Batangas Province

Batangas is in southwestern Luzon. It is bounded on the north by Cavite, on the east by Laguna and Quezon, on the west by the South China Sea, and on the south by the Verde Island Passage

Some 50% of the province´s terrain is generally rolling, the rest are mountainous and hilly.

Mt. Makulot rises 1145 meteres in the central part.

Taal Lake and Volcano, although usually viewd from Tagaytay in Cavite, is in Batangas. In fact, the entire province is said to be once the base of a huge volcano which erupted violently and Taal Lake used to be its crater. The present volcano, the smalles active one in the world, is sometimes referred to as a volcano within a volcano.

The irregular coastline is dotted with coves, peninsulas and bays.

The Maricaban and Verde Islands in the Verde Island Passage belong to the province.

Batangas has two disitinct seasons: dry from November to April and wet the rest of the year.

The discovery of ancient graves and sites containing Chinese pottery in Calatagan established the fact that the Philippines traded with is neighboring Asian nations long before the coming of the Spaniards in the 16th century.

In 1570, Martin de Goite and Juan de Salcedo expored the coast of Batangas and came
upon a Malay settlement at the mouth of Taal River. The town of Taal was founded in 1572.

The province was organized in 1581. It was composed of what is now Batangas, the islands
of Mindoro and Marinduque, and the southeastern portion of Laguna. It was then called Bombon or Balayan with the capital at the town of Balayan. By the begiining of the 17th century, Mindoro and Marinduque were made into a separate province.

In 1732, the capital was transferred to Taal and the province was named after it.

Again in 1754, the capital was moved to Batangas and the province asumed its present name.

The province was one of the first eight provinces that revolted against Spain. It has since then been known as the home of heroes and patriots. Apolinario Mabini, the "Sublime Paralvtic" and "Brains of the Revolution", was from Tanauan. Marcela Agoncillo, who sewd the Filipino flag hoisted during the proclamation of Philippine independence in Kawit, Cavite, on June 12, 1898, was from Taal. Miguel Malvar, the las Filipino Genral to surrender to the Americans, was born in Santo Tomas. Jose P. Laurel, the president of the Japanese-backed Philippine Republic during World War II, was from Tanauan too.

BAtangas is one of the principal seats of Tagalog culture.

The people speak the language with a distinct accent.

Batangueños are renowned for their industriousness as traders.

Many commercial center in the country often have establishment owned by
people of Batangas descent.

Agriculture is the main economic activity in Batangas.

The major crops, in terms of area planted, are palay, sugarcane, coconut and coffe or cacao.

The province is also a major supplier of cattle to Metro Manila.

The coast provides rich fishing grounds. Taal Lake is also a major fish source where
the tasty maliputo and tawilis are caught.

There is many buses going from Manila to Batangas daily - someone told me abouth every 30 minuts.

One of them is going through Cavite Province and the other one is going through Laguna Province.