Cavite

Cavite is divided into 8 cities and 16 municipalities, but for convenience, we divide the province into three possible regions:

• Northwestern Cavite (Cavite City, Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario) - Coastal communities with a colorful history.
• Northern Cavite (Bacoor, Carmona, Dasmariñas, General Mariano Alvarez, General Trias, Imus, Tanza and Trece Martires) - A bustling suburban area, with its many problems like traffic jams and uncontrolled development.
• Southern Cavite (Alfonso, Amadeo, General Emilio Aguinaldo, Indang, Magallanes, Maragondon, Mendez, Naic, Silang, Tagaytay and Ternate) - The touristic part of Cavite, with many natural attractions, inland resorts and small towns.

• 🌍 Bacoor - site of one of many major battles during the Philippine Revolution, it is now a sprawling suburb of Metro Manila.
• 🌍 Cavite City - first city and first capital of Cavite.
• 🌍 Dasmariñas The university city of Cavite, another sprawling suburb of Metro Manila.
• General Trias The birth place of the Philippine Revolution, replacing the Katipunan; popularly known as the Tejeros Convention, Tejeros Assembly or Tejeros Convention.
• 🌍 Imus - another sprawling suburb, where the Battle of Alapan, another major battle in the Philippine Revolution, took place.
• 🌍 Indang - municipality in the interior of Cavite, home to various inland resorts and heritage churches.
• 🌍 Kawit - birthplace of Emilio Aguinaldo
• 🌍 Tagaytay - the second "Summer Capital" of the Philippines, with its cool highland climate and views of Taal Lake and Volcano.
• 🌍 Trece Martires - capital of Cavite
• Tanza City

• 🌍 Corregidor Island
• Mount Palay-Palay–Mataas na Gulod Protected Landscape - Mountain range, one of the last patches of lowland rainforest in Luzon.

Mount Palay-Palay-Mataas na Gulod Protected Landscape occupies over 4,000 ha (9,900 acres) of western Cavite, and also straddles the boundary with Batangas; we do not have an article for it, but is covered at Ternate (Cavite).

Cavite is known for its rich history and a large number of national heroes, including the first president Emilio Aguinaldo (though some historians dispute this claim). The province is one of the eight provinces that led the Philippine Revolution, and is a site of many important events during the rebellion. It is sometimes called "Land of the Brave" or the History Capital of the Philippines. Those who live in Cavite are called Caviteños.

Cavite is bordered by Metro Manila in the north, Laguna in the east, Batangas in the south and by South China Sea (or West Philippine Sea, at the wake of the Spratly Islands dispute) on the west. Being just south of Metro Manila, Cavite is seeing a rise in suburban development since the 1970s and 1980s, especially residential subdivisions and industrial parks. Bacoor, Imus and Dasmariñas is the three principal cities not far from the boundary with Metro Manila, have became bustling extensions of the vast metropolis in the north, and are bedroom communities for daily commuters who leave to work or study in Metro Manila.

Tagalog is the native languages of most Caviteños, but in parts of Cavite (particularly Cavite City and Ternate), the Spanish-based creole Chavacano is spoken, though speakers of those will readily switch to Tagalog when dealing with outsiders.

Common means of transportation from Manila to Cavite by bus and jeepney. It takes an hour or less.

Much of Cavite, especially the northern urbanized conurbation, is undergoing explosive growth marked by subdivisions, malls, and industrial parks. Most areas of the province are accessible by local public transport, but most new residents in the suburbanized cities prefer buying a car. The major cities in Cavite are plagued by daily traffic jams. Public transport cover well the cities but they are also affected by the congestion.

While urban sprawl has took hold in most of Cavite and the primary reason to be in the province is Tagaytay and Taal Volcano (which is in Batangas though), there are many places in the provinces still waiting to be discovered.

• Aguinaldo Shrine. The National Shrine of the Philippines, where the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain took place on June 12, 1898. (updated Jul 2018)

• Malibiclibic Falls, Bailen (at Aguinaldo). A Hidden Falls below the grasslands of Cavite. Malibiclibic Falls is a result of a convergence between three rivers flowing from Magallanes, Aguinaldo, and Maragondon, Cavite. Millions of years of three-river pounding a 100-m high cliff, the water found its way through it; thus creating a waterfall. This river was awarded as the cleanest river during the 2004 National Search for the Clean Inland Bodies of Water – “river category,” in Region IV-A Calabarzon given by Department of Interior and Local Government. The Falls can be accessed by walking through a 1.2-km 4x4 trail from the Maragondon-Aguinaldo national road until you reach a graze land. The entrance to the track is at Barangay Lumipa and 2.64 km before the main Aguinaldo town if you are coming from Maragondon. From the graze land, you need to descend to a slippery soil and moss-covered boulders. The trail down to the falls is not that clear as the falls is seldom accessed by hikers. The trek is about 612 meters and about a hundred meters down. (updated Jul 2018)
• Pink Sisters Convent, Holy Spirit Drive in Barangay Maitim (in Tagaytay City). It was established through the Society of Divine Word, Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters and Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters, all founded by Saint Arnold Janssen. The nuns’ presence in the chapel gives the place an even more sacred ambiance. A visit is the chance to see nuns praying 24 hours a day — although they can only be seen behind the iron grilles of the altar. (updated Jul 2018)
• Rare black-sand beaches (Noveleta). Also found in isolated beaches in Central American countries. (updated Jul 2018)

It's a must for every Cavite visitor to visit Tagaytay City. While on your way to the city, you might want to try the boiled sweet corn along Silang by-pass road. You won't miss the sweet corn being cooked on the large cookie bins which serves as hot pots.

Upon arrival to Tagaytay, enjoy the view of the lake and the volcano.

Would you want to do horseback riding? DRive along the Tagaytay Road and see Picnic Grove and enjoy the picnic park. Avoid visiting during holidays because the park might be really crowded.

• Original Digman Halo-Halo - Digman, along the Streets of H. Rubio and C. Gawaran, is a small barangay in the city of Bacoor. It's known for its famous halo-halo which Caviteños have enjoyed through the years.
• Pancit luga is a very saucy, breakfast version of the Pancit Palabok and Pancit Malabon. The primarily difference is in the noodles used in the recipe. Luglog uses a thicker noodle than the traditional bihon of a pancit palabok. The noodle dish is served with an array of seafood garnish, spring onions, hard boiled eggs in thick rice noodles and eaten with local-made Bibingka rice cake. Luglug eateries are located in Rosario and the local favorite is at Rizal and Gov Pugeda Street.

Cavite and neighbouring Batangas Province both have a local coffee variant called Kapeng barako.

There are many malls and chain supermarkets in most of suburbanized Cavite, but national mall chains have begun to spring out in the touristic center of Tagaytay. Almost all cities and municipalities will have traditional wet and dry market at the downtown. The municipality of Silang has a designer outlet mall, the European-themed Acienda, whose main catch is an all-year 70% discount for all stores.

Most cities will have at least one or more hotels (especially motels), but the majority are in Tagaytay, the main tourist area. At the coast, there will be beach resorts, often the only option of staying there, but there will hardly be one on the bustling northwest region, where the towns grew into the coastline.

Weather, crime, and aggressive drivers are major safety concerns when travelling in the province. The weather can become unpredictable in the province during the monsoon season, and roads can become slippery or muddy during short rainstorms. If you drive, it is advisable to hire a driver, as driving habits tend to become aggressive. The area does show signs of poverty, and common crimes like pickpockets and hold-ups do occur, so be watchful of your valuables. Do not just flash a classy phone or camera anywhere, so you do not attract thieves. Keep them in your bag or hotel safe if possible.

In Tagaytay, beware of tourist scams, especially involving trips to Taal Volcano in nearby Batangas. Always agree on a price when taking tricycles, and avoid drivers posing that they know you: you might get overcharged if you give in.

• Batangas - Just south, and home to beaches not far from Manila, as well as heritage churches.