Cavite City

Cavite City is a city in Cavite province in the Philippines. The city is home to the Annual Cavite City Water Festival or Regada, held every 17th and 24th day of June. It is a festive and religious celebration of the feast of St. John the Baptist. Regada started in 1996 and features the "Paulan" or "Basayawan", which is a street party where celebrators dance under water sprinklers.

Understand

This article covers only Cavite City proper; Corregidor Island, administratively part of Cavite City is practically covered in a separate page.

Cavite City lies at the hook-shaped peninsula that lends Cavite province its name. Until the Spaniards constructed a causeway as a permanent link to the rest of Cavite, most of the peninsula was a sandbar, which became flooded during high tide and also posed a risk for ships, and Cavite City, then a town, virtually turned into an island.

The population is around 101,000, as of 2020.

History

Cavite City has its share of historical charms, and was the capital of Cavite until it was transferred to Trece Martires. It is established as a town since its discovery by Miguel López de Legazpi, and at the midst of Spanish colonial rule, Cavite, then called Cavite La Punta, served as an important point for the Manila-Acapulco galleons, and serves as the de facto Port of Manila because of the sandbank that prevents ships from entering the mouth of the Pasig River. As the town grew, Cavite since ceded four independent towns, like San Roque, La Caridad, San Antonio, Santa Cruz, and Dalahican, which remain as barangays. The Spaniards built a causeway over the sandbank to connect the town with mainland Cavite, but erosion reduced this to an isthmus; the causeway remains today as part of Manila-Cavite Road.

During American occupation, Corregidor Island and other smaller islands were added to the city, and the Port of Cavite was converted into a US Navy station, Naval Station Sangley Point. Cavite gained city status in 1940, one year before World War II broke out in the Pacific. Cavite City is devastated by the 1945 Allied bombings; Sangley Point, the walls of Porta Vaga, and the old town were badly destroyed by bombs. Most damaged structures are required to be demolished, and only a few remains of the old Port of Cavite.

Orientation

Cavite City is small, and its street layout has hardly changed since the Spanish colonial era. It is divided into 17 barangays; the most important being San Roque, which houses the city hall, plaza and Fort San Felipe.

Talk

Cavite City is one of the few places where the Spanish creole language Chavacano is still spoken by most of the population. The variety of Chavacano spoken here is different from what you may encounter at Zamboanga City, with a different way of indicating verb tense and a distinct set of pronouns. Some local businesses have been promoting Chavacano through signs.

Tagalog is either spoken as a first or second language, and is the lingua franca. English is spoken and understood by many locals, and most signs are in English.

Get in

Cavite City lies at the western end of Manila-Cavite Road (Route 62); it is 30 minutes from Manila by car.

By plane
  • 🌍 Sangley Point Airport (SGL  IATA), Balagtas Street. Opened in 2020 to passenger service, this airport sits at the site of the Danilo Atienza Air Base and uses its runway, lengthened to accommodate narrow-body jets. (updated Nov 2023)

As of February 2020, the only passenger services on Sangley Point Airport are charter flights to Balesin Island on Alphaland Aviation. There are no scheduled passenger flights yet, but low-cost carriers serving Ninoy Aquino International Airport are planning to move some flight to Cavite City as part of NAIA's long-term decongestion plan.

Ground transportation: Saulog operates an express bus from NAIA with a stop at the Parañaque Intermodal Terminal Exchange (PITX).

By bus

Saint Anthony of Padua Transport and Saulog provide service from Manila (Park N' Ride) or Parañaque (PITX) to their terminals in Cavite City. You can also hop onto the colorful but cramped minibuses ("baby buses") from Baclaran in Parañaque or Bacoor.

  • 🌍 Saint Anthony of Padua Transport. Most trips depart from PITX, but some still continue to Park N' Ride (or "Lawton" in signs) and Santa Cruz in Manila. (updated Jan 2019)
  • 🌍 Saulog, Dra. Salamanca Street. Services leave every 30 minutes from Parañaque Integrated Transport Exchange. Tricycles are available from outside the terminal. (updated Jan 2019)

See
  • 🌍 Thirteen Martyrs Monument, At the intersection of M. Valentin Street, Lopez Jaena Road, Zulueta Road and P. Burgos Avenue. Open 24 hours. The thirteen Martyrs of Cavite were Filipino patriots executed by musketry on September 12, 1896, for cooperating with the Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution against Spain. The capital city of Trece Martires in Cavite is named after them. In 1906, a monument to the Thirteen Martyrs was erected at the San Roque district of Cavite City, at the head of then San Roque causeway. Their families reinterred the remains of their loved ones at the foot of the monument. (updated Nov 2023)
  • 🌍 Fort San Felipe (inside Naval Station Pascual Ledesma). Built in 1609, it served as the fortress for the then town of Cavite, but only half of it remains. As an active naval base, permission is required to visit this fort. (updated Jan 2019)
  • 🌍 Sangley Point. A former United States Navy station that was turned over to the Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force. It houses the Danilo Atienza Air Base and Naval Base Cavite; visitors must register first before entering. It is also the site of the future Sangley Point Airport (see #Get in). (updated Jan 2019)
  • 🌍 Heroes Arch. A monumental arch that served as the entrance to the Spanish-era Port of Cavite. (updated Jan 2019)
  • 🌍 Sea wall Samonte Park, P. Burgos Avenue. Open 24 hours. The park is located along the coast of Manila Bay and offers a stunning view of the sunset. The sea wall is decorated with colorful murals and sculptures that reflect the culture and history of the Filipino people. The park also has a playground, a fountain, a gazebo, and a stage where various events are held. The park is clean, well-maintained, and safe for visitors of all ages. (updated Nov 2023)
  • 🌍 Ramon Quijano Samonte Park, Judge Ibanez Street. Open 24 hours. (updated Nov 2023)
  • 🌍 Cavite City Clock Tower, Plaza Soledad. Open 24 hours. (updated Nov 2023)
  • 🌍 Ermita de Porta Vaga Historical Monument, Plaza Soledad (in Ramon Quijano Park). This is a miniature of the original chapel to keep the history alive most especially to the locals. (updated Nov 2023)
  • 🌍 Ladislao Diwa Shrine and Ladislao Diwa Historical Marker, Cabuco Street. This shrine is a historical landmark dedicated to Ladislao Diwa, a pride of Cavite City. This is locked most of the time but you can still visit and look from outside of the gate. The landmark is Cafe Antix, just make a turn and you’ll see this. (updated Nov 2023)

Buy

Eat
  • 🌍 Nieva's PizzaTeaRia, Dra. Salamanca Street, Ipil. 9AM-10PM. Pizza and milk tea served in a carinderia atmosphere. (updated Nov 2023)
  • 🌍 New Chefoo Restaurant, 945 P. Burgos Street, San Roque. 9AM–7:30PM. Chinese x Filipino fusion foods. Affordable price and serving is good for 2-3 persons already. This was established in 1945. (updated Nov 2023)
  • 🌍 Asao Grill and Steak House, 897 P. Burgos Avenue, San Roque, ☏ +63 46 431-7796. M closed, Tu-Su 9AM-8:30PM. Steaks, grilled dishes, and sizzling plates, partnered with fried rice. They have some signs in both English and Cavite City Chavacano on the door. The name is from the Chavacano rendition of Spanish asado (roasted). (updated Nov 2023)
  • 🌍 Yummylog Tapsilogan, P. Burgos Avenue. 10AM–10PM. (updated Nov 2023)
  • 🌍 SeaChow Unlimited Seafood and Balbacua, # 510 Plaridel Street. noon-10PM. (updated Nov 2023)
  • 🌍 Sabro Ramen, # 885 P. Burgos Avenue. 4PM–11PM. (updated Nov 2023)
  • 🌍 Shake and Burg, #1145 Lopez Jaena Street, San Roque. 11AM–10PM. (updated Nov 2023)
  • 🌍 Ben's Halo Halo San Antonio, Cavite City, Dr. Salamaca Avenue. 10AM–9PM. (updated Nov 2023)

Drink

Sleep
  • V.V. Icasiano Lodge (Aloha Lodge), Manila-Cavite Road corner Barrera Street, Dalahican (near the Heroes Arch). Hawaiian-themed motel. (updated Jul 2019)

Go next
Routes through Cavite City
END ←  N  S  → Noveleta (junction ←) → Bacoor (to the east)


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