CALABARZON and MIMAROPA

As of 2026-09-08 · Updated 2026-09-08 · Section: Regions & the Bangsamoro · 日本語版

1. The Big Picture — How the Old "Southern Tagalog Region" Split in Two

CALABARZON (Region IV-A) and MIMAROPA (formerly Region IV-B) were originally a single region: the "Southern Tagalog Region" (Region IV). It existed from January 1, 1965 to May 17, 2002, and was the largest region in the country by both area and population (11,793,655 people in the 2000 census). 注(Noted in the 2026-08-25 cross-check / added in same-day re-verification) The "1965" starting point comes from a different lineage of figures than the basis for the current regional system. The "Geography and Administrative Divisions" reference cites Presidential Decree No. 1 (PD 1) of September 24, 1972 as the basis for the current Region divisions. 注As for the "January 1, 1965" starting date, the underlying legal basis (a Republic Act, Presidential Decree, or Executive Order) could not be identified after searching LawPhil, Chan Robles, and the Official Gazette — 注 primary source not reached (as of 2026-08-26). (In the 2026-08-26 source-hygiene pass, the earlier wording that relied on a secondary site's account was removed.) It is quite possible that pre-1972 "regions" were not legally defined administrative units but merely statistical/administrative groupings. When citing a year, be sure to distinguish between "the current regional divisions under PD 1 (1972)" and "the earlier grouping."

On May 17, 2002, President Arroyo's Executive Order No. 103, s. 2002 split the region into IV-A and IV-B, and at the same time transferred Aurora province to Central Luzon (Region III). The official title is "DIVIDING REGION IV INTO REGION IV-A AND REGION IV-B, TRANSFERRING THE PROVINCE OF AURORA TO REGION III AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES." Section 1 states "Region IV is hereby divided into Region IV-A and Region IV-B," and Section 4 states "The Province of Aurora is hereby transferred to and shall form part of Region III," taking effect immediately upon approval. IV-A = the five provinces of Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, and Rizal plus 10 cities; IV-B = the five provinces of Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, and Romblon plus 2 cities. (Source: the original legal text, LawPhil "Executive Order No. 103, s. 2002" = lawphil.net/executive/execord/eo2002/eo_103_2002.html. In the 2026-08-26 source-hygiene pass, this was switched from a secondary site to the original legal text.)

注 The name "Region IV-B" is no longer the official designation. Under Republic Act No. 10879 (RA 10879, July 17, 2016), it was renamed "MIMAROPA Region / Southwestern Tagalog Region," and the "IV-B" designation was abolished. It is still used interchangeably in practice, so do not rely on "IV-B" alone in official documents.

Comparing the Two Regions (2024 Census / 2025 Economy)

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), "2025 Regional Accounts" (published April 23, 2026); PSA 2024 Population Census; NWPC; Inquirer (April 25, 2026, MIMAROPA's 4.2%).

注注 "CALABARZON's population of 16.19 million" is a 2020 census figure. It is still widely used in Japanese-language materials and corporate documents, but the 2024 census puts it at 16,933,234 (approximately 16.93 million). That is an increase of approximately 740,000 people (+4.6%). Always attach the year.

Note that the claim "CALABARZON is the most populous region in the country" remains correct even under the 2024 census.

注However, the original draft's claim that it has "led NCR ever since the 2000 census" is wrong (corrected in the 2026-08-25 verification pass).

Census	CALABARZON	NCR	Larger
2000	9,320,629	9,932,560	NCR
2007	11,757,755	11,566,325	CALABARZON (overtook here — a gap of 191,430)
2010	12,609,803	11,855,975	CALABARZON
2015	14,414,774	12,877,253	CALABARZON
2020	16,195,042	13,484,462	CALABARZON
2024	16,933,234	14,001,751	CALABARZON

As of 2000, NCR was ahead by 610,000. Region IV-A (CALABARZON) itself was only formed by the 2002 split, so the 2000 figure of 9,320,629 is merely the aggregate for "the area that would later become CALABARZON." (Resolved in the 2026-08-26 source-hygiene pass. The earlier draft said "it is unconfirmed whether the crossover happened in 2007 or 2010.") The crossover happened in the 2007 census. CALABARZON's 11,757,755 exceeded NCR's 11,566,325. If citing a year, the accurate statement is "the largest region in the country every year since the 2007 census." (Source: PhilAtlas's "CALABARZON (Region IV-A) Profile" / "National Capital Region Profile," which compile PSA regional census figures — as of 2007, PSA was still the predecessor National Statistics Office (NSO) = philatlas.com/luzon/r04a.html / philatlas.com/luzon/ncr.html. The site explicitly states that "population count (excluding percentages) and land area figures are derived from the Philippine Statistics Authority." The 2024 figure is from PSA's "Highlights of the Region IV-A (CALABARZON) Population 2024 Census of Population (2024 POPCEN)" (officially finalized by presidential proclamation on July 17, 2025).) 注 However, the NSO's original 2007 census table itself could not be reached (psa.gov.ph returned an access refusal). When citing figures down to the exact digit, re-verification against the original PSA table is advisable.

2. CALABARZON — A Sketch of Its Five Provinces

(In the 2026-08-26 source-hygiene pass, the area column was completely replaced. The earlier draft used the areas from each province's Wikipedia entry, giving Cavite both "1,426.06" and "1,574.17"; PSA's official land area (2013 baseline) is neither of these, but 1,526.28 km².) Source: Population = PSA, "Highlights of the Region IV-A (CALABARZON) Population 2024 Census of Population (2024 POPCEN)" (officially finalized by presidential proclamation on July 17, 2025; Cavite 4.57M, Laguna 3.69M, Rizal 3.42M, Batangas 2.99M, Quezon 1.98M, Lucena City 280,000 — consistent with the largest city, Antipolo, at 913,712) / Area = PSA's official land area (2013), as compiled in PhilAtlas's provincial profiles (philatlas.com/luzon/r04a/…). 注 The region's total area differs depending on the source: against the 16,873.31 km² cited at the top of this article, the PSA-based figure (PhilAtlas) is 16,576.26 km² (16,496.05 for the five provinces combined + Lucena City). The roughly 300 km² gap means the source must always be specified when computing area ratios or densities.

注注 "The Province with the Country's Highest Population Density" — Using PSA's Official Figures, Cavite Comes Out on Top (recalculated in the 2026-08-26 source-hygiene pass)

The original draft flatly stated that Rizal province had the highest population density of all provinces, but using PSA's official population and official land area, Cavite comes out ahead.

Province	2024 Population (PSA 2024 POPCEN)	Land Area (PSA official, 2013)	Density (people/km²)
Cavite	4,573,884	1,526.28	approx. 2,997
Rizal	3,416,541	1,182.65	approx. 2,889

(Figures replaced in the 2026-08-26 source-hygiene pass.) The earlier draft calculated "approx. 3,207 vs. approx. 2,866" using the Wikipedia provincial-entry areas of Cavite at 1,426.06 km² and Rizal at 1,191.94 km², and further noted that "Wikipedia's own Rizal entry displays itself as '#1 of 82 provinces' — an inconsistency even within that one site." Recalculating with PSA's official areas lowers the density levels themselves, but the ranking — Cavite ahead of Rizal — does not change. 注 Figures of 1,426.06 km² (secondary sites) or 1,574.17 km² (this article's original draft) also circulate for Cavite's area, but neither is PSA's official figure (1,526.28 km²). 注When stating a rank, always attach (1) which year's population and (2) whose area figure is used. The official density ranking for all 82 provinces could not itself be reached (注 primary source not reached), so do not flatly state "#1 nationwide."

注 Cavite province's area varies by 100–150 km² depending on the source (PSA official 1,526.28 km² / secondary sites 1,426.06 km² / this article's original draft 1,574.17 km²). When computing density or per-capita indicators, make clear which area figure was used.

注 Quezon province's population does not include Lucena City. Lucena is CALABARZON's only highly urbanized city (HUC) and is administratively independent of the province. The gap of roughly 280,000 between the five provinces' combined total (16,652,903) and the regional total (16,933,234) is Lucena's share.

注 "CALABARZON's largest city is Calamba" is not correct. The most populous city is Antipolo City (Rizal province, 913,712 in 2024, 7th nationwide). Calamba (575,046 in 2024) is the regional center, not the largest city. Calamba's designation as regional center was made under Executive Order No. 246 (October 28, 2003, under President Arroyo).

2-1. Key Points for Each Province

Cavite — the heartland of the Philippine Revolution. The Tejeros Convention of 1897 and the declaration of independence at Kawit on June 12, 1898 both took place here. The current governor is Francisco Gabriel D. Remulla. 8 cities, 15 municipalities. 注 The legal capital is Imus, but the provincial capitol is in Trece Martires, which serves as the de facto center — a dual structure.

Laguna — known as the "Detroit of the Philippines" (automobiles) and the "Silicon Valley" (electronics). 注 These are self-styled/informal nicknames, not official indicators. Los Baños is home to the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI, founded 1960). Pagsanjan Falls, Mt. Makiling, and the Seven Lakes of San Pablo.

Rizal — a "bedroom" province dependent on the capital region, while also hosting the capital region's final waste disposal sites and quarries. The Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs are dated to around 3000 BC (late Neolithic) and are considered the oldest known artwork in the country. 127 human- and animal-like figures are engraved on the wall of a shallow rock shelter of volcanic tuff (about 60m wide and 5m high). National Artist Carlos V. Francisco (Botong) discovered them in March 1965 during a Boy Scout outing and reported them to the National Museum, and Jesus Peralta conducted an initial survey that October–November. They were declared a National Cultural Treasure under Presidential Decree No. 260 (PD 260) on August 1, 1973. (Source: the National Museum of the Philippines' official website, "Rizal" page — "the site of the oldest known artworks in the Philippines — rock art dated 3000 B.C. consisting of 127 human and animal-like figures engraved on the wall of a shallow cave of volcanic tuff" / the original legal text, LawPhil "Presidential Decree No. 260" = lawphil.net/statutes/presdecs/pd1973/pd_260_1973.html. That decree explicitly lists the "Petroglyphs of the Rockshelter in Angono, Rizal" and places it under the National Museum's supervision pursuant to Sections 3 and 7 of RA 4846.) 注 The figure "51 of the 127 identifiable" could not be traced to a primary source (注 primary source not reached, as of 2026-08-26). Neither the National Museum nor PD 260 states any number beyond "127."

注 The question of the UNESCO Tentative List was resolved in the 2026-08-26 source-hygiene pass. The earlier draft's claim that "whether it is even listed is unconfirmed" was itself wrong. - It was listed: the site was included as one of five constituent components of "Petroglyphs and Petrographs of the Philippines" (Tentative List ID 5018, submitted May 16, 2006, under criterion (iii)), alongside Angono (Rizal province), Alab (Bontoc, Mountain Province), Peñablanca (Cagayan province), Singnapan Cave (South Palawan), and the Anda Peninsula (Bohol province). - But it was dropped in 2024: On February 1, 2024, when the Philippine National Commission for UNESCO (UNACOM) submitted an updated Tentative List (25 items total — 14 natural, 8 cultural, 3 mixed) to the World Heritage Centre, "Petroglyphs and Petrographs of the Philippines" was removed, along with the Cagayan Valley Paleolithic Sites, the Lal-lo and Gattaran Shell Middens, and the Kabayan Mummy Caves. - So it is correct that the rock-art site is not among the 25 items on the Tentative List as of August 2026, and the claim that "it is on the Tentative List" was also correct for 2006–2024. It was simply a matter of the timeframe. (Source: the UNESCO World Heritage Centre's Philippine Tentative List = whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/, that same ID 5018 / Inquirer Lifestyle, "7 PH sites added to Unesco World Heritage tentative list," which specifies 4 removals, 7 additions, and a submission date of February 1, 2024.) Multiple sources agree that the same petroglyphs were included in the World Inventory of Rock Art in 1985 and taken up as a conservation subject by the World Monuments Fund in 1996.

Batangas — 5 cities, 29 municipalities. Lipa is the most populous city. Home of the balisong (butterfly knife), the 19th-century Spanish-era townscape of Taal, and diving at Anilao. The current governor is Vilma Santos-Recto.

Quezon — Mt. Banahaw (2,169m, an active volcano) is also a folk-religious sacred site. The Polillo Islands and the Bondoc Peninsula. Tagalogs make up about 90% of the population. 注 It is prone to frequent typhoons, and the 2004 landslide disaster in Real, Infanta, and General Nakar in this province demonstrated its vulnerability.

3. Manufacturing and PEZA — The Largest Cluster of Japanese Companies

CALABARZON is the core of Philippine manufacturing and the largest cluster of Japanese-affiliated companies.

Japanese-affiliated companies in the Philippines are estimated at around 1,400–1,500 nationwide (JETRO / industry estimates), with the core being electronic components, semiconductors, and auto parts, most of them located in Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas. 注 No official, confirmed figure exists (as of August 2026) breaking down "the number of Japanese companies in CALABARZON" by province or region. It is safest to stick to the qualitative description "the largest cluster."

3-1. PEZA Investment Approvals (2025–2026)

3-2. 注 Light and Shadow — 2025 Unemployment Was the Worst of Any Region

注注 CALABARZON is "the most industrialized region in the Philippines," but it also recorded the highest unemployment rate of any region in 2025 (BusinessWorld, March 23, 2026, based on PSA labor force survey reporting). The exact rate could not be independently confirmed in this article (not confirmed), but the simple assumption that "industrial concentration equals abundant jobs" does not hold. Population inflow is outpacing job creation. For reference: the national unemployment rate was 5.8% in January 2026 (the highest in over three years) and 4.9% in June 2026 (2.59 million people), with an underemployment rate of 12.1% (PSA).

3-3. Prices (2026)

The national inflation rate peaked at 7.2% in April 2026, and CALABARZON exceeded even that. This shows the region is especially exposed to the fuel-price spike stemming from the Middle East conflict.

4. Batangas's Energy Sector — The LNG Hub and the 2026 State of Emergency

Batangas province is a major hub for gas-fired power generation and LNG imports in the Philippines. Gas from the Malampaya field off Palawan comes ashore in Batangas via subsea pipeline, and a cluster of thermal power plants sits at that landing point.

On November 17, 2025, Prime Infrastructure Capital (affiliated with Enrique Razon) completed the acquisition of 60% of First Gen's gas business for ₱50 billion (approximately US$895 million). The assets covered are the four existing gas-fired plants plus one under development, and Batangas's interim LNG terminal. The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) approved the deal on October 24, 2025, and BDO extended a loan of ₱30 billion (Inquirer, January 10, 2026). (Source: Prime Infra, BusinessWorld November 18, 2025, Power Philippines)

4-1. What the 2026 Middle East Conflict Did to This Region

The Middle East conflict since February 28, 2026 (the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz) hit this region hardest.

The August 2026 PEZA-LNG MOU symbolizes the industrial structure of this region. With industrial-park electricity costs surging due to the conflict, the idea of piping gas directly from Batangas's LNG terminals to industrial parks has gained real traction. 注 However, at this point it is still "an MOU for a study," and no supply plan has been finalized.

For reference: in early May 2026, former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Batangas's LNG terminal as a special envoy, pledging energy-security support under the AZEC framework (Prime Infra, Daily Tribune). In June 2026, Mitsubishi Power signed a long-term maintenance contract for Batangas's gas-fired plants (Mitsubishi Power, BusinessWorld).

5. Taal Volcano

(In the 2026-08-26 source-hygiene pass, two points were corrected. The earlier draft primarily used "39 eruptions" and "approximately 1,100 deaths in 1911," treating agreement with secondary-site accounts as "confirmed." ① Number of eruptions: PHIVOLCS states "33 times between 1572 and 1977" (GMA News's "Timeline of Taal Volcano eruptions" states explicitly that "The Taal erupted 33 times between 1572 and 1977, according to PHIVOLCS"). "39 times" follows the Smithsonian GVP counting method. ② 1911 death toll: 1,335 (from the phreatic eruption of January 27 – February 7, 1911; 732 bodies recovered). The earlier draft, which had primarily used "approximately 1,100," was an undercount. Elevation 311m / Volcano Island approx. 23km² / first eruption 1572 / largest in 1754 / 39 deaths in the 2020 eruption remain unchanged. 注 However, PHIVOLCS's official site (phivolcs.dost.gov.ph) could not be accessed during this work due to an SSL verification error and a 422 status, so the above is sourced via major news reports (GMA) citing PHIVOLCS — 注 PHIVOLCS's original page not reached (as of 2026-08-26).)

5-1. The January 12, 2020 Eruption

注 It is wrong to describe "39 dead from the Taal eruption" as "39 dead from pyroclastic flow." Always check the breakdown of causes of death.

5-2. The 2025–2026 Situation Latest

As of August 2026, Alert Level 1 (abnormal condition) has been maintained continuously, but minor phreatomagmatic eruptions have continued intermittently.

• April 9, 2026: minor eruption (Inquirer)
• June 5, 2026: phreatomagmatic eruption with ashfall (Inquirer)
• June 30, 2026: minor phreatomagmatic eruption (PNA)
• July 1, 2026: seismic activity surged after a series of eruptions
• July 31, 2026: 32 volcanic earthquakes in 24 hours
• August 15, 2026: 74 volcanic earthquakes in 24 hours (Inquirer)
• August 1, 2026: SO₂ emissions declined, along with seismic activity (Inquirer)

注 Any account that stops at "the volcano that erupted in 2020" is six years out of date. It also erupted in 2021 and 2022, and remains active in 2026. Viewing it from Tagaytay is a classic tourist activity, but boat tours landing on Volcano Island can always be suspended depending on the alert level.

5-3. The UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

注注 The entry on the Tentative List is not called "Taal Volcano Protected Landscape." As of August 2026, what appears on the Philippines' Tentative List (25 items total) is:

Official name (English): "The Historic Towns and Landscape of Taal Volcano and its Caldera Lake" — Location: Batangas and Cavite provinces / Category: mixed heritage (criteria ii, ix) The submission year is 2024 (resolved in the 2026-08-26 source-hygiene pass). The UNESCO World Heritage Centre's Tentative List shows a Date of Submission of February 7, 2024 (07/02/2024). The Philippine National Commission for UNESCO (UNACOM) submitted the updated list on February 1, 2024, and this site is one of the seven newly added items from that update. 注The earlier draft said "UNESCO shows 2024, secondary sites show 2015 — a discrepancy, unconfirmed," but the batch submitted on March 20, 2015 consisted of the Mt. Mantalingahan Protected Landscape, the Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Mayon Volcano Cultural Landscape — Taal Volcano is not among them. The "2015" claim is wrong.

(Name corrected in the 2026-08-25 verification pass. The original draft called it "Taal Volcano Historic Towns and Landscape" and flatly stated "listed in 2024." The official name, as above, includes "and its Caldera Lake." The 2026-08-26 source-hygiene pass resolved the dual dating of the submission year and removed the secondary-site-derived "2015" claim. Source: the UNESCO World Heritage Centre's Philippine Tentative List = whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/, Inquirer Lifestyle's "7 PH sites added to Unesco World Heritage tentative list.")

In other words, it is important that the site was proposed not as "a volcano (natural heritage)" but as "historic towns plus volcanic landscape (mixed)." The 10 items submitted on February 7, 2024 (7 new additions plus expansions/resubmissions) include "Corregidor Island and Historic Fortifications of Manila Bay," "Colonial Urban Plan and Fortifications of the Walled City of Manila," "Negros-Panay Sugar Cultural Landscape," "Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary," "Mt. Kitanglad / Kalatungan Mountain Range," "Samar Island Natural Park," "Cagayan Valley Prehistoric Sites," "Cordillera Rice Terraces (expansion)," and "Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary (expansion) = Pujada Bay" (UNESCO Tentative List).

On the MIMAROPA side, Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park (Mindoro) and Apo Reef Natural Park appear on the Tentative List. 注 The submission years for both could not be independently confirmed in this article (注 primary source not reached).

5-4. Tawilis

Sardinella tawilis, endemic to Taal Lake, is said to be the only sardine species adapted to fresh water. It is explained as having arisen when the 1754 eruption cut off the lake's connection to the sea. 注 Overfishing and water-quality decline have reduced its numbers, and treating it as a "cheap all-you-can-eat" souvenir food no longer matches reality.

6. Laguna de Bay — Pollution and Fisheries

The largest inland lake in the country. It rims the eastern and southern edges of the capital region, touching Rizal province, Laguna province, and NCR.

注注 The area of the catchment basin has three different meanings depending on what is being described (organized in the 2026-08-26 source-hygiene pass).

The figure of "45,000 km²," an order of magnitude larger, which the earlier draft cited, came from a secondary site and matches none of LLDA's definitions. It was removed in the 2026-08-26 source-hygiene pass. 注 When citing a figure, always specify whether it is "the lake's watershed (3,820)" or "LLDA's administrative jurisdiction (3,880)." (Source: LLDA's official website, "Laguna de Bay," "Laguna de Bay and its Tributaries," "Hydrological Map" = llda.gov.ph / LLDA Board Resolution No. 33 (December 19, 1996, EUFS implementing rules), held in the Supreme Court E-Library = elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph)

6-1. LLDA (Laguna Lake Development Authority)

• Established under Republic Act No. 4850 (1966). Its powers were expanded by Presidential Decree No. 813 (PD 813, 1975) and Executive Order No. 927 (EO 927, 1983).
• The Environmental User Fee System (EUFS) — a market-based, polluter-pays mechanism that levies annual fees based on discharge permits and pollutant concentration. The system itself was approved under Board Resolution No. 25 (1996), and its implementing rules under Board Resolution No. 33 (December 19, 1996). It was applied in phases from 1997, starting with the region's highest-pollution-load industries. Its basis is RA 4850 (as amended by PD 813, EO 927, and PD 984), which later incorporated the penalty framework of Section 28 of RA 9275 (the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004). Amended by Board Resolution No. 322 in 1997. 　(Corrected in the 2026-08-26 source-hygiene pass. The earlier draft's "Board Resolution No. 22 of 1996" was wrong; the correct numbers are 25 (system approval) and 33 (implementing rules). Source: the Supreme Court E-Library's copy of "LLDA RESOLUTION NO. 33, S. 1996 — Approving the Rules and Regulations Implementing the Environmental User Fee System in the Laguna de Bay Region" = elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/10/39534)
• Powers: water-quality monitoring, discharge permits, zoning of the lakeshore belt, river rehabilitation, and permitting for surface-water use.

6-2. 注 The Structural Problem of Fish-Pen Aquaculture

注注 On May 28, 2024, the Commission on Audit (COA) found that "LLDA had allowed private companies to exceed the fish-pen area limits in Laguna de Bay" (Rappler, May 28, 2024). This is the lake's most politically charged issue — "who gets to use the lake surface, small-scale fishers or large aquaculture operators" — a structure in which the regulator itself had condoned the overreach.

6-3. Developments in 2025–2026 Latest

On the water-supply side, in December 2023 the Muntinlupa Poblacion Water Treatment Plant (₱11 billion, 150 million liters/day) went into operation, and East Bay Phase 2 in Pakil, Laguna (targeting 200 million liters/day) is under construction. Keep in view the dual character of Laguna de Bay: it is both "a polluted lake" and "a new water source for the capital region."

7. Quezon Province's Coconuts and the Pahiyas Festival

7-1. Coconut

Quezon province has historically been a coconut economy. 注 The widely circulated claim that "Quezon is the country's number-one coconut-producing province" could not be independently confirmed against PSA's provincial figures in this article (not confirmed). When citing a rank, always specify "PSA, which year, fresh-nut basis or copra basis."

In 2025–2026 the biggest issue was volatile copra prices.

Lambanog — a distilled spirit (roughly 40–45% ABV) made from coconut sap — has Quezon province as its home.

7-2. The Pahiyas Festival — Lucban

注 "Pahiyas is not a festival exclusive to Lucban." Nearby towns hold similar festivals the same day. 注 Reports say the NCCA designated it a "National Cultural Treasure" in 2013, but the original proclamation is not confirmed. 注 On May 14, 2026, Inquirer reported that "farmers in Quezon complained of being 'left behind' on San Isidro's feast day." The festival's festivity and rural hardship should be treated as separate issues.

7-3. The Antipolo Pilgrimage

The "Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage" in Antipolo, Rizal province, is an image brought from Mexico in 1626. It was designated Southeast Asia's first "International Shrine" (注 the year of designation is not confirmed in this article). Alay Lakad — a pilgrimage on foot, made the night before Good Friday or on May 1, from places like Quiapo Church up to the shrine. Hinulugang Taktak Falls was designated a national park in 1952.

The Higantes Festival in Angono, Rizal province, held in November for the feast of the patron saint St. Clement, features giant paper-mâché figures paraded through the streets.

8. Transportation Infrastructure — Beyond the Capital Region

9. MIMAROPA — A Sketch of Its Five Provinces

(Supplemented in the 2026-08-25 cross-check. The original draft left the area/population cells for Palawan blank, marked "—/see separate reference." They were filled in using PSA figures from §1 of the "Palawan and the Marine Environment" reference (provincial area 17,030.75 km², 2024 provincial population approx. 969,000, Puerto Princesa City approx. 316,000). Verification: adding the other four provinces' totals — 511,417 + 919,504 + 226,522 + 302,824 = 1,960,267 — to the whole of Palawan Island, approximately 1,285,000, gives approximately 3,245,000, matching the regional total of 3,245,446. Similarly for area, the other four provinces' total of 12,590.12 plus 17,030.75 = 29,620.87, which nearly matches the regional total of 29,620.90 km². 注 The provincial population of 969,000 does not include Puerto Princesa City. When citing "Palawan province's population," always specify whether the city is included.)

Administrative units: 5 provinces, 1 independent city (Puerto Princesa), 1 component city (Calapan), 71 municipalities, and 1,460 barangays.

注注 Occidental Mindoro's population "fell" from 525,354 in 2020 to 511,417 in 2024. It is rare for a Philippine province's population to decline, and this, along with the province's declaration of a state of calamity in April 2023 over "20-hour daily power outages," suggests fragile infrastructure and out-migration. Always cite both years together when giving these figures.

MIMAROPA shares the same "old Southern Tagalog" origin as CALABARZON, yet is economically almost its opposite. Whereas CALABARZON earns the country's second-largest GRDP through manufacturing and services, MIMAROPA's main industry is agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, with mining accounting for 12.4% of its GRDP (PSA). Its 2025 growth rate of 4.2% was slightly below the national average of 4.4%.

2024 provincial growth rates (PSA, published October 2025): Marinduque 8.5%, Romblon 6.3%, Oriental Mindoro 5.3% (PIA / Inquirer).

10. Mindoro — The Mangyan People and the 2023 Oil Spill

10-1. The Mangyan

A collective term for the indigenous peoples of Mindoro Island, not a single ethnic group. Eight groups: Iraya, Alangan, Tadyawan, Tawbuid, Buhid, Hanunoo, Ratagnon, and Bangon (注 some sources list "seven groups"). Their languages are mutually unintelligible, sharing only about 40% common vocabulary.

注注 Population figures range from "about 280,000" to "about 80,000," varying by more than threefold between sources, but these are secondary information of unclear origin. They were replaced with PSA census figures in the 2026-08-26 source-hygiene pass.

PSA's ethnic breakdown for Oriental Mindoro province, from the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (CPH) (PSA MIMAROPA Regional Statistical Services Office, Special Release 2024-SR-013)

By ethnicity, 76.7% of the province's household population is Tagalog, 7.1% is Bisaya/Binisaya, and 4.2% is Hanunoo Mangyan. By municipality, Hanunoo Mangyan led in Bulalacao (35.9% = 15,928), reached 93.1% (17,828) in Mansalay, Iraya Mangyan reached 92.2% (4,060) in San Teodoro, Tadyawan Mangyan reached 75.0% (1,910) in Socorro, and Buhid Mangyan reached 68.8% (6,574) in Bongabong. 注 The above applies only to Oriental Mindoro province. The special release on ethnicity for Occidental Mindoro province could not be reached in this work (注 primary source not reached, as of 2026-08-26), so "the Mangyan population of Mindoro Island as a whole" remains unconfirmed. When citing figures, always qualify them as "Oriental Mindoro province / 2020 CPH / PSA." Do not round it down to "the Mangyan number, about 280,000." (Source: PSA MIMAROPA, "Ethnicity in Oriental Mindoro (2020 Census of Population and Housing)" = rssomimaropa.psa.gov.ph, and that office's municipality-level special releases.)

The Hanunó'o script (Surat Mangyan), believed to be of Indic origin, is a pre-Hispanic syllabic script still taught today in schools in Oriental Mindoro — a living script. 注 Unlike Baybayin, which is a "revived" script, Hanunoo has never fallen out of continuous use — a crucial difference. The Hanunoo's ambahan — verse built on a base of seven syllables — is chanted and also carved into bamboo. 注 It is claimed that "Philippine Paleographs (Hanunoo, Buid, Tagbanua, Pala'wan)" is inscribed on UNESCO's "Memory of the World" register, but this article could not independently confirm the year of inscription (not confirmed).

On land rights, in 2022 a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) covering 3,270.78ha was issued to the Tadyawan and Tawbuid communities.

10-2. The Tamaraw

A small wild buffalo (Bubalus mindorensis) found only on Mindoro Island. Critically endangered.

注 "425 tamaraws" is the figure for the national park's core zone, not the total for the entire island. This is often confused in reporting.

10-3. The MT Princess Empress Oil Spill (2023)

注注 The government's ₱4.93 billion and civil society's ₱41.2 billion "measure different things." The government figure covers direct agricultural and fisheries damage, while the civil-society figure includes the loss of ecosystem services. Citing only one of the two as "the damage figure" is a mistake.

Developments in 2025–2026 (latest)

注 "The 2023 accident is not old news." As of August 2026, disputes continue over the total scope of compensation (the insurance cap).

11. Marinduque — The Marcopper Mining Disaster and the Moriones Festival

11-1. The Marcopper Mining Disaster (1996)

注注 This should not be treated as merely "the 1996 accident." A health emergency was declared 20 years later, in 2016, and a partial damages ruling finally came 26 years later, in 2022 — a sense of time scale that reflects the reality of Philippine mining disasters. 注 Marinduque's poverty rate has stayed roughly flat: 16.95% in 2015 → 14.72% in 2018 → 15.60% in 2021. No replacement industry has developed since mining collapsed. Rice and coconut farming, handicrafts, fishing, Holy Week tourism, and export butterfly farming now sustain it in small ways.

11-2. The Moriones (Moryonan) Festival

Considered one of the oldest religious festivals in the country. 注 It is often confused with Pampanga's crucifixion rites, but Moriones is a masked pageant that does not involve self-flagellation.

Marinduque is regarded as "the geographic center of the Philippine archipelago" based on the 1911 Luzon Datum, and is also called "the heart of the Philippines" for its heart-shaped outline. 注 This claim depends on the geodetic reference used, and the "center" would shift if the reference were changed.

12. Romblon — Marble and Sibuyan Island

12-1. Marble

注注 Be careful with claims about rank. While some sources say "Romblon supplies 80% of the country's output," others say "it ranks second, after Bulacan province." This stems from differing statistical categories for "marble" versus "marbleized limestone" (used for cement and construction), and the fact that a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for PSA's 2019–2025 marble production statistics was filed in January 2026 is itself evidence of how underdeveloped the public statistics are.

12-2. The Sibuyan Island Mining Dispute (a 2026 Flashpoint)

Sibuyan Island is called "the Galápagos of Asia," and is home to a nature park centered on Mt. Guiting-Guiting (2,058m). It has many endemic species.

注注 The February 2026 "dismissal" and the March "writ issued" appear to conflict. It is likely that they concern different petitions, parties, or issues, but this article could not verify the actual Supreme Court decision (not confirmed). Do not simplify this to "the Supreme Court approved the mining."

13. Verde Island Passage — The Meeting Point of Both Regions

The strait separating Luzon (Batangas) from Mindoro. It is both the shipping route linking the two regions and the center of one of the world's richest concentrations of marine biodiversity.

注 "The center of the center" is a superlative expression, so it should always be paired with the specific indicator — species richness of shorefish — and the 2005 paper it comes from. Rounding it down to "the richest sea in the world" is inaccurate.

A major 2026 incident: on July 12, 2026, the American marine biologist Dr. Kent E. Carpenter (73), who established the "center of the center" concept for Verde Island Passage, was shot and killed at his home in Siaton, Negros Oriental province. It appeared to be a robbery, and his home had been ransacked. Police identified six suspects within July and declared the case "solved" (Inquirer / PNA / Mongabay / Rappler and others). Dr. Carpenter had studied Philippine coral reefs for about 50 years and served as a witness for the Philippine side in the South China Sea arbitration case. 注 The incident occurred in Negros Oriental (the Visayas), not the Verde Island Passage. Do not confuse the two.

The Verde Island Passage Protection bill had not been enacted as of July 27, 2026, and fisherfolk groups called for its passage ahead of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) (Inquirer). 注 Still not enacted as of August 2026.

14. 注 Common Mistakes (A Checklist)

15. Practical Notes

• Minimum wage is based on "place of work." A worker living in Manila but employed at a factory in Cavite is covered by the CALABARZON wage rate (₱508–600), not the NCR rate.
• The wage gap between CALABARZON and MIMAROPA is large (₱600 vs. ₱455). Do not mix up the regions when estimating labor costs.
• RORO service via Batangas Port is the practical gateway to MIMAROPA's islands. It is more exposed to weather and fuel-price swings than air travel.
• In 2026, electricity and fuel costs are the biggest swing factor. EO 110 (the national energy emergency, March 24, 2026) and PEZA's LNG supply-network study (August 2026) directly affect the outlook for industrial-park operating costs.
• Environmental risk is high. The Verde Island Passage (shipping accidents), Laguna de Bay (discharge regulation / EUFS), Sibuyan Island (mining), and Mindoro (oil-spill compensation) are all subjects of ongoing disputes and legislation.

日本語の詳細版: 分野「地方・地域とバンサモロ」「カラバルソンとミマロパ」（本サイト日本語版）。