwelled in this house.

Location : 12 Maestro G. Tirona St., Barangay IV, Imus
How to get there : Buses stationed at Vito Cruz corner Harrison Street depart regular for the one-hour trip to Kawit. In Kawit jeepneys and tricycles depart for Imus poblacion where the House of Tirona is just a short walk away.
Travel time : The town is about 1 to 1 1/2 hours drive from Manila. About 15 minutes walk from the poblacion.

Fort San Felipe
Fort San Felipe is an old structure dating back to 1609 when the Spaniards built it to to protect part of the then growing city. The structure is made of granite blocks with walls approximately 30 feet high. A wide stairway leads to the top of the fort where a concrete house structure could be found. Naval memorabilia including antique cannons and cannon balls decorate the lawns.

Location : Sangley Point Naval Base, Cavite City
How to get there : Take a Saulog bus going to Cavite City pasing through Aguinaldo Highway. Tricycles or jeepneys could then be taken to the place.
Travel time : 1 1/2 hours from Manila

General Artemio Ricarte Marker
A pebble was-out platform encloses the marker made in tribute to the late Gen.Artemio "El Vibora" Ricarte. Two lamp posts flank the structure.

Location : Poblacion, General Trias
How to get there : To reach the spot, take a General Trias-bound transit bus from Vito Cruz corner Harrison Street via Aguinaldo Highway, 35 kilometer distance. Tricycles at the town proper could bring you to the marker of General Ricarte.
Travel time : 1 1/2 hours from Manila.

Andres Bonifacio House
This is the place where the country's revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio lived. The facade of the house is of red bricks and adobe. Although renovated several times over, its original Spanish style has not changed.

Location : Poblacion, General Trias
How to get there : Saulog Transit buses bound for General Trias are stationed at Vito Cruz corner Harison Street, Manila via the Aguinaldo Highway, 35-kilometer trip. Tri- cycles at the town proper could bring you to this specific place.
Travel time : 1 1/2 from Manila.

General Mariano Trias Marker
The marker is located in front of the house where Gen. Mariano Trias, another local hero, once stayed, near the town plaza. The marker is built in white concrete and a solitary lamp post stands directly behind. The monument to the memory of this person is located elsewhere in the Poblacion.

Location : Poblacion, General Trias
How to get there : To get there, take a general trias-bound bus at Lawton. Via Aguinaldo Highway, 35 kilometer distance. This marker is located very near the town plaza and the municipal hall.
Time travel : 1 1/2 hours from Manila.

House Where Bonifacio was Court Martialed
The place is of old wooden and concrete design and a marker is set in the middle of the structure.

Location : Poblacion 2, Maragondon
How to get there : To reach the spot, board a Ternate-bound Saulog bus bus from Vito Cruz cor. Harrison Street. Get off at the town plaza of Maragondon from where you can already walk to the house. Tricycles for hire are readily available in the area.
Travel time : 1 hour and 45 minutes from Manila.

House of General Riego de Dios
The old house is made of wood with an architecture dating back to a bygone era.. It is considered one of the country's oldest houses in the area.

Location : Poblacion 2, Maragondon
How to get there : From Manila, take a Ternate-bound Saulog bus. Get off at Maragondon town plaza from where you can walk to the house. Tricycles for hire are readily available in the area.
Travel time : 1 hour and 45 minutes' drive from Manila.

B. Natural

Cabag Caves
The place is found at the bottom of the slope which runs down a steep angle to a brook. Lush greenery surrounds this little valley below where Cabag Cave is found. Inside the cave, an underground river runs for about 50 meters inward A pool of water is formed immediately off the mouth of the cave which leads to the brook.

Location : Poblacion 2, Maragondon
How to get there : The cave is about three and a half kilometers from the Silang town proper. Motor vehicles could reach up to the Barangay Luksuhin proper, then one would walk a kilometer long trail to reach the site. Jeepneys are available for travel from the Silang Poblacion to the Barangay. Mini-buses in Baclaran, Metro Manila with an Amadeo-Silang signboard are available for a trip to Silang, Cavite via the Coastal Road.
Travel time : 1 to 1 1/2 hours drive from Manila; about 20 minutes' trial to the site.

Malibiclibic Falls
A valley borders the Malibiclibic Falls, where boulders cut across the middle of the gushing river waters cascading from the falls. At the far end of the river is the NIA irrigation project. Theother river route nearer the falls is a large pond which could be viewed from atop one of the boarder hills of the valley. A large pool of water forms at the base of the falls while coconut trees, shrubs and other greenery flank the sides.

Location : Boarder of the Barangay Lumipa, Gen. Aguinaldo and Magallanes
How to get there : Three routes are available from Manila to the site. One is via Manila-tagaytay-Alfonso Road; the second is via Manila-Palapala-Trece Martires City-Alfonso Road; the third is via Manila-Bacoor-Tanza-Naic-Maragondon Road. This, however, is passable only during dry season Glenda Transit travels to Gen. Aguinaldo via Tagaytay- Baclaran route; Maria Luisa Lines ply the Alfonso via Tagaytay-Baclaran route; Ortillo Lines takes the Alfonso via Trece Martires-Palapala-Baclaran route. Saulog buses travel from Vito Cruz, Manila to Maragondon everyday. Jeepneys are available at Alfonso for travel to Gen. Aguinaldo if you take the Alfonso destination stop. Maragondon likewise has jeepneys which travel by the vicinity of the barangay road off Municipalities Falls. The Anoang barangay road is a rough passage which stretches for a kilometer leading to the river which leads to the falls.

Travel time : From Manila, via Tagaytay-Alfonso road travel time is 2 hours; also 2 hours via Palapa-Trece Martires-Alfonso road; and 1 1/2 hours through Bacoor.

Balite Falls
Two falls could actually be seen in the area, one of which flows naturally, gushing strong clear water while the other one is outfitted with pipes and bamboo tubes to aid the flow of the water. The falls converge into a pool of water with a deep part for adults and a shallow part for children.

Location : Barangay Halng, Amadeo
How to get there : From Baclaran, take a mini-bus bound for Amadeo, Cavite. Balite Falls is about three and a half kilometers from the Amadeo town proper. Jeepneys could be taken from the town to Banay-banay after which one has to w walk half a kilometer inward to Barangay Halang to the side fromthe provincial road. The Barangay Halang road is generally rough though accessible to vehicles during dry season.
Travel time : Approximately 2 hours' drive from Manila.

Ulong Tubig
Ulong Tubig is a pool formed by natural spring water emanating from an adjacent hill. The pool leads to an irrigation pump which supplies a vast number of rice fields in Carmona. The area is shaded by coconut trees and other greenery. In the morning, the water appears to be very clear. However, in the afternoon, it changes to a green hue due to algae disturbed by the swimmers.

Location : Barangay Ulong Tubig, Carmona
How to get there : From Manila, the BLTB buses would pass by the national road in Carmona coming from the South Super Highway. A road intersection could be found along the national road wherein a smaller road branches out leading to City land subdivision in Carmona which is adjacent to Barangay Ulong Tubig. Jeeps or tricycles are available at the said intersection and would be passing by the subdivision. A half kilometer long road from Cityland, Carmona leads to the attraction.
Travel time : Approximately 45 minutes' drive from Manila.

Religious

Imus Cathedral
The church is an exponent of old Hispanis architecture and exudes an ambiance conducive to monastic life and spiritual meditation. The colors have darkened with time, nevertheless, one would not fail to notice the red colored bricks that make up the arches and walls of the place. Latin inscriptions accentuate the arches of the church.

Location : Barangay IV, Imus. The place is found in the town proper of Imus fronting the town plaza near the Municipal Hall.
How to get there : BLTB buses travel daily through the town of Imus from Metro Manila. Tricycles are available for travel within the town.
Travel time : Travel time is approximately 25 minutes from Manila to the place via the Manila-Cavite Coastal Road.

Silang Catholic Church
The church is large and the altar has intricate designs. There are numerous statues of Christ, Mary, and the saints of the Catholic Church ensconced within the altars' multi- level wooden platforms with stylized carvings. Legend goes that the church simply miraculously appeared overnight during the Spanish times. Others claim that it was created through forced labor instituted by the Spanish colonizers. The church was said to have been constructed in 1585.

Location : Silang town proper (adjacent the Silang Municipal Hall).
How to get there : From Baclaran, take a mini-bus-bound for Amadeo and get off in Silang.
Travel time : 1 hour and 45 minutes' drive.

General Trias Catholic Church
The Church altar is decorated with many ornately-carved statues of religious Catholic
saints and personas mainly set upon a multi-tiered wooden carved platform. The church dates back to the Spanish period more than 300 years ago. The altar design is remarkably similar to the Silang Church.

Location : Poblacion, Gen. Trias (fronting the town plaza and municipal hall).
How to get there : The Saulog Transit Inc. buses are serving the route between Vito Cruz, Metro Manila and General Trias via the Manila-Cavite Coastal Road.
Travel time : 1 to 1/2 hours' drive from Manila..

Maragondon Catholic Church
Of 17th century vintage, the Marigondon Catholic Church was built by the Dominican friars. It has a large convent made of different antique woods and bricks. The wooden altar, pulpit and main portal are finely crafted. One of the mainattractions is the tower which in the olden times, served as a lookout for signs of enemy intruction.

Location : Poblacion, Maragondon (fronting the town plaza and municipal hall ).
How to get there : Saulog buses ply the route from Metro Manila to Marigondon. The road condition from Manila to the place is generally good and very accessible especially if one takes the Aguinaldo Boulevard route.
Travel time : 2 hours from Manila.

Our Lady of La Salette Shrine
This church was built by the American Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, known to Filipinos as Our Lady of Hope. The shrine is famous for its unique park theme and giant woodcarvings of the Last Supper and the Stations of the Cross. Serenity is
endowed by well-tended pine trees, shrubbery and expansive lawns at this place. An
imposing shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands in the middle of a well-trimmed garden surrounded by flags of different nations where Catholicism thrived. Retreat houses, chapels, souvenir shops, and other interesting attractions make the place interesting not only for cursory visitations but for spiritual contemplation as well.

Location : Kilometer 41, Barangay Biga, Silang
How to get there : BLTB buses and mini-buses from Baclaran pass by the Shrine in Silang, from Metro Manila.
Travel time : Approximately 1 hour from Manila to the site.

Nuestra Señora dela Soledad de Porta Vaga
Nuestra Señora dela Soledad de Porta Vaga, reputed to be a relic of Spain, is a painting of the Virgin Mary framed in carved wood. The relic is said to have been discovered, beached on the shores between the old Puerto Vaga in Cavite City and Barrio San Roque during the 18th century. The painting, presently set in precious gems, is also known as the "Virgin of a Thousand Miracles" because of many miracles granted to the faithful devotees from the day of its discovery to the present.

Location : San Roque Parish Church, Cavite City
How to get there : Pantranco, Saulog and St. Rafael buses travel from Metro Manila to Cavite City via Aguinaldo Boulevard. From there jeepneys and tricycles can be availed of to take you to San Roque Church.
Travel time : 1 1/2 hours' drive from Manila.

Festival

Maytinis Festival
Date : December 24
Location : Kawit

This is a re-enactment cum parody-in-song of St. Joseph's and the Blessed Virgin's search for a place to stay on that fateful night of Christ's birth in Bethlehem. A young man and woman knock at every house but are always refused entry. However, at every house they visit, the house owner afterwards shakes the hand of the choir leader who accompanies 'St. Joseph' and the 'Blessed Mother' them sends them off with provisions.

Water Festival (St. Johns the Baptist Festival)
Date : June 24

This annual festival features the dousing of water on citizen along the streets to commemorate the life and martyrdom of St. John the Baptist.

Special Interest

Sightseeing
Cavite is the perfect destination for travellers wishing a glimpse of the Island's
historical, natural and man-made attractions nearest to the mega-city of Manila.
Tour can be completed within a day's time, without missing any of the places innate allure. Drive around the Tagaytay-Taal Ridge to view the spellbinding concert of volcano, lake and sky through an oftentimes foggy mist. For the religiously-inclined, take a round of old monasteries and churches. Take a hop around historical sites, monuments and culminate in the Island of Corregidor.

Museum

Aguinaldo Shrine
Kawit, Cavite

AVL-Country-Sight-Travel, Inc
Contact : VIOLY, RITA
Tel. (632) 372-4865, 371-1492, 371-1493