CHAPTER 5

Region 4A-CALABARZON Region

This chapter presents the major tourist destination areas in CALABARZON Region.
Major discussions will be on access, health and safety issues, geographical characteristics,
major attractions, gastronomy, and distinctive cultural attributes of the region related to the
development and promotion of tourism in the Philippines.

Objectives
By the end of the chapter, students should be able to:
1. identify the different major attractions, activities, accommodations, and cultural highlights
in the provinces within the CALABARZON Region;
2. create different tour packages that carry different types of tourism activities within the
region; and
3. assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the region in terms of
the 4 As of tourism.

Introduction

Rich in culture, heritage, and tradition, the CALABARZON Region takes pride in its many
attractions that date back to the Spanish era. It is home to many natural and scenic attractions
that attracts many locals to spend a day or two in any of the five provinces of Cavite, Laguna,
Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon. Its regional capital is Calamba City, Laguna
 A. Ports of Access

All the provinces in the CALABARZON Region are accessible by land from Metro Manila
and various parts of Luzon.
 By Sea: Batangas Seaport Terminal is a key gateway in the Philippines' Nautical
Highway System, connecting the island of Luzon to several provinces in the Visayas and
Mindanao region. It connects the province of Batangas to Oriental Mindoro, Western Visayas,
Negros Island Region, and Zamboanga peninsula.

By Land: The provinces of CALABARZON Region is very accessible from Metro Manila
and various parts of Luzon by land. Several bus companies offer daily trips to these provinces
and also with different routes.
Getting Around: Private van and car rentals are available to move around the region as well as
public modes of transportation. One can take a bus to move from one province to the other, or a
jeepney and tricycle to get around towns.
.
E. Pasalubong - CALABARZON Region
● Kesong Puti
● Bibingka
● Espasol
● Suman sa Ibos/Halaya/Latik
● Matamis na Bao
● Cassava Cake
● Yema Cake
● Buko Pie
● Lanzones
● Kapeng Barako
● Lambanog
● Lucban Longganisa
● Pandan Bags and Mats
● Barong Embroidery
● Footwears from Liliw, Laguna
● Woodcrafts from Paete, Laguna
F. Festivals and Special Events

Batangas
● Sublian Festival - (July 23) a two-week long festival in honor of the town's patron Sto.
Niño in Batangas City.
● Parada ng Lechon - (June 24) to showcase their delicacy-lechon or roasted pig.
● Kabakahan Festival - held on December 1st.
● Lambayok Festival - (December 12) to feature the town's products-lambanog, lambat,
and palayok.
● Balsa Festival - (May 8) to promote bamboo beach raft or balsa and the beach of
Matabungkay.
● Lomi Festival - (June 20) held in Lipa City to showcase their delicacy, Lomi. Tinapayan
Festival - (May 15) to showcase their local delicacies and to ultimately feature the
hardworking panaderos of Cuenca, Batangas.

Cavite
● Kalayaan Festival - (June12) a provincial-wide celebration of the Philippine
independence.
● Regada Festival - (June 22-24) a water festival in celebration of St. John the Baptist.
● Sumilang Festival - (February 1-3) held in Silang, Cavite to celebrate the agricultural
sector of the town.
● Kawayan Festival - (September 7) to showcase various bamboo products.
● Pahimis Festival - (February 2nd week) a thanksgiving festival held for an abundant
harvest of coffee in the municipality of Amadeo.
● Wagayway Festival - (May 29) to honor the historic hoisting of the Philippine flag'in the
province.
● Tinapa Festival - (October) to promote and showcase the Tinapang Salinas of Rosario,
Cavite.
● Sapyaw Festival - (August 20) in honor of St. Augustine.
● Tahong Festival - (September 29) to promote and showcase various cuisines using
tabong as the main ingredient; celebrated in the town of Bacoor.

Laguna
● Pandan Festival - (April) it is a week-long celebration to showcase pandan crop and
products in Lusiana, Laguna.
● Coconut Festival - (January 15) to showcase their main source of product, the coconut.
● Batingaw Festival - (January 16) to remember the legendary kampanang ginto which is
said to bring bountiful harvest.
● Bangkero Festival - (February) it is to celebrate and honor the bangkeras of the
renowned Pagsanjan Falls.
● Gat Tayaw Tsinelas Festival - (April 1st week) to celebrate and support the industry of
the Footwear Capital of the Philippines.
 ● Pinya Festival (May) to showcase the delicious and sweet local pineapple of Calauan.
● Festival of Lights - to celebrate the Christmas season and to attract tourists to visit San
Pablo City.

Quezon
● Pahiyas Festival (May 15) to honor the patron saint of farmers, San Isidro Labrador.
● Niyogyugan Festival - (August 15) in celebration of the bountiful harvest of
● coconut.
● Tay-Tsinoy Festival - part of the Chinese New year celebration of the Tayabense people.
● Mayohan Festival - (May 15) the version of Pahiyas Festival of Tayabas, Quezon to
honor San Isidro Labrador.
● Tagultol Festival - (July 29-August 2) to celebrate the rich culture of Atimonan, Quezon,
● Boling boling Festival - a week-long festival in Catanauan, Quezon preceding the Ash
Wednesday where the locals put mud or grease all over their bodies and roam around
the town.

Rizal

● Higantes Festival - (November 22-23) showcases the pageantry of giant paper figures.
● Feast of San Isidro Labrador - (May 15) to honor their patron saint San Isidro Labrador
with a colorful procession of carabaos.
● Santacruzan - (May) or Flores de Mayo, is also celebrated in the church of Antipolo. This
also coincides with the month-long pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Peace and Good
Voyage.
● Kaluskos Bamboo Arch Festival - (December 1st week) held in Cardona to showcase
the local bamboo arches and preserve the local artistry.
● Sikaran Festival - (last weekend of January) celebrated to showcase and promote the
traditional and local martial arts called Sikaran.

G. Major Cultural Groups

The major cultural groups in CALABARZON are the Negritos or Agtas and the Tagalog.
The Negrito groups in the Philippines are highly dispersed, one group moving to the Pacific Side
of the Sierra Madre mountains and the other group toward the western side of Pinatubo. The
people are short, dark, and have kinky hair who are hunters and gatherers well-versed in the
use of the bow and arrow. There are at least 25 recorded groupings. The Tagalogs have been
described in the previous chapter.

H. Major Industries

Major industries in CALABARZON include semi-processed industrial raw materials and

English and Filipino are widely spoken. Batangueño is spoken in Batangas and
Chavacano in Cavite.

Travel Trivia 1
The province of Quezon produces the most coconut than any other province in the
Philippines, making it known as "The Coconut Capital of the Philippines."

Travel Trivia 2
Laguna de Bay is the largest and most significant lake in the region, it is also the largest
freshwater lake in the Philippines