Matubungkay Beach

A two-kilometer long white sand beach situated in the town of Lian facing the China Sea. The area is ideal for water sports such as swimming, boating, yachting, fishing and skin diving. Dotting the shoreline are several summer cottages.

Taal Lake and Volcano

Also known as the lowest volcano in the world. Surrounded by a lake, the volcano is situated on an 8.8 Km. isled lapped by the 27 km long lake. Both the lake and the volcano are situated on the crater of an extinct volacano. The volcano island is also ideal for trekking. The volcano is the smallest in the world.

Sombrero Island

The island's external shape resembles the shape of a hat. However, underwater its profile makes its name "sombrero" even more appropriate. Diving is fairly shallow on the rim down to about 50 feet in certain area.

Caban Cove

This dive site is fairly sheltered. There are exotic coral formations, plenty of small tropical fish and an interesting small drop-off that goes down in a graduated "steps". This is a good choice for shallow dives.

Calijon Falls

Located in Brgy., Calijon, Malvar. The attraction consists of two major falls and two smaller ones. One of the bigger falls is about ten feet high with a great volume clear water gushing down to a shallow pool, while the other one (also about ten feet high) braces the rock where the water flows look like a bridal gown. One fo the wto smaller falls is located in front of a cave, while the other one forms a series of small cascades. All the falls are located in an area of about 300 sq. meters.

Basilica of San Martin de Tours (Taal Basilica).

Located in Taal Town. San Martin de Tours is the Patron Saint of Taal with the feast day every November 11th of the year. The church was first built by father Diego Espina in 1575 in San Nicolas. It was destroyed when the volcano erupted in 1654. It was rebuilt at the present site in 1755 and was destroyed by an earthquake in 1849. Construction of the present church was started in 1856 which was supervised by an architect, Luciano Oliver. It was once noted to be the biggest church in the whole of East Asia.

Mt. Maculot

Located in Cuenca. One of the highest and prominent mountains in the province, it is one of the favorite sites of mountain trekkers. It is said that the mountain was the last stronghold of the Japanese in the province before they were defeated. Several tunnels built by the Japanese soldiers still exist in the area. The name Mt. Maculot was derived from the people who lived in the mountain whose hair are kinky.

Maricaban / Tingloy

There is a cave at 125 ft., accessed by a tunnel, which makes for a challenging adventure. There are excellent coral formations, abundant pelagic fish and other outstanding photographic opportunuties.

Cueva Sitio

Also located on the island of Isla Verde. An ideal place for picnics. Its main attraction is a rockshelter that has always provided cool shade to the visitors.

Sepok Point

Located on the south western part of Maricaban Island, it has white sands and shaped like a cove.

Batangas is the home if sages and the birthplace of the country´s notable nationalists. Historical places have been the legacy of the old eras. Natural resources and picturesque sceneries abound in the area. Numerous fine beaches have been the sought-after-sites. And a few kilometers away from from the shore will bring the more adventurous ones to diverse dive sites, from the ones fit for a novice (relatively shallow, constant water current), up to the ones for thosewho may call themselves experts.

The proximity of Batangas to Manila and the good quality of most of the main provincial roads are advantageous for the existing attractions and facilities of the province. The tourism industry has been regarded as a contributor to the economy of the province.

Brief History.  Batangas was founded in 1581. It was composed of the present provinces of Batangas, Mindoro, Marinduque, and the southeastern portion of Laguna. The province was called Bombon or Balayan and its capital was the town of Balayan. By the beginning of the 17th Century, both Mindoro and Marinduque were made into a separate province from Batangas. In 1732, the capital was transfered to Taal and the province was named after its new capital. Again, in 1754, the capital was transfered to Batangas and the province was finally called after the present provincial capital.

Political Subdivision.  Batangas has two cities, Batangas City and Lipa City. The number of municipalities ia 32 with 1,080 barangays including the barangays in the two cities. The province is further divided into four political districts with each having a representative in the Congres.  With a land area of  3,165 sq. km. and Batangas City as the provincial capital.

Major Industry.  From 1814 to 1889, coffee became the leading export commodity of the country. It made the Philippines the fourth largest exporter of coffee in the world by 1880. Philippine history books further stated that Lipa bacame the world´s sole supplier around 1886-1888. However, the coffee disease struck which blighted the coffee plants in Europe, South America and Java eventually ravaged even the Lipa plantations due to poor quarantine measures.

Prosperity touched almost all the lives of the Lipeños, as the natives of Lipa were called. Some of the great wealth amassed and noble houses built during these coffee days remain intact to this day. And the town, now a city, continues to take pride in the title "Villa de Lipa," bestowed upon it as a reward for the industry and virtue of its inhabitants by the Queen Regent, Christina II of Spainon October 21, 1887.

An unofficial postcript to this story states that prior to the devastation of the Lipa plantations, a thanksgiving procession was held as part of the town fiesta. Some say coffee branch cuttings were uved as decorations, or were strewn on the ground for the floats and the people to pass over as a carpet. Soon after, the coffee disease struck. It was not until the mid-70´s when the Philippines again found the capability and the opportunity to export coffee once more, and only about a century later.

Points of Interest

General Malvar Museum and Library (National Land Mark). Located on Gov. Malvar St., Sto. Tomas. It serves as a memorial to the last Filipino general who surren dered to the American forces. The place which was donated by the family of the late general houses some of his memorabilia and the collection of oil paintings for the contest held during the Malvar Birth Centenery Celebration.

Mabini Shrine (National Shrine). Located in Talaga, Tanauan. It houses the remains and personal belongings of the late revolutionary hero and "Brains of the Katipunan", Apolinario Mabini . His tomb lies at the middle of the site where a replica of the house where he was born also stands.

Jose P. Laurel Memorial Library. Located on A. Mabini Ave., Tanauan. The personal property of the late President Jose P. Laurel was donated to the Philippine Government ti serve as a historical site and public library.

Leon Apacible Historical Landmark (National Landmark). Located at Marcela Agoncillo St., Taal Town. An ancestral house of Leon Apacible with family collection of relics and memorabilia.

Marcela N. Agoncillo Historical Landmark (National Landmark). Located on Marcela Agoncillo St., Taal. The birthplace of Marcela N. Agoncillo, the maker of the first official Filipino Flag during the Philippine revolution against the Spanish Authorities. The different flags of the revolution are also prominently displayed.

Punta de Santiago Lighthouse. Located in Calatagan. Built in 1890, it is one of the earliest lighthouses that still function up to this date. Since it was constructed, no running ship has ever ran around.

Msgr. Clemente G. Yatco Museum. Located in Basilica Site, Batangas City. The museum was built in memory of the late parish priest who started to work for the creation of the museum. Special collection includes recreated silver altar and parapherinalia, baptismal records dating back to 16th Century.

Pastor House. Located on Tirona St., Batangas city. The Pastor House is an example of a turn-of- the-century type of residence. It was originally owned by Mr. Alejo Acosta, the barrio Captain of Batangas in 1883.

It has been related that William Howard Taft, the Governor General assigned in the Philippines during the American Occupation, visited this house, and during his visit, his assassination was attempted by a sniper. To this day, the bullet which would have ended his life, is still lodged in one of the doors of the house.

Ilagan Ancestral House. Located on Marcela Agoncillo St., Taal. Buses from Manila bound for Lemery pass by the house. Jeepneys and tricycles which service the town can also be availde of.

Immaculate Conception Parish. Located in Batangas City. The parish was built in 1547 and the existing Basilica was erected in 1957. It houses the original Sto. Niño of the church which was said to have been lost at sea and was later found.

Gerthel Beach. Located in the town of Lobo, it is one of the finest beaches of the area. The approximately one kilometer stretch of white sand beach has gradually sloping ocean floor to about two hundred metes before the drop-off. A beach resort which also serves as an accommodation facility also exists.

Submarine Garden. Also located in the town of Lobo. The garden consists of living corals near the shore of one of the beaches of Lobo. It can be clearly seen during the early mornings when the water is clear and the tide is low.

Mahabang Buhangin Beach. Located in the town of San Juan, the area has white sand and a living colony of corals. It lies in a cave which is a prerequisite for a fine beach. A cave nearby adds to the attraction of the beach.

Hugon Beach. Located in Brgy. Hugon, San Juan. The sand in Hugon Beach is white and is more than one kilometer long. Some parts of the sea floor are with smoot rocks and most are with sand floors. There is a sudden drop-off only about ten meters from the beach. Aqua sports, such as snorkeling are recommended.

Tingga Falls. Located in Daang Ibaan, Batangas City. The falls is about 30ft. high with a pool made into a swimming area at its base. It is semi-developed with concrete steps built for access.

Munting Buhangin Beach. Located in Nasugbu. The area is located in a cove and offers a fine, white sand beach.

Natipunan Beach. Also located in Nasugbu. It is similar to the Munting Buhangin Beach, only that it is located in another cove.

Mainit Hot Spring. Located in Brgy. Pulang Bato, San Juan. Aboout 10 km south of San Juan, it is ideally located at the foot of a huge mountain lush with thik vegetation.

Mahabang Buhangin. Located on the island of Isla Verde, it has an extensive stretch of shoreline with a vast ribbon of fine white sand.

Tinalunan. Also located on the Island of Isla Verde. This is a spot where wind-tossed waves surge and beat against the rocky cliff supporting a long plateau. From atop the plateau, one commands a scenic sight specially when the sea is calm.

Ilijan Falls. Located in Brgy. Ilujan. A unique waterfall with water coming from a big spring at the top of a mountain, gracefully from one bowl to another. It has seven huge stone bowls carved naturally out of the mountainsides and beautifully arranged like a flight of stairs.

Bulalacao Falls. Located in Brgy. Bulaklakan, Lipa City. The area has about three small falls and enclosed in a canyon, the highest is about ten feet high with the water coming out of the mouth of a small cave.

Parada ng mga Lechon. Celebrated in Balayan Town. A celebration that coincides with the fest of St. John the Baptist. Lechons coming from each barangay of the town are paraded at the town plaza. After the parade, the townspeople and guests partake in the fete.

Subli-an sa Batangas. Celebrated in Batangas City. Held every July 23, in line with the city's Foundation Day. The festival, a brainchild of the Batangas City Cultural Affairs Board, aims to revive the centuries-old tradition of dancing the Subli, a dance indigenous to Batangas. The festival has evolved to include street dancing.

Ligpo Island. Corals of different types and huge gorgonians bound in the area. The location is on the west side of the island.

Cathedral. Approximately 75 feet sout of the Dive 7000 Resort area and about 450 feet offshore lies a giant rock formation that looks like an underwater amphitheatre. Originally virtually barren, the cathedral has been seeded with coral from other sites. The result is that throngs of eagerly fish gather around visiting divers waiting to be fed.

Layag-Layag Point. There are coral heads teeming with life and the water is usually crystal clear. There are also enough things to see to keep snorkellers interested.

Sepok. The rim of the drop-off from the due west of Sepok Point and running wouthwest is a very good divesite with many varieties of marine life.

Mapating Rock. This open reef is only for experienced divers.

Batalan. This area breaks the surface and then drops down to about 80 feet. This is a marvelous area for both wide-angle and macro-photography because of the aboundant and varied coral formations and fish life.

Merriel´s Rock. There are numerous types of coral formations enough to fascinate even a marine biologist.

Papaya Point. There is a drop-off by a wide variety of coral and inhabited by plenty of small reef fish.

Verde Island. The two most popular dive sites here are the Drop-off (o-300 ft) abd the Spanish galleon which ran around in 1620.

Malahibong Manok Island. This dive site is 50-70 feet with a flat bottom and moderate to severe current. The major attraction is a hot spring in a hollow from 60-70 feet. Around this area are excellent coral formation.

Airstrip

Name: Manny Barrada Air Strip, Official Jump Off Zone of the Parachutist Association of the Philippines.
Type: Parachuting field. Air Strip
Location: Bo Santolan, Tanauan
Manila Office: Manila Aeroclub Pasay City
Tel. No. 8317009

Volcano Trekking

Name: Tagaytay Lake Taal Tour
Location: Isla Napayong and Volcano Island
Name of Company: Acme TOurs and Travel Inc., Adamson Cente Bldg., Alfaro St., Makati
Tel. Nos.: 8100440, 8107708, 8100429
Facilities: All are located in Isla Napayong - swimming and picnic areas, shooting range Services: Transportation from Makati ti Talisay Town, boat ride to the Island resort and to Volcano Island, lunch.