VI.

GEOGRAPHY

Cavite is part of the Philippines’ largest island, the Luzon

Peninsula. Found in the southern portion, Cavite belongs to Region
IV-A or the CALABARZON Region. It is bounded by the provinces of
Batangas in the south, Laguna in the east, Rizal in the northwest,
Metro Manila and Manila Bay in the north, and West Philippine Sea
in the west. Its proximity to Metro Manila gives the province
significant edge in terms of economic development.

a) CLIMATE

Cavite belongs to Type 1 climate based on the Climate Map of

the Philippines by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical 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).

b) BIODIVERSITY

Cavite is divided into four physiographical areas, namely: the

lowest lowland area, lowland area, the central hilly area and
the upland mountainous area.

i. MOUNTAINOUS

UPLAND MOUNTAINOUS AREA, found in the City of

Tagaytay and the municipalities of Alfonso, Mendez,
southern parts of Amadeo, Indang, Silang, Magallanes
and Maragondon. They are situated at a very high
elevation above 400 meters (1,300 ft) with slope more
than 2%. The Tagaytay ridge has an average elevation of
610 meters (2,000 ft) with Mount Sungay at
14°8′31.71″N 121°1′19.02″E, the highest elevation in the
province at 716 meters (2,349 ft). The mountain was
much higher before with an elevation of 752 meters
(2,467 ft), topped by rock formations that resembled
horns (Sungay in Tagalog) hence the name. The
prominence of the mountain was leveled in half during
the construction of People’s Park in the Sky during the
Marcos administration.
There are eight (8) named mountains in the province,
Pico De Loro in Maragondon; Mt. Palay-Palay in Ternate-
Maragondon; Mt. Buntis, Mt. Mataas na Gulod, Mt.
Nagpatong and Mt. Hulog in Maragondon; Mt. Marami in
Magallanes; and Mt. Sungay in Tagaytay City, with the
highest elevation at 2,352 feet.

PICO DE LORO, is a dormant MT. PALAY-PALAY protected

volcano in Cavite province on the landscape area is situated in the
island of Luzon, Philippines. The mountain range that forms the
mountain rises to an elevation of border between the densely
688 m (2,257 ft) above mean sea populated provinces of Cavite and
level and is the highest peak of Batangas in the CALABARZON
the Mounts Palay-Palay–Mataas- region.
na-Gulod Protected Landscape.
The mountain is one of the
ancient volcanic features of
Bataan Arc.

MT. BUNTIS, located 54 MT. MATAAS NA GULOD, is part

kilometers south-west of Metro-
Manila is the historical town of
Maragondon, Cavite. Well, known
as the execution site of Andres
Bonifacio, the supremo of the
Katipunan.
of the Mounts Palay-Palay-Mataas-
na-Gulod Protected Landscape is
situated in the mountain range
also known as Dos Picos that
forms the border between the
densely populated provinces of
Cavite and Batangas.
 MT. NAGPATONG, is located in MT. HULOG, is located in barrio
Maragondon, Cavite. It is a home Hulog within the vicinity of Mt.
to Andres Bonifacio National Nagpatong.
Shrine that has just been recently
established. The name of the
mountain was taken after a rock
that is on top of the mountain,
locals say.

MT. MARAMI, or Mataas na Gulod MT. SUNGAY, also known as

Boulders, is a dormant volcano in
Cavite province on the island of
Luzon, Philippines. The mountain
rises to an elevation of 405 m
(1,329 ft) above mean sea level
and is one of the ancient volcanic
features of Bataan Arc.
Mount Gonzales, is a mountain in
the province of Cavite in the
Philippines. Located in eastern
Tagaytay, the inactive
stratovolcano is the highest point
of the province of Cavite at 709
metres (2,326 ft).

ii. LOWEST LOWLAND AREA is the coastal plain in

particular. These areas have extremely low ground level
of 0 to 2 meters (0.0 to 6.6 ft) elevation compared to the
high tide level of about 0.8 meters (2 ft 7 in) from
the mean sea level (msl). These are the cities
of Cavite, Bacoor and the municipalities
of Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario, northern part
of Carmona and eastern part of Ternate.

iii. LOWLAND AREA consists of the coastal and alluvial

plains. These areas have flat ground slope of less than
0.5% and low ground elevation of 2 to 30 metres (6 ft 7 in
to 98 ft 5 in). The alluvial plain can be found in the city
of Imus and southern part of General Trias. Into these
 municipalities forms the transition area between the
coastal plain and the central hilly area. It also covers
some are as of Bacoor, Carmona, Kawit, Noveleta,
Rosario and Tanza.

iv. CENTRAL HILLY AREA generally found on the mountain

foot slope. It forms the rolling tuffaceous plateau. This
topography includes steep hills, ridges and elevated
inland valley. The plateau is characterized with ground
elevation ranging from 30 meters (98 ft) to nearly 400
meters (1,300 ft). Its ground slope ranges from 0.5 to 2%.
The cities of Trece Martires and Dasmariñas and the
municipalities of General Emilio Aguinaldo, General
Mariano Alvarez, western part of Ternate, northern parts
of Amadeo, Indang, Silang, Magallanes and Maragondon
have this kind of topography.

v. COASTAL Cavite shoreline stretches about 123

kilometers (76 mi). The communities located along the
coast are Cavite City, Bacoor, Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario,
Tanza, Naic, Maragondon, and Ternate.

VII. CULTURE

Aside from the celebrations of town fiestas, the province of

Cavite celebrates festivals as forms of thanksgiving for a bountiful
harvest. Some of these festivals are also observed in honor of the
historical legacies passed from one generation to another
generation. In fact, the province fetes the renowned Kalayaan
Festival which is given a great social importance in commemoration
of the heroism of its people. The annual Fiesta de la Reina del
Provincia de Cavite is a grandiose fiesta celebration in honor of the
patroness of the province, the Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de
Porta Vaga. The image is enshrined at San Roque Church in Cavite
City. Her feast day is celebrated every 2nd and 3rd Sunday of
November.

Traditions and fiesta celebrations include Mardicas, a war

dance held in Ternate town. Karakol street dancing with a fluvial
procession is usually held in coastal towns. There is also a pre-
colonial ritual called the Sanghiyang as a form of thanksgiving and
to heal the sick. Another cultural tradition is the Live via Crucis or
Kalbaryo ni Hesus held during Holy Week. The Maytinis or word
prayer that is annually held in Kawit every December 24 before the
beginning of the midnight Mass.
a. MUSIC