Island of Luzon
LUZON
is the largest of the Philippine islands. It stretches
more than 10,000 kilometers, its northernmost tip
almost touching Taiwan and its southwestern finger
reaching out to Borneo.
Luzon is where Manila, the vibrant national
capital, and Makati, the booming financial center,
are situated. The Island is connected by a network
of modern roads and bridges that traverse cities like
Laoag in the north and Naga in Bicol region with theirold
churches and modern airports and hotels; small towns
like Vigan in Ilocos Sur with Horse-drawn carriages.
Antillan houses and internet facilities; rural villages
with quaint inns and cellphone sites.
Next to Manila is Bulacan, site of Barasoain
Church where the Revolutionary Congress drafted the
first Constitution more than 100 years ago. A little
farther north is Pampanga, famous for carved wooden
furniture and giant Christmas lanterns. Also next
to the capital city are provinces of Rizal, home to
Filipino artists, Cavite and Batangas with their historic
towns and museums, and Laguna with its string of resorts
and springs with healing powers.
In the Laguna, Batangas and Quezon provinces
are the enchanting Mount Makiling and mystical Mount
Banahaw of the Sierra Madre.
Across the Manila Bay stands Corregidor,
the island fortress that played a prominent role in
the Pacific War.
North of Manila is Baguio City the cool,
mountain haven of pine trees and flowers perfect for
the dry months of March, April and May. From this
"Summer Capital", one can visit the Banaue
Rice Terraces, an engineering marvel considered the
Eight Wonder of the World.
South of Manila is Tagaytay, an equally
cool and popular resort city in Cavite with a spectacular
view of Taal Volcano, the world's smallest active
volcano.
Stretching along the eastern coast is
Quezon, with its fine beaches and coconut plantations.
Farther south in the Bicol region is Albay and its
perfect cone-shaped Mayon Volcano.
Southwest is Palawan, the country's
last frontier with the forbidding limestone cliffs
of El Nido, the subterranean caverns and river of
St. Paul, the safari island of Calauit, home to giraffes,
impalas and zebras, and Tubbataha Reef, the most beautiful
dive site this side of the world.
