Cavite Travel Informaton
Description | Brief
History | Historical Sites | Where
to Stay In Cavite | How To Get There
CAPITAL: CAVITE
LAND AREA: 1,287.6 sq. km.
TEL. AREA CODE: 046
NO. OF MUNICIPALITIES: 22
ZIP CODE: 4100
DESCRIPTION
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.
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BRIEF HISTORY
Cavite, the name of the province, is derived from "Kawit",
a Tagalog word for "hook". This refers to the hook shaped land
on Old Spanish maps. The land was known as "Tangway" where Spanish
authorities evolved a fort from which the city of Cavite grew.
Archaeological evidence in the coastal areas of Cavite show prehistoric
settlements. Folklore says that the earliest settlers of Cavite were from
Borneo. In the 1600’s encomiendas or Spanish royal land grants were
given in Cavite and Maragondon. The Jesuit priests who first came brought
with them settlers from Mollucas. These settlers, known as Mardicas, settled
on Ternate and Maragondon. Other settlements grew over the centuries and
by the turn of the century Cavite towns were already trading with one
another. Traditional industries began to thrive as Manila’s commerce
grew. Cavite like other provinces of Southern Tagalog, began its involvement
for reforms and later on revolution as its educated citizens began to
assert themselves like many Filipino ilustrados of the time.
In 1872, Filipinos revolted against Spain. Three Filipino priests - Jose
Burgos, Mariano Gomez and Jacinto Zamora - were implicated in the Cavite
revolt in which 200 Filipinos rose in arms against the Spanish forces
in the garrisons.
On August 28, 1896, when the Philippine Revolution against Spain broke
out, Cavite became a bloody theatre of war. Led by Emilio Aguinaldo, Caviteños
made surprise attracts on the Spanish headquarters and soon liberated
the whole province. Aguinaldo directed the Revolution to its end: the
proclamation of the first Republic in Asia, the Republic of the Philippines,
on June 12, 1898 in Kawit.
Cavite and its people, what they are today, and what will be tomorrow,
will remain with infinity, as a place with glorious history and a people
fortified with strength to live and die for a worthy cause.
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CAVITE HISTORICAL SITES
Aguinaldo Shrine and Museum (Kawit)
The province of Cavite plays an important role in Philippine political
history. The proclamation of the Republic of the Philippines was made
in this town in the balcony of the home of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the
first president of the Philippine Republic. Now a National Shrine, it
was in this house that the Philippine flag was first unfurled. Guided
tours are offered in the shrine. Open daily from 8:00am to 5:00pm, except
Mondays.
Imus Historical Marker (Town Plaza, Imus)
Cavite Province can justifiably claim to be the birthplace of the nation,
as Imus was the site of the first successful revolution. The Imus Historical
Marker commemorates this event. At the town plaza, the marker can be found
near two vintage artillery pieces situated just across the Imus Catholic
Church and the Imus Municipal Hall.
Battle of Alapan Marker and Flag (Bernardina Salud Elementary School,
Alapan, Imus)
The site of this marker is highlighted by a 90-foot tall flagpole where
the Philippine flag waves proudly. The marker is set atop three large
rocks each encrusted with painted cement. On the center rock is a statue
of a woman boldly holding the Philippine flag.
Battle of Julian Bridge Marker (Bo. Bayang Luma, Imus)
An old 1859 cannon stands as the lone reminder of a battle that took
place long ago between the Spanish and the Filipino forces. The marker
is placed on the cannon while old ammunitions are laid on its concrete
base. The cannon and marker are found near the north side of the bridge
where steps briefly descend to this old emplacement.
Corregidor (Off Bataan Peninsula)
The name Corregidor was derived from the Spanish word "corregir"
meaning to correct or check. This island served as a checkpoint for vessels
entering Manila Bay during the Spanish and American occupation. It earned
the name Guardian of Manila because of its strategic location at the mouth
of Manila Bay. It is the largest of the five islands guarding the entrance
to Manila Bay. Tadpole-shaped, it lies off the southwestern tip of the
Bataan Peninsula, 26 miles off Manila. It rises about 450 feet above sea
level with a land area of three and a half square miles. During the last
Pacific war, Corregidor became a theater of war between the Japanese Imperial
Forces and the combined defenders of Filipino and American troops, thus
its valiant last stand against the superior invasive forces came to be
written in history. Guided Tours are available. For additional information,
please contact: Corregidor Visitor’s Information Center (C-VIC)
located at CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Manila with contact telephone
number: (632)834-5048 and the Corregidor Foundation, Inc. (CFI) at 2nd
Floor, Room 212, DOT Building, T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila with contact
telephone numbers: (632)525-3429/525-3420.
House of Tirona (12 Maestro G. Tirona St., Bo. 4, Imus)
The house belonging to an illustrious Caviteño family is well-maintained
and was restored to its original grandeur. The place has a garden and
a marker set within the lot attesting to notable personalities.
Fort San Felipe
(Sangley Point Naval Base, Cavite City) An old structure dating back
to 1609 when the Spaniards built it to protect the then growing city.
The structure is made of granite blocks with walls approximately 30 feet
high. A wide stairway leads to the top of the fort where a concrete house
structure could be found. Naval memorabilia including antique cannons
and cannon balls decorate the lawns.
General Artemio Ricarte Marker (Poblacion, General Trias )
In 1896, Gen Ricarte led revolutionists in attacking the Spanish garrison
taking troops and civil guards as prisoners. He fought numerous other
battles and was later captured and deported to Guam. In 1903 he was He
was supposed to be released in Manila after they took their oath of allegiance
to the Americans -- Ricarte refused. He was deported once more to Hong
Kong and secretly sailed to the Philippines in 1903 hoping to reunite
and rekindle the Philippine Revolution but he was denounced for a sum
of $10,000, the reward offered by the American government for his capture
dead or alive. He was arrested and jailed until 1910. He still refused
to swear allegiance to the US and on the same day, he was once more deported
to Hong Kong. He and his wife later moved to Yokohama, Japan where they
lived in self exile. The marker is a pebble wash - out platform encloses
the marker made in tribute to the late Gen. Artemio "El Vibora"
Ricarte. Two lamp posts flank the structure.
Andres Bonifacio House (Poblacion, Gen Trias)
This is the place where the country’s Father of the Philippine
Revolution, Andres Bonifacio lived. The façade of the house is
of red bricks and adobe. Although renovated several times over, its original
Spanish style has not changed.
General Mariano Trias Marker (Poblacion, Gen. Trias)
The marker is located in front of the house where Gen. Mariano Trias,
another local hero, once stayed, near the town plaza. The marker is built
in white concrete and a solitary lamp post stands directly behind. The
monument to the memory of this person is located elsewhere in the Poblacion.
House where Bonifacio was Court Martialed (Poblacion 2, Maragondon)
The place is of old wooden and concrete design and a marker is set in
the middle of the structure.
House of Gen. Riego de Dios (Poblacion 2, Maragondon)
Gen de Dios became a member of the Katipunan on July 12, 1896. He was
among the first Caviteño to join the revolutionary society. In
October, 1896, he was among the Katipunans who attacked the Spanish garrison
in Lian, Batangas. He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General after
the triumphant defense of Noveleta in 1896. The old De Dios residence
is made of wood with an architecture dating back to the bygone era. It
is considered one of the country’s oldest houses in the area.
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HOW TO GET THERE
The historical province of Cavite is accessible from Manila by land (Buses
leave every 30 minutes). Normal travel time to Cavite is approximately
20-30 minutes (if you are going to Bacoor, the closest town to Manila)
or about 2 ½ half hours (to the farthest point).
By car, exit South Superhighway through Carmona or Sta. Rosa.
source: Department of Tourism
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