Cavite Province
lies along the southern shore of Manila Bay. It is bounded on the
north by Manila Bay and Metro Manila, on the east by Laguna, on
the west by the South China Sea, and on the south by Batangas.
BRIEF PROFILE
|
Capital: |
Trece Martires
City |
Land Area: |
1,427.06 km² |
Population: |
3,090,691 (2010) |
Cities: |
Cavite City, Bacoor, Imus, Dasmariñas, Tagaytay and Trece Martires |
Municipalities: |
17 |
Barangays: |
829 |
The land_______________________________
The portion of the province bordering Manila bay consist of lowlands
or flat lying areas. The central portions is characterized by
rolling and undulating lands. The rest are upland or hilly and
mountainous areas.
Tagaytay Ridge has the highest elevation at 640 meters above
the sea level.
The province is cut by five major rivers: Maragondon, Labac,
Cañas, Ilang-Ilang and Imus, emptying into Manila Bay.
In General, Cavite has two pronounced seasons: relatively dry
from November to April and wet from May to October.
A Brief History___________________________
The province´s name is derived from the Tagalog word kawit,
meaning "hook", which refers to the shape of the peninsula.
This place was a port of Spanish vessels, including the galleons
from Mexico.
In 1614, Cavite was created as a politico-military province.
In 1872, a mutiny at the Cavite arsenal implicated three Filipino
priests: Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez and Jacinto Zamora, who were
subsequently executed by the garrote.
Cavite was a center of military operations during the Philippine
Revolution of 1896. The Spaniards executed 13 Filipino revolutionaries
in Cavite City that year: the provincial capital is now named
after them "Trece Martires City".
On June 12, 1898, General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine
independence from his residence in Kawit. Bacoor became the capital
until the seat of government was transferred to Malolos, Bulacan.
A civil government was established by the Americans in Cavite
in 1901, with Cavite City as provincial capital.
Trece Martires City became the capital upon its creation in 1954.
The People______________________________
The inhabitants are mostly Tagalogs.
Chavacano, a kind of pidgin Spanish, is spoken in few areas.
Caviteño and Ternateño are local Tagalog dialects
that are Hispanicized.
Commerce and Industry_____________________
Cavite is predominantly an agriculture province. Its major crops
inlude rice, corn, vegetables, fruits, rootcrops, coffee, coconut
and sugarcane.
The province is endowed with rich offshore and coastal fishing
grounds. Fishing is a major source of livelihood in the coastal
towns.
Many industrial establishments are now operating in Cavite, and
more industrial estates have been or are being developed in various
parts of the province.
Getting There and Away_____________________
Many buses serve the Manila-Cavite route.
Other Information__________________________
Cavite City was best known in the past as the main base of the
Philippine Navy, but has now become a satellite city of Manila,
with a massive influx of new residents and rapid industrial development.
The main attractions in the area are the Island Cove, Caylabne Bay
Resort (Ternate), and Leisure Park and several first class resorts.
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. The province
is the birthplace of Philippine heroes, among them General Emilio
Aguinaldo.
The Aguinaldo Shrine and Museum in Kawit occupies the site where
the proclamation of independence ws made and where the Philippine
flag was first unfurled. The Andres Bonifacio House in General Trias
is the former home of the country's revolutionary leader, while
the site of his court martial in Maragondon is also preserved. Other
historical sites include the Battle of Alapan and Battle of Julian
Bridge Markers, Fort San Felipe and the House of Tirona.
Corregidor gained international fame as the site of the valiant,
last ditch stand of the Filipino-American forces against the Japanese
invaders in 1942. The fortress island is now a major tourist attraction,
as the buildings, tunnels, gun emplacements and other structures
remain well-preserved.
The main churches of the province are the Imus Cathedral, Silang,
General Trias and Maragondon Catholic Churches. The Shrines of Our
Lady of La Salette, Silang, and St. Anne, Tagaytay, also attract
pilgrims.
Natural attractions include Cabag Caves and Malibedibic and Balite
Falls.