Batangas…A province with so much to offer for real time travel holidays and recreation that is globally and locally known….

What comes to mind when you hear the word Batangas aside from the word Ala Eh ? First and foremost I’m sure would be Vilma Santos. This is not because she is known as the Star for All Seasons but because she has competently served as the mayor of Lipa City and now, the current governor of the Province of Batangas and has brought the province to an extreme competitive level in terms of its economic progress and tourism. Since Batangas is a few hours away from the capital, it is a favorite getaway summer destination for both local and foreign travelers, as it offers too many places to choose from for travel relaxation and recreation. Nasugbu, Calatagan and Taal are only the few popular choices of the many towns and cities that offers a perfect holiday recreation for the whole family.

The Province of Batangas is not only known for its places of interests but do have a whole rich culture and its people; popular for home made delicacies, native foods, agriculture, handicrafts and special home made products, of which the Balisong and Kapeng Barako are synonymous to locals with native home made cooking such as the Sinaing na Tulingan and Humba are the popular choices, Tuba (coconut derived wine), Lambanog (coconut derived strong alcoholic drink) and Bagoong Balayan (small fish anchovies) known throughout the country. Aside from the mentioned pop choices, Batangas is also known worldwide for gusi, a cloth processed and derived from the leaves of pineapple such as the Barong Tagalog, the Philippines’ National costume. People in Taal, Batangas are noted for their intricately hand embroidered gusi clothes. Lady Diana Spencer had a gusi scarf worn, custom tailored and hand embroidered specifically for an occasion and during the 1995 APEC summit, heads of states wore the Gusi Barong Tagalog made in Batangas by various country representatives.

Batangas also have a lot of festivals that would fascinate visitors and one of which is the Parada ng mga Lechon (Parade of Roasted Pig). Water dousing is associated with the celebration of the feast day of St. John the Baptist, in the town of Balayan and San Juan, however, aside from the dousing town folks would parade lechon coming from different barangays. The roasted pigs would be “dressed” according to the theme of the festival. Subli-an sa Batangas is held every 23rd of July, this religious festival is done to venerate the Holy Cross. However, the festival developed into a dance called the subli, a dance native to Batangas. Subli-an have fascinated many tourists as the song that it is danced to is composed of four voices, first is sung by the dancer; second praises the Holy Cross; third is a combination of poetry, music and the Subli dance itself and the fourth presents the observer searching for lost self. Through the subli the perceptiveness of the town people are gathered and developed into a musical arrangement specifically designed to be a lesson in grace. Presently, the subli-an has emerged into a festival that is participated in by the towns of Batangas as it is now held yearly to tie in with the foundation day of Batangas Province. Similar to Subli-an as both honors the Holy Cross is the Tapusan Festival, starts on the first of May with daily floral offerings laid before an old cross in the church. The festival ends with a procession of the Holy Cross on the 31st of May and Marian image icons in gaily and radiantly decorated floats are drawn by town folks along the major streets. These features does not end here and the Province of Batangas has more to offer and its impossible for us to go into each detail so just see it for yourself and see you in Batangas.

Tags: Barong Tagalog, Batangas, Subli-an