Region 4A

1. Philippine Culture,
Tourism & Geography
Region IV-A [CALABARZON]
Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon
By: Prof. Mary Kristine Laurilla, MBA

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Identify the location of the provinces
where tourist attractions are located on
the Philippine map.
• Identify the major gateways or entry points
into different provinces.
• Understand the political structures,
cultural, historical, religious, and
educational aspects of the provinces where
tourist attractions exist.

3. CALABARZON

4. FUN FACTS
One of the regions of the Philippines.
Second most dense populated region.
The split formed, Region 4A CALABARZON and
Region 4B MIMAROPA, was formed in 2022.
The region is composed of (5) provinces
namely:
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Batangas
• Rizal
• Quezon

5. FUN FACTS
• Calamba City – Is the regional center of
CALABARZON
• Antipolo City – Is the largest city in
CALABARZON region and the second most
highly urbanized city.
• Lucena City – Is the highest urbanized city
in this region.
• Laguna West Metropolitan – Is the largest
metropolis in the region.

6. HISTORY
Region IV-A had a very
important role in the
history of the
Philippines. Philippine
independence was held by
the first Philippine
President, Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo, in on June 12,
1988.
People from Batangas,
Cavite and Laguna were a
part of those who first
revolted against the
Spaniards for freedom.

7. HISTORY
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 south
independence from Spain
and were placed under
martial law by the
Spaniards at the start of
the Philippine Revolution

8. CAVITE – Trece Martires City

9. GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
Area: 1,287.60 kilometers
Population: 2,856,765 (as of Year 2007)
Location:
EAST by the provinces of Rizal and Laguna
SOUTH by the province of Batangas
WEST by the South China Sea
NORTH by Manila Bay and the city of
Manila

10. CAVITE - HISTORY
• Cavite is named the Historical Capital of
the Philippines.
• It is the cradle of the Philippine
Revolution and the birthplace of Philippine
Independence.
• Cavite got its name from the Tagalog word
kawit (which means hook) owning the hook-
shaped land on the Old Spanish map.
• The land was formerly known as Tangway
where Spanish authorities constructed a
fort from which the city of Cavite rose.
• According to local folklore, the earliest

11. CAVITE - HISTORY
• In 1872, Filipino launched their revolt
against Spain. Three Filipino priests –
GOMBURZA – were implicated in the Cavite
mutiny when 200 Filipinos staged a
rebellion within Spanish garrisons.
• On August 28, 1896, when the revolution
against Spain broke out, Cavite became a
bloody theater of war.
• Led by Emilio Aguinaldo, Cavitenio made
lightning raids on Spanish headquarters,
and soon liberated the entire province.
Aguinaldo commanded the Revolution to its

12. CAVITE – TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

13. CABAG CAVE
The place is found
at the bottom of
the slope which
runs down a steep
angle to a brook.
Lush greeny
surrounds this
little valey below
where Cabag Cave is
found. Inside the
cave, an
underground river
runs for about 50

14. 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)
National
Irrigation

15. BALITE FALL
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.

16. TAAL VOLCANO
Smallest
active
volcano in
the
Philippines.

17. GENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO SHRINE
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 on the
balcony of the home of
Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.
Now, a national
shrine, it was in this
house where the

18. GEN. BALDOMERO AGUINALDO SHRINE
General Baldomero
Aguinaldo was the
first cousin of Gen.
Emilio Aguinaldo and
became his right
hand. He was the
President of the
Magdalo Council, or
Government which was
established in Imus,
Cavite. He was the
first President of
the Association de

19. BATTLE OF BINAKAYAN MONUMENT
The encounter
in Binakayan
is one in a
two-pronged
branch of an
offensive
against
Spaniards on
Nov 9 – 11,
1896.

20. GEN. CANDIDO TIRONA MONUMENT
He was the first revolutionary Capital
Municipal in the Philippines. He was the
“Hero of Binakayan”

21. ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH
An 18th-century church whose structure and
altar have never been charged or remodeled.
There were repairs but the old figure
remained.

22. SANDUGUANG SIKLAB NG DIGMAAN MARKER
The marker is about a
blood compact executed
by the local
Katipuneros in
Barangay Pinagtipunan,
Gen. Trias, Cavite on
the eve of August 31,
1896. The blood
compact preceded the
attack against the
Spanish headquarters
in the town by the
natives on the morning

23. TEJEROS CONVENTION
It was in Tejeros, a former sitio and now one
of the 33 barangays of Geb. Trias, where the
National Convention was held on March 22,
1897. Known as the Tejeros Convention, it was
here that the Revolutionary Government was
established. It was the forerunner that
shaped the First Philippine Republic.

24. GEN TRIAL MONUMENT AND PARK
A monument and park in memory of General
Mariano Trias y Closas, famous son of the
town, who was a general of the Revolution and
Vice President of the First Philippine
Republic.

25. LAGUNA – STA CRUZ

26. LAGUNA - HISTORY
• Laguna derives its name from “La Laguna”
(the lake), referring to Laguna de Bay, the
largest inland body of water in the
Philippines.
• 1571 – conquered by Spain.
• 1688 – town of Bay was the capital of the
province and transferred to Pagsanjan.
• 1852 – Sta. Cruz became the capital.

27. LAGUNA – TOURIST ATTRACTION

28. HULUGAN FALLS
This enchanting
waterfall is one of
the relatively known
cascades in
Baranggay Salvador,
Luisiana, Laguna. It
has caught the
attention of many
tourists, making it
one of the must-see
waterfalls in the
Philippines. Since
it is nestled in a

29. NAGCARLAN UNDERGROUND
During the
revolution, it
served as a hiding
place for guerrillas
who resisted the
Japanese occupation
in World War II. It
was built in 1845
under the
supervision of
Franciscan Fr.
Vicente Velloc.
In 1981, Nagcarlan
Underground Cemetery
was declared as a
National Historical

30. MOUNT MAKILING
Tucked between the
provinces of Laguna
and Batangas, Mt.
Makiling is a
dormant volcano
that rises over
1,090 m (3,580 ft)
above mean sea
level. It is
situated south of
Laguna de Bay and
lies within 61km
from Metro Manila.

31. ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH
One of the
must-see
heritage sites
in Laguna is
the St. John
the Baptist
Church, also
known as Liliw
or Lilio
Church. It is a
400-year-old
Laguna church
that

32. BATANGAS – BATANGAS CITY

33. BATANGAS - HISTORY
• Founded in 1581
• Batangas used to be a bigger province
composed of the present Batangas, Mindoro,
Marinduque, and the southeastern portion of
Laguna.
• It used to be called Balayan, with this
town as the capital.

34. BATANGAS – TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

35. BATANGAS BEACHES
Batangas has several
coastal areas that boast
gorgeous beaches. These
beaches have their own
characteristics and vibe.
They are also home to some
of the top resorts near
Manila.
One of these beach areas is
Nasugbu. Sitting in
Batangas’ northwestern
section, Nasugbu is home to
prominent beaches like
Calayo Beach, Calatagan,

36. FORTUNE ISLAND
The island’s history
is quite interesting
as it used to be the
site of a luxurious
resort.
Unfortunately, the
resort closed down
because of the huge
maintenance cost and
the absence of
freshwater sources.
The Grecian
Acropolis, which

37. MT. BATULAO
Mt. Batulao is one of the easiest Batangas
mountains to trek, making it a perfect
location for training climbs. The journey to
the summit is composed of open trails and
rolling slopes. The mountain summit is about
811 meters above sea level

38. FANTASY WORLD
Fantasy World was
meant to be the
Philippine version of
Disneyland. It’s
supposed to be the
largest and grandest
theme park in the
country. However, this
ambitious project has
remained unfinished.
Fantasy World has
never opened as a
theme park. According

39. RIZAL – ANTIPOLO CITY

40. RIZAL - HISTORY
Antipolo City was named
after tipolo (breadfruit)
tree, which was in
abundance in the area. It
was the Franciscan
missionaries who first
build the church in the
area, in 1578. However
they were replaced by the
Jesuits. These new
missionaries were the one
who helped organized the
village into a parish. By

41. RIZAL – TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

42. PINTO ART MUSEUM
Pinto Art Museum is
located within a
sprawling two-
hectare estate
designed by popular
Filipino artist
Antonio Leaño. The
artworks seamlessly
intermingle with the
plants and flowers
in the Silangan
Garden, an arboretum
filled with vibrant

43. ANTIPOLO CATHEDRAL
The Antipolo
Cathedral is a Roman
Catholic church
located in the
Sierra Madre
Mountains roughly 23
km east of Metro
Manila. Also known
as the Immaculate
Conception Parish,
the church’s major
attraction is a
17th-century wooden

44. MOUNT PURRO NATURE RESERVE
Mount Purro Nature Reserve is a family-run
eco-park located near the foothills of the
Sierra Madre Mountain Range, less than 45 km
distance from Metro Manila by land.

45. CLOUD 9
Cloud 9 is famous for
its panoramic view of
Metro Manila,
particularly in the
evening when city's
shimmering lights come
alive from one of the
highest vantage points
among Antipolo resorts
nearby. Nestled along
Sumulong Highway,
Cloud 9 sits at an
elevation of

46. ST. JEROME CHURCH
Stands high above
the town of
Morong, was built
in 1615 by Chinese
craftsmen as
evidenced by the
two Chinese lions
sculptured at the
entrance to the
steep driveway.

47. QUEZON – LUCENA CITY

48. QUEZON - HISTORY
In 1574, Father Diego de Oropesa, who found a
group of native barangays with their own culture
and government, founded the municipality of
Gumaca, then called Bumaka. The territory which
now constitutes the province of Tayabas was at
one time under the jurisdiction of various
provinces. The southern and central portions,
for example, were in 1585 under the jurisdiction
of the province of Bonbon, sometimes called
Balayan (now Batangas). the northern portion was
divided between Laguna and Nueva Ecija, while
the other portion was divided into the provinces
of Mindoro, Marinduque and Camarines.
In 1591, Tayabas was created into a province
under the name of Kalilayan. Its capital was the
ancient town of Tayabas, now a barrio in the

49. QUEZON - HISTORY
The year 1595 marked the spiritual birth of
Quezon Province with its incorporation into the
Diocess of Nueva Caceres. The first Catholic
Bishop of the province was Fray Francisco
Ortiga, an Agustinian Friar, while its first
Alcalde Mayor was Don Simeon Alvarez, who served
from 1625 to 1655.
In September 7, 1946, President Manuel A. Roxas,
by virtue of Republic Act No. 14 renamed the
province to Quezon, in honor of the late
President Manuel L. Quezon, the most illustrious
son of Baler, formerly part of Quezon.

50. QUEZON TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

51. QUEZON CIRCLE SHRINE
The tallest structure in the city which
pierces 66 meters to the sky, is a fitting
tribute to the founder of Quezon City and one
of the country’s greatest statesmen –
President Manuel L. Quezon.

52. VILLA ESCUDERO PLANTATIONS AND
RESORT
Villa Escudero started as a sugarcane and
coconut plantation in Tiaong Quezon. In the
1980s, the owners transformed part of this
property into a resort. Over the decades,
Villa Escudero has become a go-to spot for
tourists who would like to understand and
experience Filipino culture and heritage.

53. KAMAY NI HESUS SHRINE
Kamay Ni Hesus Shrine
(also called Kamay ni
Hesus Healing Church)
is one of Quezon's
most prominent
religious sites. The
church and its
surrounding structures
cover 5 hectares of
land.
Local communities
regard Kamay ni Hesus
as a sacred and

54. MT. BANAHAW
Mount Banahaw is the
highest peak in the
Calabarzon region of
the Philippines. This
name also refers to a
complex that houses
three volcanoes. These
three volcanoes are Mt.
Banahaw, San Cristobal,
and Banahaw de Lucban.
Mt. Banahaw is the
tallest among the
three, standing at

56. REFERENCES
Department of Tourism. (2018). Tourism Guidebook and
Manual.
Retrieved from
http://www.tourism.gov.ph/Guidebook_Manual/TourismGuideboo
k.pdf
So, P. L. (2018). Philippine Tourist Destinations. Manila,
Philippines: Accumicro I.T. Solutions.
Domingo, B. B. (2017). Philippine Tourism. Foreign Service
Institute.
Libosada, C. M. (2017). Domestic Tourism. Pasig City,