1.
) CAVITE CITY
Income Classification: 4th Class
Congressional District: 1st District
No. of Barangays: 84
Land Area: 1,238.63 has.
Population (POPCEN 2015, Philippine Statistics Authority): 102,806
Registered Voters (COMELEC, January 2020): 70,173
ABOUT :
Cavite City is a hook-shaped peninsula located at the northern tip of Cavite Province, lying 34
kilometers southwest of Manila and surrounded by three bays, Manila Bay, Bacoor Bay and
Cañacao Bay. It was founded in 1571 by the Legazpi Expedition and became a Chartered City via
a congressional fiat in 1940. It is the site of several important historical events foremost of
which is as the site of the “Grandmother Event of the Philippine Revolution,” the spark that
started it all – the Cavite Mutiny of 1872.
As one of the smallest cities in the country, the city faces a number of development challenges
ranging from its topography, lying below sea level; its single entry and exit road; lack of available
buildable area and land for development; inadequate source of local revenue; the proliferation
of service-oriented establishments and lack of employment opportunities.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND :
The name Cavite evolved from the word “Kawit” or “Cauit,” meaning hook, referring to the
shape of the land along the coast of Bacoor Bay. Early settlers, who were the Tagalogs, called it
“Tangway,” meaning peninsula.. Chinese traders called it Keit. When the Spaniards came, they
christened it as Cavite.
Other names associated with it were : Cavite la Punta meaning “Tip of Cavite”; Cavite Nuevo-
New Cavite; Puerto de Cavite- Port of Cavite at the height of the world-famous Manila –
Acapulco Galleon Trade; “Ciudad de Oro Macizo” meaning “City of Solid Gold”’ and “Tierra de
Maria Santisima” because of the popularity of the Marian devotion in this place.
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION :
Cavite City is a peninsula that is geographically located 8 nautical miles across the bay at 14o
29.04’ latitude, and 120o 54.02’ longitude. It is bounded on the West and Southwest by
ManilaBay, on the Northeast by Cañacao Bay, on the Southeast by Bacoor Bay and on the South
by the Municipality of Noveleta. It is located at the northern tip of the Province of Cavite and lies
approximately 34 kilometers southwest of Manila.
MAJOR INCOME SOURCES:
Fishing
TOURIST DESTINATION:
Fort San Felipe
Paseo de Barangay
Samonte Park
Belfry of Recoletos Church
XIII Martyrs Monument
San Roque Church
Cavite City Millennium Marker
Don Ladislao Diwa Shrine
St. Peter Church
Julian Felipe Monument
Marker of Honors
Sunset View
Old Spanish Slipway
Corregidor
SPECIAL EVENTS / FESTIVALS
Cavite City Via Crusis “Semana Santa” Presentation
Regada
Cavite City Fiesta
Cavite City Christmas Festival
2.) NOVELETA
Income Classification: 3rd Class
Congressional District: 1st District
No. of Barangays: 16
Land Area: 604.0145 has.
Population (POPCEN 2015, Philippine Statistics Authority): 45,846
Registered Voters (COMELEC, January 2020): 28,473
ABOUT:
Noveleta was originally a barrio of the municipality of Kawit. Owing to its vantage geographical
position – long natural beach and compact size – it became the vacation resort of the Spanish
priests and the rich residents of Cavite Viejo (now Cavite City). The place slowly emerged as a
busy hub between the rich and the poor as its population continued to increase. This prompted
the then Governor- General Jose dela Gandera to seperate it from Kawit and create it as an
independent town on January 5, 1868.
Aside from the famous and historical municipality of Kawit, there is probably no other
municipalities in the Province of Cavite which is as colorful and as memorable as the
municipality of Noveleta.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
Noveleta has the distinction of leading the first victory of the Philippine revolutionary forces in
Cavite and perhaps the whole country, the victory at Noveleta Tribunal. It was a complete
victory that liberated the town. The Magdiwang Council, led by General Mariano Alvarez took
the tribunal after the skirmish that killed two Spanish officers. This significant event on August
31,1896 so inspired the Cavitenos that until a major counter attack was mounted by the Spanish
General Lacambre, all the major coastal towns of Cavite enjoyed the freedom every Filipino so
aspired.
The revolution against the Spanish colonialism produced five brave and able military generals
and tacticians from Noveleta in the persons of Mariano Alvarez, Santiago Alvarez, Pascual
Alvarez, Luciano San Miguel and Ariston Villanueva. Those five gallant Cavitenos led a series of
lightning attacks against the superior Spanish forces in Cavite Viejo. Then Colonel Santiago
Alvarez later emerged as the Hero of the Battle of Calero Bridge.
Ironically, Noveleta was also formerly referred to by Spaniards as Tierra Alta, meaning higher
ground, because its ground levelhas higher than that of the neighboring towns of San
Roque,Caridad, and Cavite and Cavite la Punta (now Cavite City). Noveleta was also known by
the revolutionary name Magdiwang, meaning to celebrate a momentous event.
The name Noveleta is said to have originated from Nueva Isla or New Island, a term frequently
used by the spaniards, referring to the locality. In early years of the Spanish regime visiting
priests described the place as Nueva Late (New Fate or Fortune). In the course of time these
terms Nueva Isla and Nueva Lete involved of Noveleta.
But one legend tells the story of a beautiful maiden named Violeta who was betrothed by her
father to a Spanish officer against her will and despite the fact that she Spaniards, the unhappy
girl committed suicide. The officer arrived the next morning and finding her dead,cried and deep
anguish, “Madre de Dios, No Violeta Oh, No Violeta” (“Mother of God, No Violeta Oh, No
Violeta”). The phrase “No Violeta” kept on ringing in the public memory, eventually becoming
“Noveleta”, the term used to identify the place.
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION:
The Municipality of Noveleta is located in the northwestern portion of the Cavite Province
within the 120O52’ to 12°54’ east longitude and 14°25’ to 14O28’ north latitude. It is bordered
on the north by Cavite City, on the west by Manila Bay, on the southwest by Rosario, on the
south by General Trias, on the east by Kawit and on the northeast by Bacoor Bay. It is 26
kilometers from Manila and 20.4 kilometers from Trece Martires City. It is accessible by land
transport modes from Manila via General Aguinaldo Boulevard (Manila-Cavite Coastal Road)
passing through the municipalities of Bacoor (10 kilometers) and Kawit (3 kilometers). It is also
accessible from Cavite City (6 kilometers) 1and Rosario (2.75 kilometers).
MAJOR INCOME SOURCES:
Fishing services
TOURIST DESTINATION:
Malen’s Bakeshop and Restaurant
El Palacio Hotel
Villamar Beach Resort
Lido Beach Resort
In-land Resort
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Noveleta Heroes Day
Araw ng Noveleta
Noveleta Town Fiesta
3.) KAWIT
Income Classification: 1st Class
Congressional District: 1st District
No. of Barangays: 23
Land Area: 1,738.24 has.
Population (POPCEN 2015, Philippine Statistics Authority): 83,466
Registered Voters (COMELEC, January 2020): 52,993
ABOUT:
The Municipality of Kawit, Cavite is a 1st Class Municipality. It is the cradle of the Philippine
Independence. It’s cultural heritage and unprecedented historical role in the Philippine History is
a unique treasure for Kawit. The Aguinaldo Shrine where the Philippine Independence was
proclaimed by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, still remained as the most hallowed historical site in the
country. Kawit is composed of 23 Barangays. It is both an inland and coastal municipality. Per
Year 2010 Census, the Municipality of Kawit has a total population of 78,209 which account for
2.53% participation rate of Kawit to the Province of Cavite. The population has been decreasing
from 1990 indicating that other areas in Cavite have been urbanizing more than Kawit.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
Long before the coming of the Spaniards, Kawit was already a thriving settlement, and when the
colonizers came, they called the settlement “CAVITE EL VIEJO”. It is the oldest of the three
parishes established during the administration of Manila Archbishop Garcia Serrano (1618-
1629).
The town was the first anchorage established by the Spaniards in Cavite province. It was where
the Jesuits built a parish church in honour of Saint Mary Magdalene. The colonizers soon found a
better place, also a part of Kawit, and developed it as site of its navy yard. This former town of
Kawit is now known as Cavite City.
The town got its name maybe based on the hook-shaped shoreline from Manila to Sangley
Point, Cavite City. The Filipino term for the word “Hook” is Kawit.
A short distance from Cavite navy yard was a placed called “TIERRA ALTA”, because of its higher
elevation, fine stream, cool climate, and rich vegetation, became a favorite vacation resort and
hunting ground for Spanish ‘conquistadores”. This territory is now the Municipality of Noveleta,
which seceded from Kawit in 1908.
In the early days of the Spanish rule, Cavite City, Noveleta and the City of Imus were part of
Kawit, but in October 1795, the people of Imus, through a Recollect Father, petitioned the
Spanish government that they be permitted to secede from Kawit and to establish a separate
parish. Thus, from the old Cavite El Viejo sprang Cavite City, Municipality of Noveleta and Imus
City.
The mayors who assumed office after World War II were the following honorable men: Bernardo
Hebron, Eulalio Reyes and Cesar Casal and Felino L. Maquinay. In 1959, the district of San
Gabriel and San Jose of Barangay Kabilang Baybay was purchased by the National Government
for the relocation of squatters from Metro Manila. On March 14, 1981, the relocation site, which
teemed with people from almost every part of the country and was more popularly known as
the resettlement area, became an independent municipality called General Mariano Alvarez.
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION:
Kawit is within the Province of Cavite, Region IV-A (CALABARZON), west of the island of Luzon. It
is particularly situated in the northern part of the province and is bounded by Cavite City and
Bacoor Bay in the north, City of Bacoor in the east, City of Imus in the southeast, Municipality of
Gen. Trias in the south and Municipality of Noveleta in the west. It has a distinctive hook-shaped
coastline and famous for its Aguinaldo Shrine.
It is about twenty five (25) kilometers away southwest of Manila by land and about four (4)
kilometers south of Cavite City across Bacoor Bay. With the opening of the new road named
Cavite Expressway or CAVITEX, travel time from Manila to Kawit is now been reduced to only
twenty (20) minutes from the previous one and a half travel time. The CAVITEX has also helped
decongest Aguinaldo and Tirona Highways.
MAJOR INCOME SOURCE:
Commercial and Service Centers
TOURIST DESTINATION:
Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine
Battle of Binakayan Site
Baldomero Aguinaldo Shrine
Kawit Roman Catholic Church (St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church)
Water Camp Resort
Cherry’s Pavilion
Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park
SPECIAL EVENTS/ FESTIVALS:
Kawit Day (August 1)
Kawit Town Fiesta (July 22)
Maytinis Festival (December 24)
Battle of Binakayan (November 9-11)
Feast of our Lady of Fatima (May 13)
Agaw Armas sa Tribunal (August 31)
Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo’s Birth Day Anniversary (March 22)
Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo’s Death Anniversary (February 6)
Fiesta ng Lomon (3rd Sunday of May)
Feast of Sto. Niño (Last Sunday of January)
Feast of Labak (May 1)
Feast of Sta Cruz (2nd Sunday of May)
Thanks Giving – Pagdalaw sa Palay (Last Sunday of November)
Feast of San Sebastian (January 20)
Feast of Sta. Isabel (November 5)
Feast of Toclong (May 28)
Feast of Sto. Niño De Bambino (May 1)
Gen. Baldomero Aguinaldo’s Birth Anniversary (February 26)
Gen. Baldomero Aguinaldo’s Death Anniversary (February 4)
4.) City of Bacoor
Income Classification: 1st Class
Congressional District: 2nd District (Lone District of Bacoor)
No. of Barangays: 73
Land Area: 4,687.76 has (46.87 sq.km)
Population (POPCEN 2015, Philippine Statistics Authority): 600,609
Registered Voters (COMELEC, January 2020): 303,084
ABOUT:
Bacoor was once merged with the bustling town called Palanag, or Paranaque as it is called
today. Eventually in September 28, 1671, Bacoor was incorporated and was officially separated
to become a town that wedge the bigger neighboring towns of Paranaque, Cavite el Viejo (now
Kawit), and Silang. Its township was officially recognizes two years after the influx of the first
settlers from Paranaque.
From its ancient name Bacoor, which is derived from the Tagalog word “bakod”, which means
fence, Bacoor is suggestive of its role as a suburb of Paranaque. It constitutes the boundary
between the mother town and Cavite el Viejo. In early Spanish times, Bacoor was thickly
covered with bamboo groves that ran from Sitio Zapote to SitioTalaba, which many speculate is
another reason behind Bacoor’s name; bakoor is actually a subspecie of bamboo.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
Bacoor became the setting of numerous historic encounters in Philippine History. The town
became the site of Aguinaldo’s first defeat in September 2, 1896 during the Revolution against
Spain. Fortunately due to a miscalculation by Spanish general Aguirre whose troops rested one
day in Bacoor Plaza while awaiting reinforcements from Manila. Aguinaldo was able to prepare
the defense of Imus that night. A battle ensued at a bridge near the Recollect Estate House,
which also became the former Philippine Constabulary Headquarters. Aguinaldo’s spectacular
victory in this historic battle of Imus on September 3, 1896 started the Aguinaldo legend in his
military career.
Two fierce battles that took place in Bacoor also provided popular historical mention of the
town. The “Battle(s) of Zapote Bridge” in 1897 and 1899 became encounters of revolting
Filipinos against the Spanish and Americans respectively. One battle took place on February 17,
1897 when the Filipino Revolutionary Army held back the advance of the Spanish invaders. It
was in this battle that General Edilberto Evangelista, who was a European-educated Filipino
engineer, fought and heroically died from an enemy sniper while repulsing the advance of
Spanish forces. The height of the Filipino-American War in 1899 was the second encounter by
Filipino revolutionary forces in the Zapote Bridge.
“Gargano” was the revolutionary name of Bacoor in line with the victory of the Magdalo
Government based in Imus to abolish every vestige of the country’s colonial past. At that time,
Gil Ignacio was the Katipunan Leader in Bacoor. Fierce battles ensued, and on March 26, one day
after the fall of the Magdalo capital of Imus, Bacoor was recaptured by the Spaniards during a
counter-offensive launched by Spanish General Jose Achambre.
The town is also noted in history as the first capital of the revolutionary government under
General Emilio Aguinaldo. On July 4, 1898, General Aguinaldo relocated his headquarters from
MaximoInnocencio’s Mansion in today’s Cavite City to the home of Juan Cuenca and Candida
Chavez in Bacoor. This move was a result of the general’s suspicion of Imminentcolonialization
of the Admiral Expeditionary Force of the Americans after their failure to commit to the
recognition of Philippine Independence already proclaimed on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite.
Bacoor as Aguinaldo’s seat of government did not remain long. On September 9, the
revolutionary capital was again transferred beyond cannon range of Admiral Dewey’s American
Naval Squadron moored in Manila Bay. Three weeks after the perfidious capture of Manila by
the American forces in connivance with Spanish Governor and Captain General Jaudines,
General Aguinaldo’s new capital then became Malolos, Bulacan.
Like other towns in Cavite Province, Bacoor also produced great names, among whom are the
late Governor Pedro Espiritu and the late Julian Cruz Balmaceda, noted Filipino writer and
Director of the Institute of National Language. The original families and settlers had the
following last names: Cuenca, Payao, Farolan, Pagtakhan, de Ocampo, Gregorio, Guevarra, and
Garcia. Belonging to the principalia class as early as the first decades of the nineteenth century
were the Cuencas, the Espiritus, the Cuevas, the Mirandas, the Pagtakhan, and the Narvaezes.
Most of them were Chinese mestizos. Felix Cuenca, the first Municipal President of Bacoor, was
a direct descendant of one of the original settlers.
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION:
Located at the northeasternmost corner of the Province of Cavite, Bacoor is approximately 17.5
kilometers southwest from Manila (from kilometer zero), and about 27 kilometers northeast
from Trece Martires City, the provincial capital.Bacoor’s northern section is a coast fronting
Bacoor Bay and separated by the Zapote River and the Imus River on its eastern and western
boundary respectively. These rivers traditionally provide salt water for Bacoor’s salt farms that
double as fishponds during the rainy season. Bounded west of Bacoor are the Municipalities of
Imus and Kawit, on the south is the City of Dasmarinas, on the north is Bacoor Bay, and on the
east are the Cities of Las Pinas and Muntinlupa. The Poblacion is located on the northern part of
the municipality along Bacoor Bay.
MAJOR INCOME SOURCE:
Services, Agriculture
TOURIST DESTINATION:
Bahay Na Tisa
St. Michael Church
Zapote Bridge
Justice Ocampo Park
Ezekiel Moreno Park
New Bacoor Government Center
Bacoor District Hospital
Mabolo Freedom Park
Molino Dam, Molino Eco-Park
Digman Halo-Halo
Kainan Sa Balsa
Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Flow House
SPECIAL EVENTS/ FESTIVALS:
Feast of St. Michael
Bakood Festival
Cityhood Anniversary
Bacoor Fiesta Celebration
