Calabarzon (Region 4A)

The name is actually an acronym for the provinces in the region: Cavite, Laguna,
Batangas, Rizal and Quezon. It is also known as Southern Tagalog Mainland. The
region is mainly known as the seat of the revolution against the Spanish in the 19th
century and a number of historical buildings and landmarks that speak of its
tumultuous past.

Different attractions are featured in different provinces in the region. Cavite has
plenty of historical attractions while Batangas has a lot to offer when it comes to
natural wonders. Laguna also has some attractions but it is known more as the
producers of the delectable buko pie (much like the apple pie but with coconut meat
instead of apple).

Corregidor Island

Despite being located nearer to the southern coast of Bataan, Corregidor and the
other fortified islands of Manila Bay fall under the jurisdiction of
the City of Cavite, Cavite province. Corregidor, also known as "The Rock" for its
rocky landscape and the heavy fortifications, along with Caballo Island, about 1.7 km
(1.1 mi) south, divide the entrance of Manila Bay into the North and South Channel.
The tadpole-shaped island, with its tail running eastward, is about 6.5 km (4.0 mi)
long, about 2.0 km (1.2 mi) wide at its widest with a total land area of about 900
hectares (2,200 acres). The highest elevation is at 180 m (590 ft) on the Topside.

Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort

Villa Escudero Plantations is 800 hectares of working coconut plantation

and hacienda located 10 kilometres south of the city of San Pablo, Laguna
Province on the border with Quezon Province in the Philippines. Since 1981, the
plantation has opened its doors as a resort offering village tours, museum tour,
food and accommodations. It has developed a worldwide reputation as a focal
point to experience Philippine culture and history in a beautiful rural setting. 

Enchanted Kingdom

Enchanted Kingdom, often abbreviated EK, is a theme park in the Philippines. It

is located in Santa Rosa, Laguna. It has a land area of 25 hectares. The park is

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 managed and operated by Enchanted Kingdom Inc. Enchanted Kingdom is a
member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions

The Enchanted Kingdom hosts around 20 rides and attractions as of 2013. Among

the attractions is the Space Shuttle, a roller coaster, and the Wheel of Fate, a 39.62
meters (130.0 ft) high Ferris wheel with 36 gondolas with each gondola having a 6-
person capacity.
Among the future planned attractions of the theme park is Agila: The EKsperience, a
flight motion simulator ride scheduled to open in December 2016.

People's Park In The Sky

The People's Park in the Sky, often simply called People's Park and
originally named Palace in the Sky, is a historical urban park in Tagaytay,
Cavite, Philippines. The park was converted from an incomplete mansion,
known as the palace in the sky. It was built during the Marcos era to host the
visit of US President Ronald Reagan. Work stopped when Reagan canceled his
visit. The incomplete scaffolding of the mansion remained intact. The Shrine of
Our Lady, Mother of Fair Love and a Doppler weather radar station maintained
by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration is also within the park.

Fortune Island

Fortune Island is a resort island of Batangas province in the Philippines. The

27-hectare island lies about 14 kilometers off the coast of Nasugbu in Batangas.

It was near this island (approximately 900 meters (3,000 feet) northwest of the
island) that the galleon San Diego was sunk on December 14, 1600 by the Dutch
warship Mauritius under the command of Admiral Oliver Van Noort.
The shipwreck was discovered in 1992 by French underwater archaeologist Franck
Goddio.
The island has also been the site of modern shipwrecks. On December 13, 1995,
the MV Kimelody Cristy, a passenger ferry owned and operated by Moreta Shipping
Lines Incorporated, caught fire and sank off Fortune Island as it was on its way
to Mindoro, leaving 17 people dead and 16 people missing. On September 18, 1998,
the MV Princess of the Orient, a passenger ferry owned by Sulpicio Lines, sailed
during a typhoon on its way to Cebu City from Manila and sank off Fortune Island,
resulting in the deaths of 70 people.

DARANAK FALLS TANAY

This wonderful waterfalls has turquoise waters and surrounded by lush forest trees
complimenting the environment, making it a famous shooting location for TV shows
and commercials.

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Its name derives from the word “dadanak”, meaning “to flow” (you often hear it in
contemporary Tagalog like “dadanak ang dugo” [blood will flow]), which in turn
rooted from the word “danak” (flow), describing to the flowing water at the falls.

The falls are located at the bottom of the Tanay mountains surrounded by natural
vegetation, rivers, and ponds.

Pinto Art Museum

Pintô Art Museum is an exhibition space and contemporary museum located in

the Philippines’ historic pilgrimage city of Antipolo outside of Manila.   The
museum was founded in 2010 to publicly exhibit the art collection of Filipino
neurologist and patron of the arts, Dr. Joven Cuanang.  The museum
(pintô  means door  in Filipino) was founded on the principle that art plays a
diplomatic role in bridging distinctive nationalities, worldviews, and communities.

Mount Makiling

Mount Makiling, or Mount Maquiling, is a dormant volcano located on the

border of Laguna province and Batangas on the island of Luzon, Philippines. The
mountain rises to an elevation of 1,090 m above mean sea level and is the highest
feature of the Laguna Volcanic Field. The volcano has no recorded historic
eruption but volcanism is still evident through geothermal features like mud
spring and hot springs. South of the mountain is the Makiling-Banahaw
Geothermal Plant. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
classifies the volcano as "potentially active". Mount Makiling is a state-owned
forest reserve administered by the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Prior

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to its transfer to the university, the mountain was the first national park of the
Philippines. Mount Makiling National Park was established on February 23,
1933 by Proclamation No. 552. However, it was decommissioned as a national
park on June 20, 1963 by Republic Act no. 3523 when it was transferred to the
University for use in forestry education and information. The mountain is sacred
to many pilgrims and is widely believed to be the home of an anito named Maria
Makiling

Taal Basilica

The Taal Basilica, canonically known as the Minor Basilica of Saint Martin of
Tours, is a Minor Basilica in the town of Taal, Batangas in the Philippines,
within the Archdiocese of Lipa. It is considered to be the largest church in the
Philippines and in Asia, standing 88.6 metres long and 48 metres wide. St.
Martin of Tours is the patron saint of Taal, whose fiesta is celebrated every
November 11

Lakes Pandin and Yambo

Pandin and Yambo are twin crater lakes separated by a narrow strip of land.
They are part of the Seven Lakes system in San Pablo, and are situated at Brgy.
San Lorenzo in San Pablo City of Laguna province in the Philippines. Lake
Pandin is said to be "the most pristine" of the seven lakes of San Pablo.

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 Caliraya Lake

Lake Caliraya is a man-made lake situated in the municipalities of Lumban,

Cavinti, and Kalayaan in Laguna province, Philippines. Created in 1939, the lake
has developed as a popular spot for water sports and outdoor recreation including
fishing. Surrounding the lake are a number of resorts and vacation homes which
cater to tourists.

Tinipak River
Tinipak River of Tanay is a hidden paradise in Brgy. Daraitan in Tanay, Rizal, was
awarded as the cleanest inland body of water in Region IV. Reaching this destination
requires patience and endurance in trekking giant trails of rock, making Tinipak River
a perfect getaway for those who love outdoor adventure. It has giant boulders to
tranquil and cool river water.

Matabungkay Beach

Matabungkay is a barangay of the municipality of Lian, Batangas, the

Philippines. It is known for its white sand beach which is reasonably accessible
from Manila. It was originally 'discovered' to be a great weekend or daytrip
destination in the early 1950s, allegedly by sun starved German residents of
Manila. In fact the German Club had a cottage there then. It was soon a popular
target for holiday lovers and permanent cottages were built along the beach line
in the early 1960s for rich Manila folk. It has a small coral reef about 50 meters
from the low tide mark in the center of the cove which diverts the incoming
waves beautifully and creates some that on good days you could body surf on. At
present it is a top destination during the Philippine summer season and gets very
crowded. Aside from cottages and houses, there are small sheds of bamboo
construction one could rent for a day built in some places almost to the high tide
mark.

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Masungi Georeserve

The Masungi Georeserve is a conservation area in the Philippines situated in the

Southern Sierra Madre range in Baras, Rizal, 47 kilometres east of Manila. It
centers on the geological formations of Masungi Rock, at an elevation of 640
metres. In 1993, the Masungit Rock and its vicinity was proposed to be declared
as a Strict Nature Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary by the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources. It has been a popular destination for hikes
and day trips from Manila since it opened in 2015 and started development
towards Geopark status. 

Laiya

Laiya Beach, located in Laiya-Aplaya, San Juan, Batangas, is a popular beach

destination in the Philippines. Due to the beach's white sands, clear waters, and
proximity to the country's capital, Manila, it has become one of the most famous
and most visited beaches in the country, particularly for those from the National
Capital Region.

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Hinulugang Taktak

Hinulugang Taktak Protected Landscape, also known as Hinulugan Taktak, is a

protected area located in Rizal, Philippines. Initially assigned as a recreation
area, the waterfall area has been designated as a national park by virtue of
Republic Act No. 6964 in 1990. Ten years later, it became a protected landscape
in accordance to Proclamation No. 412. It is being managed by the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources and the Rizal Provincial Government. As
of 2003 and 2004, Hinulugang Taktak is the second most popular national park
in the Philippines in terms of number of visitors. 

Mount Banahaw

Mount Banahaw is a potentially active volcano on Luzon in the Philippines. The

three-peaked volcano complex is located between the provinces of Laguna and
Quezon and is the tallest mountain in the Calabarzon region dominating the
landscape for miles around. The mountain is considered by many as a holy
mountain, thus a bundok dambana, and is popular among pilgrims along with
mountain climbers. It is located in a protected area known as Mounts Banahaw–
San Cristobal Protected Landscape covering 10,901 hectares of land.

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 Cagbalete Island

Cagbalete is an island off the east coast of Luzon, Philippines on Lamon Bay. It is

part of Quezon Province and administered by the municipality of Mauban.
Many of the beach resorts in the island are named after the direct descendants of
Benedicto Pansacola, who had one child named Atanacia who later became known as
Atanacia Villabona. She had two daughters: Leonila and Maria. Nilandingan Cove is
owned by Lynette Del Banco, who is a descendant of Leonila and Remigio Del
Banco. Maria, who married Silverio Taino, has children named Choleng (Dona
Choleng Camping Resort), Noe (Villa Noe), Joven (Joven’s Blue Sea), and Cleofas
(Villa Cleofas). Three of the members of the Pansacola family have served as
municipal mayors of Mauban, Quezon. They are Remigio Del Banco (husband of
Leonila Villabona-Del Banco), Silverio Taino (husband of Maria Villabona-Taino),
and Amado Clemente (husband of Socorro Taino-Clemente and son-in-law of Silverio
Taino).

Mount Macolod

Mount Macolod is a mountain located in the town of Cuenca in Batangas

province, in the Philippines. This mountain is popular among mountain climbers
and campers; it is the major tourist attraction of the municipality. Every year on
Holy Week, thousands of pilgrims from nearby towns and provinces climb the
mountain as a form of penance. The mountain is sacred to both Christian and
Anitist adherents.

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 Avilon Zoo

Avilon Zoo is a 7.5-hectare zoo located in Barrio San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal,
Philippines. It is operated by the Avilon Wildlife Conservation Foundation,
which also operates the Ark Avilon Zoo.

Volcano Island/Taal Volcano 

(Filipino: Bulkang Taal, IPA: [taʔal]; Spanish: Volcán Taal) is a

large caldera filled by Taal Lake on Luzon island in the Philippines, and is in the
province of Batangas. Taal Volcano is the second most active volcano in the
Philippines, with 33 recorded historical eruptions, all of which were concentrated
on Volcano Island, near the middle of Taal Lake. The caldera was formed by
prehistoric eruptions between 140,000 and 5,380 BP.

Viewed from the Tagaytay Ridge in Cavite, Taal Volcano and Lake presents one
of the most picturesque and attractive views in the Philippines. It is located about 50
kilometers (31 mi) south of the capital of the country, the city of Manila. The main
crater of Taal Volcano originally had a lake until the explosive 2020 eruption expelled
its water; the lake reformed within months in the rainy climate after activity ceased.

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 Mount Pico De Loro

Mount Pico de Loro, also known as Mount Palay-Palay, is a dormant volcano in

Cavite province on the island of Luzon, Philippines. The mountain rises to an
elevation of 688 m above mean sea level and is the highest peak of the Mounts
Palay-Palay–Mataas-na-Gulod Protected Landscape. The mountain is one of the
ancient volcanic features of Bataan Arc

Batlag Falls

Waterfall with 2 swimming holes Located in the middle of the jungle, 2

swimming holes below a picturesque waterfall.: Tanay, Rizal

Sampaloc Lake

canic maar on the island of Luzon, the Philippines. It is the largest of the Seven
Lakes of San Pablo, Laguna. Nearly half of the lake's depth has a shallow
depression at the bottom, indicating its volcanic origin. The lake is behind San
Pablo city hall and is dotted with fishpens and small cottages built on stilts.

Puzzle Mansion

The Puzzle Mansion is a museum in Tagaytay, Cavite, Philippines which hosts a

collection of jigsaw puzzle which is recognized as the biggest in the world
according to Guinness

Aguinaldo Shrine

The Emilio F. Aguinaldo Shrine is a national shrine located in Kawit, Cavite in

the Philippines, where the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain
was declared on June 12, 1898. To commemorate the event, now known as Araw
ng Kalayaan or Independence Day, a national holiday, the Philippine flag is
raised here by top government officials on June 12 each year. The house is now a
museum

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Rizal Shrine

The Rizal Shrine in Calamba is a reproduction of the original two-story, Spanish-

Colonial style house in Calamba, Laguna where José Rizal was born on June 19,
1861. Rizal is regarded as one of the greatest national heroes of the Philippines.
The house is designated as a National Shrine by the National Historical
Commission of the Philippines. It is located along Mercado Street and Rizal
Street in Calamba's Poblacion 5 and is in close proximity to St. John the Baptist
Parish Church and the City College of Calamba.

Wawa Dam

Wawa Dam is a gravity dam constructed over the Marikina River in the
municipality of Rodriguez in Rizal province, Philippines. The slightly arched
dam is situated in the 360-metre high Montalban Gorge or Wawa Gorge, a water
gap in the Sierra Madre Mountains, east of Manila. It was built in 1909 during
the American colonial era to provide the water needs for Manila. It used to be the
only source of water for Manila until Angat Dam was built and Wawa was
abandoned in 1968. Due to insufficiency of water supply for Metro Manila, there
was a strong clamor to reuse the dam. The dam and surrounding area is currently
protected as part of the Pamitinan Protected Landscape.

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 Seven Lakes of San Pablo

The Seven Lakes of San Pablo are seven crater lakes scattered around the City of
San Pablo, in the province of Laguna, Philippines.

The seven lakes of the city are:

 Lake Bunot
 Lake Calibato, sometimes spelled as Lake Kalibato
 The twin lakes of Yambo and Pandin
 Lake Palakpakin, sometimes spelled as Lake Palacpaquin or Palacpaquen
 Lake Muhikap, also known as Lake Mojicap or Lake Mohicap
 Lake Sampaloc, also spelled as Lake Sampalok, the largest of the seven lakes

Malinta Tunnel

The Malinta Tunnel is a tunnel complex built by the United States Army Corps
of Engineers on the island of Corregidor in the Philippines. It was initially used
as a bomb-proof storage and personnel bunker, but was later equipped as a
1,000-bed hospital. The main tunnel, running east to west, is 831 feet long, 24
feet wide and 18 feet high. Branching off from this main shaft are 13 lateral
tunnels on the north side and 11 lateral tunnels on the south side. Each lateral
averaged 160 feet in length and 15 feet in width.

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Angono Petroglyphs

The Angono Petroglyphs are petroglyphs carved into a rock wall in Angono,
Rizal, Philippines. It consists of 127 human and animal figures engraved on the
rockwall probably carved during the late Neolithic, or before 2000 BC. They are
the oldest known work of art in the Philippines. These inscriptions clearly show
stylized human figures, frogs and lizards, along with other designs that may have
depicted other interesting figures but erosion may have caused it to become
indistinguishable. The engravings are mostly symbolic representations and are
associated with healing and sympathetic magic. The site is sacred for indigenous
Tagalog folk religion and is believed to be a home for anitos. The site has been
declared by the National Museum of the Philippines as a National Cultural
Treasure in 1973. It is also included in the list of the World Inventory of Rock
Art in 1985 and historic sites of the World Monuments Watch and World
Monuments Funds and part of the Philippines' tentative list of the UNESCO
World Heritage Site

Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery

The Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery is a national historical landmark and

museum in Barangay Bambang, Nagcarlan, Laguna supervised by the National
Historical Commission of the Philippines. It was built in 1845 under the
supervision of Franciscan priest, Fr. Vicente Velloc as a public burial site and its
underground crypt exclusively for Spanish friars, prominent town citizens and
members of elite Catholic families. It is dubbed as the only underground
cemetery in the country.

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Mount Batulao Peak

volcano in the Calabarzon region of the Philippines, located in northwest

Batangas province along its border with Cavite. It is a dissected andesitic
stratovolcano at the northwestern rim of the Taal Caldera which began to form in
the late Pliocene period, about 3.4 million years ago. The mountain is a
prominent landmark of jagged peaks, rolling to rugged ridges and deep gorges
situated just west of the hill station of Tagaytay at the southwestern end of the
Tagaytay Ridge. It is well known for its scenery, as well as its retreat centers and
resorts located just 85 kilometres south of Manila.

Alibijaban Island

Alibijaban is a small island located off the southeastern coast of Bondoc

Peninsula in the Philippines. It belongs administratively to the municipality of
San Andres, Quezon province, and is coterminous with the barangay of the same
name. With a population of 1,643 inhabitants in 2015, it is the smallest of seven
barangays in San Andres. The island is known for its pristine mangrove forest
and coral reefs. It is also visited for its white sandy beaches and rich bird life. Its
mangrove forest which covers approximately 140 hectares of the island's central
and northern portions is protected under the National Integrated Protected Areas
System as a wilderness area called the Alibijaban Island Wilderness Area. 225
hectares of waters surrounding it have also been declared a marine protected area
known as the Alibijaban Fish Sanctuary.

Antipolo Cathedral

Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, also known as Our Lady of Antipolo and
the Virgin of Antipolo, is a 17th-century Roman Catholic wooden image of the
Blessed Virgin Mary venerated in the Philippines. The image, a Black Madonna
that represents the Immaculate Conception, is enshrined in Antipolo Cathedral in
the Sierra Madre mountains east of Metro Manila. The image was brought to the
country by Governor-General Juan Niño de Tabora from Mexico via the galleon
El Almirante in 1626. His safe voyage across the Pacific Ocean was attributed to
the image, which was given the title of "Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage".
It was substantiated later by six other successful voyages of the Manila-Acapulco
Galleons with the image aboard as its patroness. The statue is one of the most
celebrated images of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Philippines, gaining
devotees since the mid-19th century, having been mentioned by José Rizal in his
writings. From May to July each year, the image attracts millions of pilgrims
from all over the country and abroad. Pope Pius XI authorized her canonical
coronation on 13 June 1925, which occurred on 28 November 1926.

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Tagaytay Highlands

Tagaytay Highlands is a mountain resort and mixed-use development situated in

Tagaytay, Cavite, Philippines

Casa Santa Museum

One of the most famous attractions east of Metro Manila, located in the hills of
Antipolo, just 30 minutes away from Ortigas is the CASA SANTA @ Jardin de
Miramar. The Casa Santa houses an internationally recognized collection of
Santa Claus items ranging from life size, singing santas to Turkish inspired
bronze plaques of Santa Claus. At present, it is probably the most extensive
private collection of Santa Claus items in the world with over 3,700++ santas.
And unlike traditional museums, the Casa Santa is a fun museum in that the
visitors are free to inspect the items closely, or in some cases, play with it. Casa
Santa started out as a small personal collection and it grew in size until it needed
a house where the Santas could "live." The Casa Santa was converted from a
family resthouse into a museum of Santa Claus collection in 1995. The house
was remodeled by folk architect Rosario Encarnacion Tan and the lighting
design inside the museum was crafted by international Japanese light designer
Shoko Matsumoto. In December 2004, it was the cover of Starweek's Christmas
and in Christmas 2008 appeared in the front page of the Philippine Inquirer

Agila: The EKsperience

Agila: The EKsperience is a flight motion simulation attraction situated in

Enchanted Kingdom, a theme park in Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines

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Lake Muhikap

Lake Mohicap is one of the seven lakes of San Pablo City, in the province of
Laguna, Philippines. The lake, located in Brgy. San Buenaventura, has an area of
14.5 hectares and is one of the main suppliers of water in the city. The waters of
San Pablo Lakes provide a generous source of tilapia for Metro Manila and
suburbs.

Mount Tagapo

Mount Tagapo, also known as Susong Dalaga mountain, is a conical peak on the
lake island of Talim on Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines. The
mountain ridge is 438 m in elevation and the highest point of Talim Island. The
peak falls under the jurisdiction of the towns of Binangonan and Cardona in
Rizal province.

Cape Santiago Lighthouse

Cape Santiago Lighthouse, also known as Faro de Cabo Santiago, is a historic

lighthouse located about 130 kilometres southwest of Manila in Barangay
Bagong Silang, Calatagan, Batangas, Philippines. It is the oldest working
lighthouse in Batangas and one of the oldest working lighthouses in the
Philippines. It serves as a guide for ships passing through the Verde Island
Passage and entering Manila Bay.

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