CALABARZON is one of the regions of the Philippines.

It is also designated as Region IV-A and its regional capital is Calamba City in Laguna. The region is composed of five provinces, namely: CAvite, LAguna, BAtangas, Rizal, and QueZON; the region's name is formed from the names of these provinces. The region is located in southwestern Luzon, just south and east of Metro Manila and is the second most densely populated region . CALABARZON and MIMAROPA were previously combined together as Southern Tagalog, until they were separated in 2002. Executive Order No. 246, dated October 28, 2003, designated Calamba City as the regional center of CALABARZON. Region IV-A had a very important role in the history of the Philippines. Philippine independence was held by 1st Philippine president, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in on June 12, 1898. People from Batangas, Cavite and Laguna were a part of those who first revolted against the Spaniards for freedom. While the Philippines' national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal was born in Calamba, Laguna. Apolinario Mabini, was born in Tanauan City, Batangas The eight primary rays of the sun found in the Philippine Flag represent the first eight provinces (Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Manila, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Tarlac) that sought independence from Spain and were placed under martial law by the Spaniards at the start of the Philippine Revolution in 1896. On August 7, 2000, the municipality of Los Baos, Laguna was declared as a "Special Science and Nature City of the Philippines" through Presidential Proclamation No. 349 in recognition of its importance as a center for science and technology, being home to many prestigious educational, environmental and research institutions. However, this proclamation does not convert the municipality to a city, nor gives it corporate powers that are accorded to other cities.

Cavite - A Place With A Glorious Past

The province of Cavite abounds with great objects, and subjects, of culture and history. It is the birthplace of a good number of Filipino heroes and it has an interesting range of sites associated with the Philippine Revolution of 1896. Found in the province is the residence of the first president of the republic, Emilio Aguinaldo, which is also the site where the Philippine Republic was proclaimed on June 12, 1898. A province not constrained with living in the past, Cavite teems with natural resources and fantastic landscapes. It is home to Tagaytay City, the Philippines second summer capital, next to Baguio City. The accessing highway offers a breathtaking sight of the world-famous Taal formation, a crater within an island within a lake. Coconut groves dot the ridges of Tagaytay and classy accommodations give the visiting tourists the pleasures of relaxation, and at the same time, wide opportunities to enjoy the magnificent view of Taal. Yet Cavite stands proudly as a place with a glorious past. Its warm and friendly people, whose ancestors fought for 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 this wondrous province.

Geography
Cavite province lies at the southwest entrance of Manila Bay across the Bataan Peninsula, extending eastward along the shore line up to the historic Zapote Bridge, and the inland terrain in the south, to the municipality of Carmona. It is bounded on the east by the provinces of Rizal and Laguna, on the south by the province of Batangas, on the west by the South China Sea, and on the north by Manila Bay and the city of Manila.

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. Cavites cool periods are from December to

February while summer months are from April to May.

Industry
Cavites 805,800-strong labor force comprises 54.12% of the provincial household population, 15 years old and above, and most of them are in agriculture, forestry, fishing tourism, trade, and industry. Underemployment rate is 9.66% while literacy rate stands at a high 98%, making the province a reliable source of proficient, skilled, and semi-skilled labor force.

Language/ Dialect
Majority speak Tagalog while those in Cavite City and in some areas speak Chabacano. English is considered as the second language and is widely used as medium of communication in business and higher education. Other indigenous languages are Waray, Bicolano, Cebuano, Ilokano, Pangasinense, and Hiligaynon. Chinese and Spanish are also spoken by some local residents.

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

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.

*Alfonso *Amadeo *Bacoor, *Carmona *Dasmarias *Gen. Aguinaldo *Gen. Alvarez *Gren. Trias *Imus *Indang *Kawit, *Magallanes *Maragondon *Mendez *Naic *Noveleta

17. 18. 19. 20.

*Rosarion *Silang *Tanza *Ternate

History
Cavite got its name from the Filipino word Kawit, which means hook, owing to the hook-shaped land on the old Spanish map. The land formerly known as Tangway was where the Spanish authorities constructed a fort on which the city of Cavite rose. Archeological evidence in coastal areas shows prehistoric settlements. According to local folklore, the earliest settlers of Cavite came from Borneo. In the1600s, encomiendas or Spanish royal land grants were given in Cavite and Maragondon. Jesuit priests brought in settlers from Moluccas. These people, known as Mardicas, settled in Ternate and Maragondon. Other settlements grew, and by the turn of the century, Cavite towns where already trading with one another. Traditional industries began to thrive as Manilas commerce grew. In 1872, Filipinos launched their revolt against 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. On August 25, 1896, when the revolution against Spain broke out, Cavite became a bloody theater of war. Led by Emilio Aguinaldo, Caviteos 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 June 12, 1898, in Kawit.

Laguna - Resort Province Of The Philippines

Laguna, Resort Province of the Philippines, is a haven of fresh and pristine bodies of water such as hot springs, lakes, and waterfalls. Most notable is Pagsanjan Falls, formerly called Magdapio Falls, referred to as shooting rapids. It is found in Cavinti, starting from Pagsanjan town. Another is Lake Caliraya, which is located between Cavinti and Lumban. The strong mountain breeze that blows from the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges and the distant Mount Banahaw makes the lake an ideal place for aqua sports like wind surfing, water skiing, sailing as well as game fishing. Laguna de Bay, Southeast Asias largest fresh water lake, stays pristine throughout the year due to regular rain showers. Innumerable hot springs abound in the province, including the famous Hidden Valley Springs which is located in a secluded part of Alaminos town. A trip to Dalitiwan River, located in Botocan, Majayjay, is an exciting adventure because the terrain is rugged, as mountain lands go, and the cool water or river gushes through the rocks and boulders along the watercourse in sweeping currents. The mystical Mt. Makiling in Los Baos is an inactive volcano, rising to about 1,109 meters above sea level. It is indeed endowed with natures beauty, making it ideal for all types of nature tripping, from trekking to bird and butterfly watching and even camping. Laguna is not only endowed with natural wonders. It also plays an important role in the countrys history as the birthplace of Dr. Jose Rizal, the countrys national hero, whose infancy and early manhood were spent in the towns of Calamba and Bian. A number of churches of Spanishinfluenced architecture in intricate Romanesque and Baroque design, mostly restored to their original elegance, are also found in the province. The province is one huge showcase of Southern Tagalog craftsmanship. The town of Paete is famous for its woodcarvings, papier mache, and handmade paper products.Tree seedlings, sampaguita flowers, orchids, and exotic plants are big business. Cut flower farms are found mostly in towns of Calamba, Los Baos, and Bay. Sweet tropical fruits abound, such as the lanzones from Paete, pineapple from Calauan, chico, banana, mango, rambutan, and avocado. Add to these Lagunas embroidered garments. Jusi cloth made from banana fiber is painstakingly, albeit deftly, transformed into beautiful pieces of clothing worthy of being tailored into the Philippine national costume, the Barong Tagalog. Shoes made from abaca hemp is a growing industry in the town of Liliw. Owing to its nearness to Manila, Laguna is presently becoming the center of economic activity in the Southern Tagalog Region and the CALABARZON area. Business in the area is bustling as shown by the presence of several industrial estates designed for handling large scale

firms engaged in textile manufacturing, electronics, food processing, industrial machines, and car assembly.

Geography
Laguna is situated 30 kilometers south of Manila and has a total area of 175,973 hectares. Laguna is bounded on the north by the province of Rizal, on the east by the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges, on the south by the Quezon province, on the west by Laguna de Bay, and the provinces of Batangas and Cavite.

Climate
Laguna has no pronounced seasons. However, it is relatively dry from November to April and wet from May to October. Climate is generally cool and gentle, even during the summer months. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year in the eastern and southern portions of the province, giving rise to an abundance and variety of flora and fauna.

Language / Dialects
Laguna being part of the Southern Tagalog Region, approximately 99.22% of the population speak Tagalog. A minority of the population also speak Ilokano, Bicolano, and Waray. A significant portion of the working population can read and speak English and Filipino.

History
The province of Laguna was named after Laguna de Bay, the body of water that forms the provinces northern boundary. In turn, Laguna de Bay was named after the town of Bay, which was the first provincial capital. Laguna, along with its surrounding regions, was conquered for Spain by Captain Juan de Salcedo in 1571, after which, for seven years, the Franciscan friars started the Christianization of the province. The province became a bloody battleground during the Chinese revolts in 1603 and 1693. The British invasion in 1762-1764 saw thousands of Filipinos fighting against the Spaniards, fanned by the execution of Dr. Jose P. Rizal. By 1896, thousands of patriotic citizens of the province have joined the revolutionary movement, Katipunan. The battle led by Captain

Thomas Backhouse met resistance from the band of Filipino volunteers led by Francisco de San Juan of Pagsanjan. Laguna was one of the first eight provinces to rise in revolt against the Spanish rule. The ill-equipped Filipino forces, led by General Paciano Rizal of Calamba, General Severino Taio of Pagsanjan, General Agueda Kahabagan of Calauan, and General Miguel Malvar of Batangas, fought the Spanish authorities and won on August 31, 1898, with the surrender of the last Spanish garrison in Sta. Cruz. On January 23, 1899, Laguna expressed its full support for the First Philippine Republic, which was proclaimed in Malolos, Bulacan. Two citizens of Pagsanjan, Don Higino Benitez and Don Graciano Cordero, were sent to witness and participate in this historic event. The eruption of the Filipino-American war in 1899-1901 saw Generals Juan Cailles and Paciano Rizal leading the defense of Laguna until surrender was inevitable. Under the American Flag, Cailles was named the first Filipino Governor of Laguna. After the war, Laguna progressed rapidly in peace. Schools were established, various public services were instituted, and roads were built. In 1917, the Manila Railroad Company extended its line to Laguna, as far as Pagsanjan. Today, Laguna is a thriving province. Its fertile lands produce millions of pesos worth of coconuts, rice, sugar, citrus fruits, lanzones, and other agricultural products. Its tourist spots attract a multitude of foreign and domestic tourists.

Laguna - Resort Province Of The Philippines

Laguna, Resort Province of the Philippines, is a haven of fresh and pristine bodies of water such as hot springs, lakes, and waterfalls. Most notable is Pagsanjan Falls, formerly called Magdapio Falls, referred to as shooting rapids. It is found in Cavinti, starting from Pagsanjan town. Another is Lake Caliraya, which is located between Cavinti and Lumban. The strong mountain breeze that blows from the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges and the distant Mount Banahaw makes the lake an ideal place for aqua sports like wind surfing, water skiing, sailing as well as game fishing. Laguna de Bay, Southeast Asia s largest fresh water lake, stays pristine throughout the year due to regular rain showers.

Innumerable hot springs abound in the province, including the famous Hidden Valley Springs which is located in a secluded part of Alaminos town. A trip to Dalitiwan River, located in Botocan, Majayjay, is an exciting adventure because the terrain is rugged, as mountain lands go, and the cool water or river gushes through the rocks and boulders along the watercourse in sweeping currents. The mystical Mt. Makiling in Los Baos is an inactive volcano, rising to about 1,109 meters above sea level. It is indeed endowed with nature s beauty, making it ideal for all types of nature tripping, from trekking to bird and butterfly watching and even camping.

Laguna is not only endowed with natural wonders. It also plays an important role in the country s history as the birthplace of Dr. Jose Rizal, the country s national hero, whose infancy and early manhood were spent in the towns of Calamba and Bian. A number of churches of Spanish-influenced architecture in intricate Romanesque and Baroque design, mostly restored to their original elegance, are also found in the province.

The province is one huge showcase of Southern Tagalog craftsmanship. The town of Paete is famous for its woodcarvings, papier mache, and handmade paper products.Tree seedlings, sampaguita flowers, orchids, and exotic plants are big business. Cut flower farms are found mostly in towns of Calamba, Los Baos, and Bay. Sweet tropical fruits abound, such as the lanzones from Paete, pineapple from Calauan, chico, banana, mango, rambutan, and avocado. Add to these Laguna s embroidered garments. Jusi cloth made from banana fiber is painstakingly, albeit deftly, transformed into beautiful pieces of clothing worthy of being tailored into the Philippine national costume, the Barong Tagalog. Shoes made from abaca hemp is a growing industry in the town of Liliw.

Owing to its nearness to Manila, Laguna is presently becoming the center of economic activity in the Southern Tagalog Region and the CALABARZON area. Business in the area is bustling as shown by the presence of several industrial estates designed for handling large scale firms engaged in textile manufacturing, electronics, food processing, industrial machines, and car assembly.

Geography Laguna is situated 30 kilometers south of Manila and has a total area of 175,973 hectares. Laguna is bounded on the north by the province of Rizal, on the

east by the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges, on the south by the Quezon province, on the west by Laguna de Bay, and the provinces of Batangas and Cavite.

Climate Laguna has no pronounced seasons. However, it is relatively dry from November to April and wet from May to October. Climate is generally cool and gentle, even during the summer months. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year in the eastern and southern portions of the province, giving rise to an abundance and variety of flora and fauna.

Language / Dialects Laguna being part of the Southern Tagalog Region, approximately 99.22% of the population speak Tagalog. A minority of the population also speak Ilokano, Bicolano, and Waray. A significant portion of the working population can read and speak English and Filipino.

History

The province of Laguna was named after Laguna de Bay, the body of water that forms the province s northern boundary. In turn, Laguna de Bay was named after the town of Bay, which was the first provincial capital.

Laguna, along with its surrounding regions, was conquered for Spain by Captain Juan de Salcedo in 1571, after which, for seven years, the Franciscan friars started the Christianization of the province.

The province became a bloody battleground during the Chinese revolts in 1603 and 1693. The British invasion in 1762-1764 saw thousands of Filipinos fighting against the Spaniards, fanned by the execution of Dr. Jose P. Rizal. By 1896, thousands of patriotic citizens of the province have joined the revolutionary movement, Katipunan. The battle led by Captain Thomas Backhouse met resistance from the band of Filipino volunteers led by Francisco de San Juan of Pagsanjan.

Laguna was one of the first eight provinces to rise in revolt against the Spanish rule. The ill-equipped Filipino forces, led by General Paciano Rizal of Calamba, General Severino Taio of Pagsanjan, General Agueda Kahabagan of Calauan, and General Miguel Malvar of Batangas, fought the Spanish authorities and won on August 31, 1898, with the surrender of the last Spanish garrison in Sta. Cruz.

On January 23, 1899, Laguna expressed its full support for the First Philippine Republic, which was proclaimed in Malolos, Bulacan. Two citizens of Pagsanjan, Don Higino Benitez and Don Graciano Cordero, were sent to witness and participate in this historic event. The eruption of the Filipino-American war in 1899-1901 saw Generals Juan Cailles and Paciano Rizal leading the defense of Laguna until surrender was inevitable. Under the American Flag, Cailles was named the first Filipino Governor of Laguna.

After the war, Laguna progressed rapidly in peace. Schools were established, various public services were instituted, and roads were built. In 1917, the Manila Railroad Company extended its line to Laguna, as far as Pagsanjan.

Today, Laguna is a thriving province. Its fertile lands produce millions of pesos worth of coconuts, rice, sugar, citrus fruits, lanzones, and other agricultural products. Its tourist spots attract a multitude of foreign and domestic tourists.