Road Trip Guide to 5 Getaways : CALABARZON (Part 1)

Going on a pilgrimage or a vacation to the CALABARZON Region this Holy Week? Smart Parenting has put together a list of establishments including gas stations, restaurants, churches and pasalubong centers in these areas to make your road trip to the South of Manila smooth and hassle-free. 

Click on your Southern Luzon destination : 

Cavite     Rizal     Laguna     Batangas     Quezon

  

Gas Stations

 Southbound:

• Shell Magallanes:  Magallanes Avenue, Makati City
• Shell Tollway Plaza:  Km 25 in Bo. Putatan, Muntinlupa City. Located between the Filinvest and Susana Heights exits.
• Petron San Pedro:   Km 29 in San Pedro, Laguna. Located between Susana Heights and Southwood exits.
• Caltex South Hub: Km 37 in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Located between Mamplasan and Sta. Rosa exits.

Northbound:

• Total Express Sta. Rosa: Km. 40 in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Located between Asia Brewery and Sta. Rosa exit.
• Shell Biñan: Km. 35 in Bo. Sto. Tomas, Biñan, Laguna. Located between Mamplasan and Carmona exits.
• Caltex San Pedro: Km. 29 in San Pedro, Laguna. Located between Southwoods and Susana Heights exits.

 

Click here for a list of restaurants in Cavite.

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CAVITE

Cavite Restaurants

•    Kaina sa Balsa
143 Evangelista Street, Banalo, Bacoor, Cavite
Dine on water afloat bamboo rafts and enjoy the restaurant’s best sellers like inihaw na  pusit, inihaw na tuna, tilapia, bulalo, sinigang na hipon, and bicol express.
Tel no: (6346) 434-6498;
Email: rsvp@kainansabalsa.com or info@kainansabalsa.com

•    Buona Vita Ristorante Italiano
Greenboro Building, Verdana Village, Daanghari Road, Bacoor, Cavite
Serves Italian pizza and authentic gelato.
Tel. no: (6346) 517-4105

•    Fire Lake Grill
Unit 3 Cliffhouse, General Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City, Cavite
A cozy restaurant that serves delectable steaks, grilled fish, salads, and desserts. Make sure to reserve before visiting.
Telefax: (6346) 413-2069;
Mobile no: (63) 927-914-4604
Email: firelake@i-manila.com.ph

•    Kalamunda
Tagaytay City, Cavite
The restaurant derives its name from the Australian Aboriginal term meaning “home in the bush.” Famous for its organic vegetable paella and lechon.  Call Sylvia Miguel for reservations.
Mobile no. (63917) 881-0032

•    Antonio’s Tagaytay
Brgy. Neogan, Tagaytay City, Cavite.
A garden restaurant that is famous for its fresh house salads, haute cuisine dishes, soufflé desserts, and dalandan house juice. It was previously recognized by the Miele Guide as one of Asia’s top 10 restaurants.
Mobile no: (63) 918-899-2866

•    Taj of Tagaytay
5059 Nasugbu-Tagaytay National Highway (300 meters after Tagaytay Zoo), Tagaytay City, Cavite.
An Indian-inspired bed and breakfast with affordable accommodation, free Wi-Fi, and free breakfast and back massage. Serves Indian dishes like shawarma and roti dipped in chicken masala.
Mobile no: (63) 919-821-6931
Email: tajoftagaytay@yahoo.com.ph

Click here for more restaurants in Cavite.

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 Cavite Restaurants 

•    Amoroma Ristorante Italiano
Brgy. Tolentino West, National Highway, Tagaytay City, Cavite.
Formerly located in Alabang, Amoroma serves Italian salads, pasta, pizza, and other dishes. The restaurant in Tagaytay now has an adjacent bed and breakfast. Tel no: (6346) 696-3582
Mobile no: (63) 929-269-0370

•    Sonya’s Garden
Brgy. Buck Estate, Alfonso, Cavite (near Tagaytay).
Offers an organic menu handpicked straight from the garden. Pasta is served with three choices of sauce: sundried tomatoes, chicken cream with mangoes and ratatouille.  Guests can opt to have additional entrees included in the fixed menu, like rosemary chicken and salmon with capers. A gourmet Filipino menu is also available upon special request. Call for reservations.
Mobile no: (63917) 532-9097 or (63) 917-533-5140
Email: info@sonyasgarden.com

•    Marcia Adams’ Tuscany
Along the border of Tagaytay and Alfonso, Cavite.
A garden restaurant set in a Tuscan-style environment, Marcia Adams’ Tuscany serves signature organic salads and Mediterranean entrées made fresh by the owners, Marcia and Neil. Also serves beers and wines imported from Australia and Europe. Call Marcia for reservations.
Mobile no: (63) 917-801-1456

•    Bawai’s Vietnamese Kitchen
Brgy. Bukal, Silang, Cavite.
One of the best Vietnamese restaurants in the country. Serves French-Vietnamese dishes such as Vietnamese roll with shrimps and beef pho. Call for reservations.
Mobile no: (63) 920-972-2924

•    Chateau Hestia Garden Restaurant
Brgy. Bukal, Silang, Cavite. Famous for its European cuisine and desserts like the Grand Marnier Ice Cream. Try also their homemade wines like the Limoncello and the Vin d’Orange.
Mobile no: (63) 929-711-3289

Click here for a list of churches in Cavite.

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Cavite Churches

•    Kawit Church
The history of the church dates back to 1638, when it was built under the Jesuit Mission. In 1869, President Emilio Aguinaldo was baptized in this church located in Kawit, Cavite.

•    Maragondon Church
This Church in Maragondon, Cavite, was declared a National Cultural Treasure in 2001. It was first constructed by the Jesuits in 1618 under the patronage of the Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion. It became the headquarters of the forces of Gen. Aguinaldo in 1897.

•    Tanza Church
This church in Tanza, Cavite, played an important role in Philippine history. It was where Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and Gen. Mariano Trias took their oaths as president and vice president of the Philippine Revolutionary Government in 1897.

•    San Antonio De Padua Parish
The church is located in Silang Cavite.

•    Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
Located in Tagaytay City, it offers a scenic view of the Taal Lake.


Pasalubong Center in Cavite

•    Candylicious Sweet Shop
Kawit, Cavite.
Sells polvoron and other sweets.

 

Click here for a list of restaurants in Rizal.

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RIZAL

Rizal Restaurants

•    Gotohan sa Hardin
Ortigas Avenue Extension, Cainta, Rizal
Serves classic goto and other cheap ulam treats like lumpiang gulay, dinuguan, puto and pansit palabok. Perfect for merienda.

•    Vieux Chalet Restaurant
Taktak Road, Antipolo City
Has one of the finest Swiss cookeries in the Philippines. Serves homemade cheese, pasta and bread.
Tel no: (632) 697-0396.

•    Crescent Moon Café
Ascencion Road, Barangay Dalig, Antipolo City
A restaurant-cum-pottery located amidst a garden and coi fish pools. As the residence of ceramicist Lanelle Abueve Fernando, daughter of National artist Napoleon Abueva, you can also buy ceramic ware from this place.
Tel no: (632) 658-3866.

•    Cloud 9 Restaurant
Kelly Heights Comp., Sumulong Highway, Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Antipolo City, Rizal
Serves native dishes, barbecue and sizzling dishes. Nipa huts have been erected for those who want to dine al fresco. The restaurant also provides a view of Metro Manila.
Tel. nos: (632) 344-2088; (632) 396-3018

•    Bali Gulp Restaurant
Sumulong Highway, Antipolo, Rizal
Provides a rustic atmosphere and serves dishes like crispy pata, spicy posit, and steamed tilapia.
Tel no: (632) 647-9931

•    Baba Ghannouj Restaurant
Ground Level, Unit 4, Palm Square Building along M.L. Quezon Avenue, Antipolo, Rizal / SM City Taytay / Manila East Road, Brgy. Dolores, Taytay, Rizal.
A restaurant that serves Indian, Arabic, Persian and Mediterranean dishes. Prides itself for its kabab, biryani and pilaf recipes.
Tel. no (Antipolo branch): (632) 470-1674

Click here to see more restaurants and a list of churches in Rizal.

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 Rizal Restaurants 

•    Balaw Balaw Restaurant
16 Don Justo, Dona Justa Village, Angono, Rizal.
A restaurant-cum-art gallery whose menu consists of popular Filipino dishes, some of which are made unique through the use of unusual ingredients like snake, crocodile, beetle larvae, lizard, and wild boar. The place was featured in Travel and Living Channel’s Bizaare Foods.
Tel no: (632) 651-0110

•    Scrapyard Café and Restaurant
Angono Highway, Angono, Rizal.
Offers good food at reasonable prices, including fried itik (duck), an Angono delicacy.

•    Bulawan Floating Restaurant
Along Manila East Road, Pililia, Rizal.
The restaurant sits on a 1.2-hectare fishpond and serves various types of seafood dishes.

 

Rizal Churches

•    Church of Antipolo
Located in Antipolo, Rizal, it is often visited by devotees of the Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buenviaje (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage).

•    St. Jerome Church
Located in Morong, Rizal, the Church was built by Chinese craftsmen in 1615. Its bell tower is one of the most beautiful in CALABARZON.

•    Parish of the Our Lady of Light
Located along A. Bonifacio Ave. in Cainta, Rizal, it is one of the oldest churches in Rizal. In 1727, a painting of the Our Lady of Light was brought from Sicily, Italy, to the church.

Pasalubong Center in Rizal

•    Rizal Dairy Farms
5, Magnolia Drive, Beverly Hills Subdivision, Antipolo-Taytay, Rizal.
Sells fresh dairy products, including kesong puti, Greek yogurt, and a variety of cheeses. Also sells delicious spreads, including peanut butter, strawberry jam, and mango jam.

 

Click here to see restaurants in Laguna.

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LAGUNA

Laguna Restaurants

•    Rose and Grace Restaurant in Sta. Rosa
Tagaytay Road, Santa Rosa City, Laguna
Famous for what is said to be the best bulalo in Laguna, Cavite and Batangas. Other dishes you might want to try are fried tawilis and kilawin.  
Tel. no: (6349) 541-1073.

•    RSM Lutong Bahay and Seafood Garden
Halang, Calamba City, Laguna.
Specializes in indigenous Filipino recipes.
Tel. no: (046) 834-1450

•    Lily Pad
Majoram Road, Makiling Greenheights, Calamba, Laguna.
Art gallery and restaurant offering home-cooked Mediterranean and Filipino dishes. Call for reservations (minimum 5 persons).
Tel no: (632) 401-3558
Mobile nos: (63) 918-362-4176 or (63) 917-845-2902

•    Esperanza’s Farm Dining
Brgy. Tulo, Calamba, Laguna.
Serves gourmet dishes fresh from the farm.
Tel. no: (63918) 900-2817
Mobile no: (63) 918-900-3917;
Email: aspel@pacific.net.ph

•    Herb Republic
Along National Highway, Los Baños, Laguna.
Serves fresh, organic vegetables and chicken. A must try for the health conscious.

•    Kamayan sa Palaisdaan sa Bay
Brgy. Dila, Bay, Laguna.
A floating restaurant specializing in delicious Filipino seafood and vegetable dishes.
Tel no: (049) 568-0255

Click here to see more restaurants, a list of churches and pasalubong centers in Laguna.

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 Laguna Restaurants 

•    Aling Taleng’s Halo-Halo
Pagsanjan, Laguna.
The place has been serving one of the best halo-halo in the country since 1993. Halo-halo is famous for its seven delicious ingredients: tubo, kaong, kundol. mongo, leche, flan, ube and macapuno.

•    Exotik Restaurant
Kalayaan, Laguna.
Serves “exotic” dishes including, eels, frogs, and snakes.

•    Arabela
503 Rizal Street, Liliw, Laguna.
Offers pastas, fresh salads, tacos, breads, pizza, and fruit shakes.
Tel no: (6349) 563-2495
Mobile nos: (63) 917-204-1447 or (63) 927-386-0639

 

 Laguna Churches

•    San Pedro de Alcantara Church
The San Pedro de Alcantara Church of Pakil, Laguna houses the image and icon of the Nuestra Señora Virgen de los Dolores de Turumba. The Church was mentioned in Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere.

•    San Pablo Cathedral
The cathedral of San Pablo City in Laguna is a Spanish colonial era church with a façade covered in red bricks.


Pasalubong Centers in Laguna

 •    Aling Nene’s Sweets and Pasalubongs
Total Gas Station, SLEX, Sta. Rosa Laguna.
Sells macapuno sweets, pastilles, and pastries.

•    El Mare
Located in the following places: Brgy. San Rafael, San Pablo City; Checkpoint Paciano, Calamba, Laguna; Brgy. Halang, Calamba, Laguna; and Bgy. Pansol, Calamba, Laguna.
Sells various pies, including, buko, macapuno, ube, cassava, and mango pies. Also sells cassava cake, banana cake, and chicken empanada.
Tel. no: (6349) 5450217

 

Click here to see restaurants in Batangas.

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BATANGAS

Batangas Restaurants

•    Kainan sa Dalampasigan
R. Martinez St., Brgy. Bucana, Nasugbu, Batangas.
Rustic garden restaurant that serves dishes like baked tahong, tanigue steak, kare-kare, lumpiang sariwa, and sizzling squid as its main attractions.
Tel. no:  (6343) 931-1134

•    Café de Nasugbu
Concepcion St., Baranggay 4, Nasugbu, Batangas
Serves Filipino, Thai, Italian, and Greek dishes.

•    Rose and Grace Restaurant in Sto. Tomas
Sto. Tomas, Batangas.
Famous for supposedly being home to the best bulalo in Laguna, Cavite and Batangas. Other dishes you might want to try are fried tawilis and kilawin.
Tel. no: (6343) 778-1052.

•    Charley's Farm Dining and Organic Produce
Gov. Leviste Highway, Marawoy, Lipa City, Batangas.
Offers fine dining amidst an equestrian/horse farm setting. Call for reservations (minimum of 10 and maximum of 20 people).
Tel. no (6343) 756-5876; Mobile no: (63) 920-950-7032.

•    Hapag Filipino
Gen. Luna St., Sabang, Lipa City.
Serves dishes like sinigang na maliputo with bagoong balayan, kalderetang kambing, pancit lang-lang, and bulalo.

•    Almarius Grill
Ayala Highway, Balintawak, Lipa City (in front of SM City Lipa).
Serves fresh, grilled dishes at reasonable prices. Also serves halo-halo.

•    Café de Lipa
Along National Highway, Lipa City (beside Anfa Hotel and at the back of Robinson’s Mall).
Serves one of the best barako coffees in Batangas.

Click here to see more restaurants in Batangas.

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 Batangas Restaurants 

•    Lipa Grill
Antipolo del Norte, Lipa City.
Serves classic Filipino dishes like crispy pata, kare-kare, sinigang and a variety of grilled dishes.

•    Gotohan sa Barangay
Antipolo del Norte, Lipa City.
Enjoy assorted Filipino dishes like goto, kaldereta, and crispy pata at reasonable prices.

•    Casa Rap Restaurant
Km 90, Banay-Banay, National Highway, San Jose, Batangas.
An organic greenhouse restaurant serving fresh greens and Filipino dishes. Enjoy their caldereta, halabos na sugpo, crispy pata, and suman sa lihiya.

•    Zidro’s Place
A075 Villa Feliza Subdivision, Rosario, Batangas.
A fine dining restaurant that offers continental dishes, sweets, and pastries.

•    The Tree House Restaurant
Diversion Road, Bolbok, Batangas City, Batangas.
Serves Filipino and foreign dishes. Famous for its sea foods like crispy tawilis and kilawing isda.

•    A&M Village Restaurant
Hilltop, Batangas City.
A renowned restaurant in the city, A&M Village Restaurant serves Filipino, Chinese and continental dishes.

•    Sawali Restaurant
Carpio Road, Kumintang Ibaba, Batangas City, Batangas.
Serves a range of seafood and indigenous dishes.

•    Taal Bistro Restaurant
Calle A. delas Alas, Poblacion, Taal, Batangas.
Serves a variety of local dishes like tapang Taal, longganisa, ensladang talong, bulalo, pancit, and fried tawilis.

•    Taal Bayview Bistro Restaurant
Along National Highway, Taal, Batangas.
A branch of Taal Bistro Restaurant.

Click here to see more restaurants, a list of churches and pasalubong centers in Batangas.

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 Batangas Restaurants 

•    Agot’s Bar & Restaurant
168 Palikpikan St., Balayan, Batangas.
Famous for its crispy pata, bulalo, and kare-kare. Try also their Chinese dishes, pastries, and sweets.

•    Cafeno Batangas
No.9 cor General Luna and Rizal St., San Juan, Batangas.  
Cozy, casual place housed in a century-old Spanish home in the San Juan town center. Famous for its freshly-brewed barako.
Tel. no: (6343) 575-5161

•    Bahay Marikit Restaurant
Along National Highway, Barrio Maraykit, San Juan, Batangas.
Serves Filipino dishes like crispy pata, chicken barbecue, pancit canton, and pancit bihon.

 

 Batangas Churches

•    Caleruega Church:
Also known as the Transfiguration Chapel, it is located at Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas. The church stands on a hill amidst lush greenery and is famous among those who are planning to tie the knot.

•    Balayan Church
The Balayan Church in Batangas is one of the few churches in the Philippines that were built under the directions of native Filipino clergymen during the Spanish colonial era.

•    Calaca Church
A Baroque-style church in Calaca, Batangas.

•    Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church
Located in Lipa, Batangas, it was founded in 1946 just after World war II.

•    Basilica de San Martin de Tours
This church in Taal Batangas is the largest Church in Asia. It was originally constructed beginning 1575.

Pasalubong Center in Batangas

•    San Juan Pasalubong Center
San Juan, Batangas. Sells lambanog, barako coffee, sweets, trinkets, native handicrafts, etc.

Click here to see restaurants in Quezon.

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QUEZON

Quezon Restaurants

•    Kamayan sa Palaisdaan sa Tayabas
Brgy. Dapdap, Tayabas, Quezon.
A floating restaurant specializing in delicious Filipino seafood and vegetable dishes.
Tel no: (6342) 793-3654

•    Silangan Nayon
Pagbilao, Quezon.
Dine in nipa huts set on stilts a few meters into the sea. Delicious meals are delivered via a container made to zipline on a suspended cable across the sea.

•    Buddy’s Restaurant
Lucban, Quezon.
A small, self-serve restaurant with nice ambience that is famous for its noodle dishes like pancit habhab and pancit miki.

•    Adordo’s Restaurant
Lucban, Quezon.
Serves a variety of Filipino dishes like laing, longganisa, barcbecue, pancit habhab, and a selection of food cooked in coconut milk.

•    Ground Zero House of Pizza
San Luis St., Lucban, Quezon.
Famous for its pizza.
Tel. no: (6342) 540-9615

•    Giusseppe Bar e Ristorante
L-2, B-12, Doña Aurora, Gulang- Gulang, Lucena City, Quezon.
Offers sizzling plates, pastas, and calamari dishes. Bands and singers perform at night.
Tel. no: (6342) 710-5557

•    JM Tsuki Japanese Restaurant
Pleasantville Subdivision, Iyam  Lucena City, Quezon.
Serves Japanese cuisine.
Tel. nos: (6342) 373-4886 or (6342) 373-4867.

Click here to see more restaurants and a list of churches in Quezon.

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Quezon Restaurants

•    Don Vittorio's Restaurant
Quezon Ave., Lucena City, Quezon.
Serves Italian dishes.

•    Isabel's Restaurant and Native Deli
2 Abellanosa St. corner Tagarao St., Lucena City, Quezon.
Offers a selection of culinary delights including pasta and steak dishes. Also offers native delis like tininghi, crab tininghi, pinais, pinangat, Lucban longgonisa, and sinantolan
Tel. no: (6342) 661-9319 Mobile no: (63) 915-992-9048

•    Diamond D' Cafeteria Nook and Gazebo Astoria
Diamond Resort and Restaurant, Maharlika Highway,,Brgy. Ibabang Dupay, Lucena City.
Serves a variety of local an international dishes.

•    Granja Panciteria
180 Granja St., Lucena City, Quezon.
Serves cheap Filipino dishes.


Quezon Churches

•    St. Michael the Archangel Minor Basilica
First built in 1585, it is one of the oldest churches in the country. The church is located in Tayabas, Quezon

•    Atimonan Church
This church in Atimonan, Quezon, was first built in 1640 but was completely destroyed during World War II. Reconstruction of the church started in 1979.

•    Cathedral of San Diego de Alcala
One of the biggest and oldest Catholic churches in Quezon. It was originally built in 1852, burned by invading Dutch forces in 1665, and reconstructed in 1846.

Click here to see more churches and a list of pasalubong centers in Quezon.

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Quezon Churches

•    Church of Saint Louis of Toulouse
Originally built in 1593, it was destroyed several times until being renovated by the Philippine Historical Conservation Society in 1966. It is located in Lucban, Quezon.

•    St Catherine of Alexandria Parish
This church is located in Pagbilao, Quezon


Pasalubong Centers in Quezon

 •    Villamater’s Bakery
Sariaya, Quezon
Sells goodies, including pastllas and pugon-baked broas, as well as various pasalubongs.

•    Calle Budin
Jacinto St., between A.M. Regidor and Legaspi Streets in Tayabas, Quezon.  
Sells Quezon specialties like broas, nilupak, pancit habhab, tikoy, Lucban longganisa, pinagong, pinais, and lambanog, as well as goodies from Laguna like espasol, puto seko, shing-aling, and uraro.

•    Leah’s Pasalubong Center
Gomez St. Cor. Quezon Ave., Lucena City, Quezon.
Sells about 60 types of desserts, including pitsi-pitsi, broas, pinagong, biscocho, uraro, kalibkib, apaz, and tikoy. Also sells Lucban longganisa and pancit Lucban.
Tel. nos: (6342) 710-6699 or (6342) 710-4226
Mobile no: (63) 910-832-1604.

•    Teresa’s House of Pasalubong
Juarez St., Lucena City, Quezon.
Sells pastries and desserts

Don’t miss Part 2 of the Holy Week Family Traveler Guide on Monday, April 18, featuring Northern Luzon pit stops! 



Photo from sxc.hu