Region 4A-CALABARZON

        CALABARZON is one of the regions of the Philippines. It is also designated as Region 4A and it's rgional capital is Calamba City in Laguna. The region is composed of five provinces namely Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon. The region's name is an acronym of the the names of these provinces. It is also known as the Southern Tagalog Mainland.

Products  
  coffee, coconut, tropical fruits, Embroidered stuffs, Tamarind wine, fresh vegetables, lambanog, dalanghita nectar, chocomilk/fresh milk, pandan floor pillow


              
             


                

               

                    

                         

                      

                     

Places of Interest 

The Historic House of General Emilio Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite.  

            The ancestral house of General Emilio Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite was first built in 1845 and reconstructed in 1849. On March 22, 1869, the first president of the First Republic of the Philippines, Emilio Aguinaldo was born here. It is also where the Philippine independence from Spain was first proclaimed from the window of its grand hall along with the playing of Julian Felipe's Marcha National Filipina on On June 12, 1898.

The house was declared a National Shrine through Republic Act 4039 on June 18, 1964. 

Legendary Mt. Makiling in the Province of Laguna

 is a dormant volcano in Laguna Province  on the island of Luzon, Philippines. The mountain rises to an elevation of 1,090 m (3,580 ft) 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. 

Pagsanjan River

                   is one of the most famous waterfalls in the Philippines. Located in the Province of Laguna the falls is one of the major tourist attractions of the region.The three-drop waterfall is reached by a river trip on dugout canoe, known locally as Shooting the rapids, originating from the municipality of Pagsanjan.The falls can also be reached from the top by a short hike from Cavinti. The boat ride has been an attraction since the Spanish Colonial Era with the oldest written account in 1894. The town of Pagsanjan lies at the confluence of two rivers, the Balanac River and the Bumbungan River (also known as the Pagsanjan River).

                                

Beautiful but active Taal Volcano 

is a complex volcano located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It is the second most active volcano in the Philippines with 33 historical eruptions. All of these eruptions are concentrated on Volcano island near the middle of Taal Lake. The lake partially fills Taal Caldera, which was formed by prehistoric eruptions between 140,000 and 5,380 BP. Viewed from Tagatay Ridge, Taal Volcano and Lake presents one of the most picturesque and attractive views in the Philippines. It is located about 50 kilometres (31 miles) south of the capital of the country, the city of Manila.

       The volcano had several violent eruptions in the past causing loss of life in the island and the populated areas surrounding the lake, with the death toll estimated at around 5,000 to 6,000. Because of its proximity to populated areas and its eruptive history, the volcano was designated a Decade Volcano, worthy of close study to prevent future natural disaster. All volcanoes of the Philippines are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire

                                       

Diving in Anilao, Province of Batangas

       Anilao is a Marine Protected Sanctuary. It is the best spot in the Philippines for underwater macro photography. Compared to the rest of the world, it is normally ranked for Muck Diving in the top 3 at Third position after the Lembeh Strait in Indonesia and Mabul Island in Malaysia.

        Here you will find vibrant and colourful Nudibranchs and a huge variety of Critters like Crabs, Shrimps and Cuttlefish. It is not rare to observe the rather strange looking Hairy Frogfish, Blue-Ringed Octopus as well as Mimic Octopus and Rhinopias. Mantis Shrimp, several species of Gobies and Bobbit Worms are also common encounters. The best place for muck diving is Secret Bay also known as Mainit Muck. This is also a great spot for an exhilirating night dive.

Mystical Mt.Banahaw - a dormant volcanic peak in the Province of Quezon

                Mt. Banahaw is the grandest of the Southern Tagalog mountains. Towering high over the provinces of Laguna and Quezon, its significance in religion and folklore makes it not only a physical, but also a cultural landmark. It is home to Rizalistas and other cults, some of whom believe the mountain as the “New Jerusalem”. To a wider populace, it is a sacred mountain, visited every Holy Week by devotees, some of whom made it a pledge to regularly climb Banahaw. Thus it is not surprising that places in the mountain have religious names, such as “Kweba ng Dios Ama” (Cave of the God the Father) and “Kalbaryo” (Calvary). At its foot village of Kinabuhayan, all sorts of amulets, magical stones, and healing herbs are peddled, together with souvenir shirts.

Delicacies

 Bulalo

Longganisang Lukban

Pansit Habhab

Tahong Oyster

         In this region, you’ll find several dishes that might sound more familiar to most, especially to Manileños. From the breakfast favorite, Longganisang Lukban, to fresh tahong (mussels) and oysters in Cavite, these classic Filipino food staples are a must for foodtrippers in the area.

        The region is also known for Quezon’s Pancit Habhab (Lucban), a close cousin to the more familiar Pancit Canton. Made with dried flour noodles, it’s best eaten by getting down and dirty with your hands, making use of the banana leaf the dish is traditionally served on.

        With the area being a major producer of beef in the country, there’s also Batangas’Bulalo. The beef dish is flavored almost solely by the rendered-down fat and cartilage, making for a hearty (although not necessarily healthy) dish for cool and breezy evenings by Taal Lake and the Taal Volcano.

Literary Forms 

•  Ana Kalang Festival: Staging the Town's Myths, Legends, and Culture
• The Myth of Maria Makiling
•  Alamat ng Batangas
• The Legend of Holy Mountain-Mt.Banahaw
• The Myth of Wawa Dam in Montalban, Rizal

Language/Dialect

  

•      Tagalog
•       English
•       Chavacano

    

Myths, Legends, Folktales in Region 4A-CALABARZON

   Myths, Legends, Folktales in CALARBARZON

  Ana Kalang Festival: Staging the Town's Myths, Legends, and Culture

          Ana Kalang Festival is a 5-day celebration every April in Nagcarlan, Laguna, across the foot of Mt. Banahaw and Mt. Cristobal. This festival commemorates the bountiful harvest of the town’s agro-industrial products which are abundant in the place, like rice, coconuts and lanzones.

The festival was named after the legendary tribe head Ana Kalang, which according to the myth was known for her tremendous wealth, kindness, piety and generosity. It is said that she used to help her townspeople in times of trouble. One day, a Spaniard came to her house and upon looking out of the window, he saw branches swaying and hitting one another, and so he asked what was going on. Ana Kalang answered and said “nagkakalang sila”. The word was repeatedly mispronounced by the Spaniards until it became Nagcarlan, which is now the name of the town. It was also said that Ana Kalang saw the Virgin Sta. Ana who took the poison out of the lanzones fruits to make them edible. Now, lanzones is one of the major products of the province.

The major attraction of the festival is the parade and the street dancing contest. Street dancers are dressed in beautiful and colorful native costumes. They dance gracefully in the streets, moving around the giant Kalang-Kalang. The Kalang-Kalang is a unique folk art and a giant statue that is ten feet high and made of various fruits, vegetables and indigenous materials. The parade is fun and enjoyable, with so much participation of the townspeople dancing merrily with the sounds of drums and lyre corps from different schools. You can also see beautiful majorettes in elegant uniforms.

Barangays, schools, organizations and individuals join the Kalang-Kalang making contest. Each of the statues that they make will be displayed in an exhibit and paraded around the town in the last day of the festival. You can see the creativity of the people in beautifying their statues and adorning them with glittery and colorful costumes and accessories.

Nipa huts are also decorated with fruits and vegetables. From afar, the decors look like colorful curtains with various designs, but when you come nearer, they're actually vegetables like sayote, raddish, chili, upo, and tomato.

Other highlights of the festival include the agro-trade fair where people can show their skills in handicraft-making and basket-weaving and showcase their products and agricultural crops like fresh fruits and vegetables, coffee and root crops. These products are also for sale to both local and foreign visitors. Cooking contest, nightly cultural shows, tours in the town’s scenic and historical spots, antique exhibits, garden shows, folk games, school bands exhibitions and a beauty pageant are the other lively activities in this festival.

Another special feature of the festival is the “Sunduan”, meaning “to fetch”. Sunduan is an old Filipino fiesta ritual that pays tribute to the Filipina’s unique Asian beauty. This is participated by the muses and escorts of the town’s different communities. These muses are then fetched by their escorts with the town mayor accompanying them from the farthest end of the town to the festival site. All are dressed in native costumes; these muses compete to be crowned the “Bb. Ana Kalang”.

Myths, legends, and cultures blend together in this dynamic Ana Kalang Festival. You will witness people's creativity and resourcefulness while having a glimpse of their rich cultural heritage.

The Myth of Mariang Makiling

    Long ago,in Mount Makiling,there lived a beautiful goddess name Mariang Makiling. She is beautiful,kindhearted and loving. She had a long shiny black hair and she often wear black pearls and gold jewelry. She often shows off herself to people living at the foot of the mountain as a human. Many times,people would climb up to the mountain and pick some fruits but when they came down,fruits changed into gold. People thanked her for it.

But one day,some people robbed her jewelry. Some hunters climb up the mountain and hunted for wild animals,cut down trees and left the forest at the top of the mountain denuded. At that time,one of those hunters is a mortal which Mariang Makiling fell in love with. She discovered that that hunter already have a mortal as his wife. After those things happened,Mariang Makiling was very angry that it thundered and rained hard that night and her voice was heard by all people leaving at the foot of the mountain saying "I have provided you food,treasures and shelter but it wasn't enough for you!I have given you everything you want but still you aren't contented. I loved you more than myself but still you searched for mortal love. Now,feel my anger! And wait for my revenge! From now on,you shall stand on your own feet and you will never see me again. I swear!" And she laughed so hard that it brought an earthquake.

After her large voice was heard, she never showed herself again to those mortals who abused her kindness. Today,it is still believed that MAriang Makiling is still living there.

  Alamat ng Batangas

      Kung saan nagmula ang pangalan ng mayamang lalawigang Batangan na ngayo’y lalong kilala sa tawag na Batanggas, ay siyang inihahayag ng maikling alamat na ito.

          Matagal nang panahon ang nakalilipas, nang ang isang pangkat ng mga Kastila ay maglibot sa isa sa mga lalawigan sa may timog sa Gitnang Luzon. Nang mga panahong iyon ay wala pang mga sasakyang kagaya ng awto, trak o diyep na tulad ngayon, kaya ang nagsisipaglibot na pangkat ng mga Kastilang iyon ay nagsisipaglakad lamang.
          Nakaratig sila sa mga pook na naggugubat sa sari-saring halaman at sa kapatagang tinutubuan ng iba’t-ibang punongkahoy. Doon sila nakakita ng mga puno ng kape, kakaw, abokado, suba, dalandan, dayap at kalamansi. Tangi sa kagandahan ng kailikasang iyan, ang mga Kastilang iyon ay nakarating pa rin sa isang malinaw na batis na may kaaya-ayang ugos ng tubig. Kaya’t libang na libang sila sa magagandang tanawin na kanilang namamasdan hanggang sa makarating sila sa isang pook na napakadalang ang bahay.
          Sa kababaan ng paglalakbay, ang pulutong na mga Kastila yaon ay inabot ng matinding gutom. Sa gayon ay nagpatuloy pa sila sa paglalakad, sapagka’t hangad nilang makasumpong ng taong mahihingian nila ng kahit kaunting pagkain.
          Hindi naman natagalan at sa kakalakad nila ay nakarating sila sa isang pook na may ilang taong gumagawa ng batalan ng isang bahay. Hindi nalalaman ng mga Kastila na ang nagsigawa ng nasabing batalan ay pawing bataris lamang, na ang ibig sabihin ay walang upa ang nagsisigawang mga anluwage. Iyan ay isang kaugalian ng mga Pilipino sa diwa ng kusang pagtutulungan, na maipagmamalaki sa Dulong Silangan.
          Ang mga Kastila ay lumapit sa mga taong yaon, na sa palagay nila ay mababait at mapitagan. Hindi naming nagakabula ang kanilang palagay, sapagka’t nang mapansin ng mga iyon na sila ay pagod at gutom ay binigyan sila ng pagkain. Gayon na lamang ang kanilang pasasalamat at habang sila’y nagkakainan ay sila-sila na rin ang nag-uusap tungkol sa kagandahang loob ng mga Pilipino.
          Nang ang mga Kastila ay makakain, bago umalis at nagpaalam ay magalang na nagtanong ang pinakapuno nila sa mga tao:
-      “Como, se llama esta provincial?”
Bagama’t ang itinatanong ng punong Kastila ay kung ano ang pangalan
ng lalawigang iyon, sa dahilang ang tanong ay binigkas sa wikang kastila, ay hindi siya naunawaan ng mga tao. Ang akala naman ng punong anluwage ang itinatanong niyon ay kung ano ang kanilang ginagawa, kaya siya ang nangahas na sumagot:
-      Batalan, senyor.
-      Batalan? – ulit ng tanong ng pinunong Kastila.
Sabay-sabay na tumango ang kaharap na mga tao kaya’t ang akala ng
Pinuno ay iyon na ang ngalan ng lalawigan. Hanggang sa umalis ay inusal-usal ang salitang BATALAN.
          Nang dumating sila sa kanilang kuwartel, dahil sa kalituhan sa kauusal sa salitang “batalan” ang naibigay tuloy sa kanilang pinakamataas na puno ay ang katagang BATANGAN. At mula nga noon iyon na ang naging pangalan ng nasabing lalawigan, na kaya lamang napalitan ng BANTANGGAS ay sa dahilan sa ating salitang BATANGAN ay hindi mabigkas na mabuti ng mga Kastila.

     

The Legend of Holy Mountain-Mt.Banahaw

     Many legends have been told about Mount Banahaw. A popular legend says that the four Archangels made Mount Banahaw the Holy Land because of the trouble in the Middle East. Still another says that Juan Ynbin, a Chinese woodcutter who joined a revolt against forced labor was dismembered by the Spaniards and thrown to sea but miraculously came back to life. He said a beautiful woman placed him on a leaf that brought him back to Majayjay near Mount Banahaw. A third story says Agripino Lontoc, a famous mystic was given the names of the different holy places in Mount Banahaw by a Holy Voice. He went to the mountains to seek for amulets and to escape the Spaniards who thought he was a rebel. Every time he tried to leave Mount Banahaw, he would go blind which is why he stayed on and became one of its first hermits.

   The Myth of Wawa Dam in Montalban, Rizal

           The limestone walls of Wawa Dam is a majestic site. It has a quiet river, huge limestone rocks, caves, and tranquil scenery which depict a mystical scene. This magnificent view in Montalban, Rizal has its own local folklore about its existence.

 It starts with the story of Bernardo Carpio who grew up in San Mateo, Rizal and was part of a rebellion against the Spanish who feared his incredible strength. Employing the powers of a local engkantado (shaman), he was trapped in between two rocks through supernatural means. Calling for a parley, they lured him towards a cave in the mountains of Montalban. The lad fell for the trap. The engkantado used his agimat (talisman) and Bernardo Carpio was caught between two boulders which the shaman had caused to grind each other.

The legend says he was not killed, but was trapped between these two boulders. He was unable to escape because the talisman’s power was as great as his own strength. When Carpio’s co-conspirators arrived at the cave to rescue him, they were blocked from the cave by a series of cave-ins that killed several of the men. People soon surmised that whenever an earthquake happens, it is caused by Bernardo Carpio trying to free himself from the mountain.

My Family Traditions

       My Family Traditions 

• Family Prayer

          For religious families, prayer is an important ritual. Family prayer doesn’t have to be just a dinnertime thing. You can pray as a family before everyone leaves in the morning, before everyone goes to bed, or both. Our family has prayers at night.

• Eating with Hands (Kamayan)

              Eating with your hands or kamayan is another common Filipino tradition. For many Filipinos, kamayan gives full taste to the food instead of using utensils. Gather a small portion of meat or fish and a bite-sized portion of rice on your plate. Then use all your fingers to gather the food into a small mountain or mound. Pick up the little mound and put it in your mouth using your thumb to gently push the food in.

• Mano Po

             Some young Filipinos right now especially those who grew up abroad might have limited idea what the “Mano Po” means. “Mano Po” is actually a Filipino tradition wherein elders give blessings to the younger person.  The one who is receiving the blessing would bow their head, take the right hand of the elder (of their right hand as well), and place it on their forehead.   It’s a sign of respect as well to the elder persons when someone younger than them asked for their hands to “Mano”.

• Attending Sunday Masses                      

                       We always wake up early to attend the first mass.

• Celebrating Birthdays

• 

                      We never forget one's birthday because it brings joy to the celebrant and a way to get closer in each member of the family.

•       All Soul's Day 

      

                       We always have time for our loved ones who already paased away.Set mass for them and light the candles.

                                God Bless !!!

      

Things To Do and Seen in Sibulan Negros Oriental

Sibulan Negros Oriental 



Senior San Antonio de Padua Church
       

    Situated in the town center of Sibulan in Negros Oriental, the simplistic-looking San Antonio de Padua Church welcomes the tourists to the small and peaceful municipality.

   The Lake Balinsasayao
         

            The Twin Lakes of Balinsasayao is also the habitat of many birds and animals, some of which are also rare. Activities include swimming, fishing, boating, trekking and kayaking. There is a clean restroom and a small canteen selling beverages and light snacks

The area is surrounded by lush tropical greens and vegetation. Age old trees, giant ferns and other exotic plants and orchids are among its natural inhabitants. Wild rare vines freely cling to the barks of the trees. The Almagica Tree, the tallest tree of the Philippines growing up to 60 meters tall, can still be found here. It is also the habitat of many rare species like the Japanese Night Heron whose presence in the vicinity was recorded in the 1970s. The dipterocarp forest is rich in bird life.

The lake is teeming with fish making it an ideal fishing ground. The calm waters also make it perfect for swimming, boating and kayaking or just sitting under one of the small huts to take in the view and the fresh mountain air. Most people bring their own packed meals for a lunch picnic in one of the cottages that may be rented. There is a canteen selling drinks, bottled water and light snacks. A small restroom is also available.

In recent years, there has been a threat by the local cut and burn farmers known as kaingeros. Uncontrolled cutting of timber in the Balinsasayao area has resulted to a reduction of the inflow of water to the lake which has in turn, caused a fall in its water level.

Yagyag Festival

   

        The festival showcases local culture and arts, unity, and fashion. It features street dancing,field presentations, colorful portrayal of coastal marine resources in the barangay and related events.

   The Lady's Garden
         

      The Our Lady’s Garden in Sibulan is a nice place to reflect and pray. Devotees of Mother Mary, which are mostly Roman Catholic, visit the park to thank her and/or ask for something from her son Jesus Christ.

Chicken Jo’s Inato 

  

        Chicken Jo’s Inato is a few meters from Sea Forest Resort going north. It is a nice pit Sea Forest 

  

      Sea Forest is a charming resort features a unique tropical forest-inspired décor. The Sea Forest Resort also boasts fun-filled facilities like a tree house, an aviary, water slides and an underwater aquarium. Wi-Fi is free in the entire resort. All rooms at Sea Forest Resort and Restaurant are air conditioned and well equipped with a safety deposit box, cable TV and an en suite bathroom. Free toiletries are provided. Some rooms come with a private balcony and views of the sea. Guests can relax in the swimming pool or in the hot tub. Other relaxation options at the resort include massages and strolls in the resort’s garden. The resort is a convenient 10-minute drive from the Sibulan Municipal Hall and the Saint Anthony de Padua Church. The Sibulan Airport and ferry terminal are a 15-minute drive away, while the Montemar Subdivision is within a 5-minute walk of the resort. The restaurant serves a variety of authentic local dishes.

Legend of Sibulan Negros Oriental

            The origin of the name Sibulan is more historical than mythical. The story goes that during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines, a group of Spaniards wandered around the area. They met several women carrying bamboo tubes, tools they used to fetch water from the springs. The Spaniards asked the women the name of the place. None of the women understood Spanish, so communication failed rather miserably. The women took it to mean the Spaniards were asking them the source of the water they were fetching, so they replied, "Sibuls", meaning "spring". Noting the abundance of springs in the area, the Spaniards named it the Land of Sibuls or land of numerous springs. As the years went by, influence of time and elements of change brought the name of the place modified to its present name, SIBULAN.

         In 1838, Sibulan became a Parish under the secular order. Then in 1856, the parish was taken over by a regular church priest.

         In 1910, Sibulan had its first set of municipal government officials when it became a municipality. Its creation was in accordance with Act No. 82, dated January 31, 1910 of the Philippine Commission relative to the creation of municipal governments in the country. The first appointed president (municipal mayor) was Macario Literal.