Batangas and Cavite Festivals and Culture

Batangas

• The Verde Island Passage is a 1.14 million hectare passage known for its rich marine biodiversity.
• The Sublian Festival, celebrated in Batangas City, is a two-week long festival culminating on July 23rd.
• The Sublian Festival honors the town's patron saints: the Holy Cross in Bauan and Agoncillo, and the Sto. Niňo in Batangas City.
• The Lechon Festival, a religious and cultural festival in Balayan, Batangas, is held annually on June 24th.
• The Lechon Festival honors St. John the Baptist and includes activities like a lechon parade and water dousing.
• The Balsa Festival, celebrated on May 8th at Matabungkay Beach, is an annual festival to promote bamboo beach rafts (balsas) and help the community restore the town's identity.
• The Lomi Festival, celebrated on June 20th in Lipa City, showcases the local delicacy, Lomi.

Cavite - Imus

• Cavite is renowned for its rich history and numerous national heroes, including Emilio Aguinaldo, the first President of the Philippines.
• Cavite is one of the provinces that led the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish.
• It is referred to as the "Land of the Brave" or the "History Capital of the Philippines".
• Residents of Cavite are called Caviteños.
• The province comprises 6 cities and 17 towns and municipalities.
• The Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine, the ancestral home of Emilio Aguinaldo, was built in 1845 and served as the site of the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain in 1898.
• Fort San Felipe, a military fortress in Cavite City, was built by the Spanish Military in 1609 as protection for the first port town of Cavite.
• The Immaculate Conception Church, also known as Dasmariñas Church, is the first Catholic Church established in the city of Dasmariñas.
• The Church and Covent was the site of bloodshed during the Battle of Perez Dasmariñas of the Philippine Revolution against Spain.
• Malinta Tunnel, a complex built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, was initially used as a bomb-proof storage and personal bunker.
• Tagaytay Ridge, located in the city of Tagaytay, is a popular tourist destination due to its scenic views overlooking Taal Lake.
• Corregidor Island is a historical site where various events related to the Philippine Revolution took place.

Festivals & Special Events (Cavite)

• The Kalayaan Festival is a two-week long province-wide event held annually from May 28th to June 12th to celebrate Independence Day season.
• The Regada Water Festival, a traditional water festival, is celebrated annually in the city of Cavite on June 24th in honor of St. John the Baptist.
• The Sumilang Festival, celebrated on February 1st to 3rd in Silang, Cavite, celebrates the agricultural sector of the town.
• The Wagayway Festival, celebrated on May 29th, commemorates the historic hoisting of the Philippine flag in the province.

Laguna - Santa Cruz

• Laguna is a province located in the CALABARZON Region, situated southeast of Metro Manila.
• It is home to Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines.
• Laguna is the birthplace of Dr. Jose Rizal.
• The province has 6 cities and 23 towns and municipalities.
• The Underground Cemetery, a national historical landmark and museum, was built in 1845 as a public burial site for Spanish friars.
• The Rizal Shrine is a reproduction of the house where Jose Rizal was born on June 19, 1861.
• Mt. Makiling, a dormant volcano, is a sacred place and was declared an Asian Heritage Park in 2013 as the "Mount Makiling Forest Reserve".
• Pagsanjan Falls, one of the most famous waterfalls in the Philippines, can be accessed by dugout canoe (locally known as "Shooting the Rapids").
• The National Art Center, a building complex in Mount Makiling, was inaugurated in 1976.
• Quezon National Park, with an area of about 9,830,765 hectares, offers diverse landscapes and is known for its role in the Filipino Revolution.
• Kamay ni Hesus Shrine is a popular pilgrimage site in Quezon, believed to be a healing church.

Festivals & Special Events (Laguna/Quezon)

• The Pahiyas Festival, celebrated on May 15th in the province of Quezon, honors San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers, for a bountiful harvest.
• The Niyogyugan Festival, held on August 15th, celebrates the bountiful harvest of coconut.
• The Tay-Tsinoy Festival, part of the Chinese New Year celebration, serves as a bridge between the Chinese and Tayabense people.
• The Boling Boling Festival, a week-long festival in Catanauan, Quezon takes place before Ash Wednesday and marks the start of the Lenten Season, where locals cover themselves in mud or grease.

Rizal - Antipolo City

• Rizal, named after Jose Rizal, is a mountainous province located on the northern shore of Laguna de Bay.
• It is situated on the western slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.
• The provincial capital was transferred from Pasig to Antipolo in 2009.
• The province comprises 1 city and 13 towns and municipalities.
• The Antipolo Cathedral, an international shrine, was first built in the 16th century and rebuilt after being destroyed in World War II.
• Angono, known as the "Art Capital of the Philippines", is home to many art museums and murals that honor local artists like Carlos "Botong" Francisco and Maestro Lucion San Pedro.
• Masungi Georeserve, a conservation area tucked within Rizal's rainforests, features the geological formations of Masungi Rock.
• Calinawan Cave was used as a hideout by refugees during the Philippine-American War and World War II.
• The Bahay na Bato, a type of building originating during the Philippines Spanish Colonial Period, is a popular architectural style.