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Calabarzon

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Calabarzon is an administrative region in the Philippines located southeast of Metro Manila.

Map of Calabarzon (local government units)
Map of Calabarzon (local government units)

It is officially designated as Region IVA. The region is bordered by Manila Bay and the South China Sea to the west. To the east, it meets Lamon Bay and the Bicol Region. The north is bordered by Central Luzon. To the south, the region is bounded by the Isla Verde Passage and Tayabas Bay. This region is highly significant because it is the most populous region in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has over 16.1 million inhabitants. It is also the second most densely populated region in the country.

The name Calabarzon is an acronym derived from its constituent parts. It uses the first syllables of Cavite (Ca), Laguna (la), and Batangas (ba). It also incorporates the first letter of Rizal (r) and the last syllable of Quezon (zon). The region is composed of five provinces: Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon. It also includes one highly urbanized city, Lucena. Calamba in Laguna serves as the regional center. However, most government agencies and businesses are located in Lucena.

Lucena, Quezon Ph Flag
Lucena, Quezon Ph Flag

The history of this area reaches back to the 10th century. Local historians believe certain place-names in the Laguna Copperplate Inscription refer to polities near Laguna de Bay. Some scholars suggest a trading polity called Ma-i may have been the predecessor to the town of Bay, Laguna. During the Spanish colonial period, the region was home to many important figures. The Philippine national hero, José Rizal, was born in Calamba. In 1902, Macario Sakay established the Tagalog Republic in the mountains of Rizal. This republic ended in 1906 after Sakay was betrayed.

Calambajf2779 09
Calambajf2779 09

Administrative changes have shaped the region over many decades. In 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos created Region IV, known as Southern Tagalog. This was the largest region in the Philippines at that time. It included many provinces that are no longer part of Calabarzon, such as Marinduque and Palawan. On May 17, 2002, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Executive Order No. 103. This order split the large Southern Tagalog region into two. These new regions were Region IV-A, which is Calabarzon, and Region IV-B, known as Mimaropa.

Table of Land area of Region IV – A CALABARZON
Table of Land area of Region IV – A CALABARZON

The geography of Calabarzon is diverse, ranging from flat coasts to rugged highlands. Cavite features rolling hinterlands and a shoreline on Manila Bay. It includes nine islands, such as Corregidor at the mouth of Manila Bay. Laguna contains narrow plains near Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines. It is also home to the dormant Mount Makiling and the Pagsanjan Falls. Batangas is mostly elevated with scattered mountain areas. It contains the Taal Volcano, which is a complex volcano situated within Taal Lake.

Taal Volcano aerial 2013
Taal Volcano aerial 2013

Rizal and Quezon offer different landscapes within the region. Rizal consists of valleys and mountain ranges. The eastern portion contains hills and ridges from the Sierra Madre range.

Pililla Wind Farm.1
Pililla Wind Farm.1

Quezon is a mountainous province with few plains. It includes the Tayabas Isthmus and the Bondoc Peninsula. The largest islands in Quezon are Alabat and Polillo. The region's varied terrain creates many different environments for its residents.

Calabarzon is a major economic driver for the Philippines. The region has a gross regional product of ₱1.65 trillion. This amount accounts for 17% of the national GDP. The region is also very urbanized, containing 22 total cities. This is the highest number of cities among all the Luzon regions. Antipolo in Rizal is the most populous city in the region. Other notable cities include Bacoor and San Pedro, which are very densely populated. Many parts of the region are considered part of the Greater Manila Area.

Calamba City Skyline 2018
Calamba City Skyline 2018
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🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:Table of Land area of Region IV – A CALABARZON.jpg
Table of Land area of Region IV – A CALABARZON.jpg
File:Taal Volcano aerial 2013.jpg
Taal Volcano aerial 2013.jpg
File:Map of Calabarzon (local government units).svg
Map of Calabarzon (local government units).svg
File:Lucena, Quezon Ph Flag.png
Lucena, Quezon Ph Flag.png
File:Calamba City Skyline 2018.jpg
Calamba City Skyline 2018.jpg
File:Pililla Wind Farm.1.jpg
Pililla Wind Farm.1.jpg
File:Calambajf2779 09.JPG
Calambajf2779 09.JPG
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