Drive, Dine and Discover Cavite Experience with AAP Caravan | Motourismo

The Cavite Caravan participants led by AAP Lakbay President Dr. Mina Gabor (center) with Marites Castro, acting regional director of the Department of Tourism-Calabarzon at the Inuquit River cruise in Caingin Town, Maragondon.

The drive tourism arm of the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), the country’s national auto club, AAP Lakbay has been doing a series of “Drive, Dine and Discover” caravans across the country’s key destinations over the past decade to promote domestic tourism.

Cavite may be an all-too familiar destination, being Metro Manila’s next-door neighbor and urban satellite. But despite its gentrification in recent decades, the province is home to many under-the-radar attractions hiding from plain sight, particularly in the interiors of Maragondon and Silang.

 “The AAP Lakbay Cavite caravan features the lesser-known but equally exciting history, food, and crafts of the province as part of the tourism reboot of the Calabarzon Region,” says Marites Castro, acting regional director of the Department of Tourism-Calabarzon which is a major supporter of the event.

She said that the DOT regional office launched last December the Green Corridor circuits in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon which are compliant with the government’s pandemic protocols. She added that the caravan is among the private initiatives to promote “green circuits” to tour operators and travelers.

Motourismo's Arabelle Jimenez with Dr. Mina Gabor, AAP President and former Philippine Tourism Secretary.

AAP Lakbay president Mina Gabor, said the group is lining up more unique destinations off the beaten path through well-curated itineraries to spread tourism’s benefits to provincial communities.

The former tourism secretary noted that the caravans are worry-free trips which emphasize road safety, pride of place, and sustainable tourism.

It was a pleasure to rediscover the historical, cultural, culinary and countryside spots of these towns when we joined the AAP Lakbay's second caravan last Saturday, May 28. Here are the spots we visited:

Maragondon Church

Maragondon’s Church of the Our Lady of the Assumption is listed by the National Museum as a National Cultural Treasure.

Facade of the Maragondon Church with its famous bell tower made of river stones.

The impressive altar inside Maragondon's Church of Our Lady of the Assumption.

Bonifacio Trial House Museum 

This museum is where Katipunan Supremo Andres Bonifacio was given the death sentence by fellow Filipino revolutionaries in 1897 due to trumped up charges.

The historical bahay-na-bato was built by Teodorico Reyes in 1889.

The ancestral house where Andres and his brother Procopio Bonifacio were sentenced to death during the time of Emilio Aguinaldo, is now a museum.

Free admission at the Bonifacio Trial House Museum.

Inuquit River

We feasted on native lunch onboard a bamboo raft cruise at the scenic Inuquit River, once adjudged as among the country’s cleanest and greenest body of water.

The AAP Lakbay Cavite Caravan participants enjoying the river cruise.

Traditional kundiman singers welcomed our group with lively folk songs.

Venture in a one-seater balsa tugged by the main floating restaurant. 

Likhang Maragondon

For souvenir shopping, there’s Likhang Maragondon, an award-winning local enterprise which is helping revive the town’s age-old weaving tradition and bamboo craft by making them available to a bigger market. Born out of a simple need to promote local and sustainable goods. Likhang Maragondon soon found and embraced its deeper purpose of empowering Maragondon-based artisans to support their livelihood.

Colorful paintings by Maragondon locals.

Traditionally weaved textile.

Clothing and hand-crafted bamboo products.

 

Cornerstone Pottery Farm

Meanwhile, a curious pit stop in Silang included the Cornerstone Pottery for artisanal craft. Housed in the Espiritu Farm, they produce first class dinnerware & stoneware ceramic. We were treated with owner EJ Espiritu's demonstration of stoneware making. 

EJ Espiritu creating a stoneware vase.

Some pottery made out of Taal volcano ash fall.

Appreciating pottery work from left, Arabelle Jimenez, Benjie Layug, Pamela Lee, EJ Espiritu, and Bernard Supetran.

Asiong Caviteño Restaurant

Our caravan was capped with a taste of heirloom delicacies at Asiong Caviteño Restaurant. Dining al fresco surrounded be lush greens in the quiet part of Silang, we truly enjoyed their most popular dish, the Pancit Pusit.

Al fresco dining set-up.

Asiong restaurant is located in Silang.

The popular Pancit Pusit (squid rice noodles) with local puto and turon.

The Cavite caravan is also supported by official fuel partner Petron Corp., Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), and Mapfre Insurance, which all share the advocacy of promoting domestic tourism.

Watch a video reel here.

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Posted by: Arabelle Jimenez

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