CALABARZON

GEOGRAPHY
CALABARZON
• is the 12th largest region in the Philippines, with an
area of 16,873.31 km2. The region itself is relatively
flat, but also consists of coastal areas and highlands.
CALABARZON is bordered by Manila Bay in the
west, Metro Manila, Bulacan, and Aurora in the
north, Lamon Bay and Bicol in the east, and the 
Isla Verde Passage in the south. Each province in the
region is composed of different environments,
ranging from low coastal areas to rugged
mountainous ones.
• Calabarzon has a population of 14.4 million
people, the largest of all the regions in the
Philippines. The population growth rate between
2000 and 2010 of 3.07% decreased from the
growth rate between 1990 and 2000 of 3.91%, a
trend which coincided with the rest of the
nation. Life expectancy for men in Calabarzon is
68.9 years and 75.2 years for women. There are
an estimated 356,000 Overseas Filipino Workers
 originally from Calabarzon.
• A vast majority of people living in Calabarzon are 
Tagalogs. It is estimated that around 5.8 million Tagalogs
live in Region IV-A. Taal, in particular, is considered the
"Heartland of Tagalog Culture" and is currently the
present "center" of Tagalog culture and people.
Calabarzon is also home to a sizable number of people
with Chinese and Spanish ancestry on account of
Chinese immigration and Spanish colonialization,
respectively. Because of this large majority of Tagalog
natives, the majority of people living in Calabarzon also
speak the Tagalog language. Filipino, being a version of
Tagalog, is also predominant in the region. English is also
commonly spoken throughout Calabarzon and is the
language of business and education. In Cavite, 
Chavacano, a Creole language is also commonly spoken.
• The large majority of the
population of Calabarzon is a part
of the Roman Catholic church
which accounts for 80% of the
national population. Other
Christian denominations present in
the region are the Iglesia Ni Cristo,
the Philippine Independent Church
 and Seventh-day Adventist Church.
There are also Muslims living in
Calabarzon although they are in the
minority.
 ECONOMY
• Calabarzon is the second largest contributor to
the national GDP, accounting for 17% of the gross
domestic product. The region boasts a 2.1%
inflation rate, lower than the national average of
3%. The region has a 9.2% unemployment rate
which is higher than the national average of 7%.
Calabarzon, much like the rest of the country, is
caught in the middle of being an industrial and
an agricultural economy.
• Cavite is the second smallest province (with the
Province of Rizal being the smallest) in the 
Calabarzon region. Cavite occupies land area of
1,427.06 square kilometres (550.99 sq mi) which is
approximately 8.72 percent of Calabarzon's total land
area, 2.74 percent of the regional area and 0.48 per
cent of the total land area of the Philippines. The
municipalities of Maragondon and Silang have the
biggest land areas, comprising 165.49 square
kilometres (63.90 sq mi) and 156.41 square
kilometres (60.39 sq mi) respectively, while the
municipality of Noveleta has the smallest land area
as indicated by 5.41 square kilometres (2.09 sq mi) or
0.38 percent of the provincial total and area.
• Fishery is also another major component of the
agricultural sector. Having rich marine resources
and long coastlines, the province is home to
numerous fishery activities providing livelihood to
many Caviteños. In some lowland and even upland
areas, fishery, in the form of fish ponds are also
producing a large amount of fish products. Some
areas in Cavite are also engaged in fish processing
and production of fish products like fish sauce.
• Mining is the third component of production land-
use in the province. As of 2009, there are 15 mining
and quarrying areas operating in Cavite. Extraction
includes filling materials, gravel, and sand.
Water resources
• The hydrological network of the province is
composed of seven major rivers and its
tributaries. These river systems generally
flows from the highlands of Tagaytay and
Maragondon to Manila Bay. Numerous
springs, waterfalls and rivers found in the
upland areas of the province, have been
developed for tourism. In the lowland areas,
hundreds of artesian wells and deep wells
provide water supply for both residential and
irrigation purposes.
 Climate
• Cavite belongs to Type 1 climate based on the
Climate Map of the Philippines by the 
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomi
cal Services Administration
(PAGASA). Being a Type 1, 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. The Köppen Climate Classification sub-type
for this climate is "Am" (Tropical Monsoon Climate).
 ETYMOLOGY
• The name "Cavite" comes from the Hispanicized form
of kawit or it may be a corruption of kalawit, Tagalog words
for "hook", in reference to the small hook-shaped peninsula
 jutting out to Manila Bay.] The name originally applied to
the peninsula, Cavite La Punta (now Cavite City) and the
adjacent lowland coastal area of Cavite Viejo (now Kawit).
• Another theory proposes that the name is a Hispanicized
form of kabit, Tagalog for "joined", "connected", or
"attached", referring to the peninsula's topographical
relation to the mainland. Edmund Roberts, in his 1821
memoir, stated that the "natives" called it Caveit due to the
"crooked point of land extending into the sea.
Languages
• The main languages spoken are Tagalog, 
Chavacano and English. Due to the province
bordering south of Metro Manila, a large
number of people from farther provinces
migrated to Cavite, resulting in minor but
significant usages of Bicolano, Cebuano, Ilocano
 and Hiligaynon languages.
TOURISM
• Cavite is a historic,
picturesque and scenic
province providing a
place conducive for
both business and
leisure. Tagaytay serves
as the main tourist
center.
• Corregidor is an island
fortress where Filipino and
American forces fought
against the Japanese invaders
in 1942. It has become a
tourist attraction with
tunnels, cannons and other
war structures still well-
preserved. The famous line of
General Douglas McArthur
said is associated with
Corregidor: "I shall return!"
• Mountain climbing is also one of the
outdoor activities in Cavite. This
includes the famous Mount Pico De
Loro which is within the towns of 
Ternate and Maragondon (and some
parts of it are already part of Batangas
), which is a part of the Palay-Palay and
Mataas na Gulod protected landscape.
Mt. Pico De Loro is the highest part of
Cavite at 664 meters above sea level
and is noted for its 360 degree view at
its summit and a cliff known as Parrot's
Beak or Monolith that mountaineers
would also like to climb. Mt. Marami,
within the same mountain range,
located at Magallanes town is also a
famous mountaineer location due to
its "silyang bato" (en. Chair of rocks) at
its summit.
 Cavite is a land blessed with a
galore of natural wonders, making it
gleaming and a perfect place for a
memorable eco-holiday. The province
boasts some of its most super
mountain cave and falls which can
truly fascinate its numerous visitors.
Natural wonders of cavity are mostly
found in the upland areas such as: