AS a motorist from the second most populous province in the country, I often dread driving around Cavite. The sheer volume of vehicles and pedestrians makes traffic almost inevitable. There was a time when a trip to Tagaytay took just an hour, but these days, it usually takes at least two. For years, I preferred to travel elsewhere rather than spend hours in traffic just to revisit Cavite’s familiar attractions.
I was proven wrong during the Biyaheng South Experiential Tour 2025 of Metro Pacific Tollway Corp. (MPTC). Cavite’s top destinations have become more accessible through MPTC’s expressways—the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (Cavitex) and the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax). With less time wasted on the road, we had more opportunities to experience the province’s history, flavors, and leisure spots.
MPTC partnered with the Department of Tourism Region Region 4A (DOT-4A) and the Cavite Tourism Office to highlight Cavite’s rich mix of culture, heritage, and culinary gems. Co-presented by mWell (Metro Pacific Health Tech Corp.), the tour also featured a wellness angle, with participants wearing mWell watches to track health and activity throughout the journey.
Mobility partner Chery Philippines provided comfort on the road with their Tiggo lineup, including the Tiggo Cross HEV (hybrid electric vehicle), Tiggo Grand Tour, and the newly introduced all-new Tiggo REV LE. Other partners included Quest Hotels, Profriends, Coffee Builders, and SkyRanch Tagaytay.
“This tour is a celebration of what Cavite has to offer. Through the Biyaheng South Experiential Tour, we are not only showcasing Cavite’s diverse attractions but also reinforcing our commitment to support local tourism and communities,” said Arlette Capistrano, Vice President for Communication and Stakeholder Management of MPT South.
Easier routes to Tagaytay
Instead of enduring Aguinaldo Highway or braving South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) via Sta. Rosa–Tagaytay Road, motorists can now take an alternative route through Cavitex and Calsadang Bago: exit at the Kawit Interchange, go straight via Calsadang Bago, then turn right to Aguinaldo Highway to reach Tagaytay.
The group also visited the Calax Governor’s Drive Interchange in General Trias, Cavite, which is set to open this 2025. This expansion will connect Calax further into Cavite, helping ease congestion on key roads. By 2026, Calax will complete its 45-kilometer, four-lane stretch from the SLEX-Mamplasan Interchange in Laguna to Cavitex in Kawit, Cavite — cutting travel time to under an hour for around 50,000 daily motorists.
Experiencing history
One highlight was the Geronimo Berenguer De Los Reyes (GBR) Museum in General Trias. At its entrance stands a memorial to the Cavite Mutiny of 1872, a pivotal event in Philippine history. Inside, visitors can see replicas of the Wright Brothers’ “Flying Machine” and NASA’s Lunar Roving Vehicle, as well as an original photograph of Dr. Jose Rizal’s execution.
In Tagaytay, the People’s Park in the Sky remains a must-see. Originally constructed as a mansion for a planned state visit of US President Ronald Reagan during the Marcos regime, the unfinished structure today offers sweeping views of Taal Lake and the mountains of Makiling and Maculot.
Experiencing Cavite’s flavors
From Calax’s Silang Interchange, Coffee Builders café is only a short drive away. Known for artisan brews, it serves hearty meals like beef salpicao, salted egg chicken, and fish and chips.
In Tagaytay, Cabezera Ridge View Restaurant offers a panoramic view of Taal Lake and a menu featuring Caviteño and Kapampangan favorites such as bulalo, inihaw na bangus, and traditional sisig. Another popular spot, Nabe Hotpot at SkyRanch, is perfect for enjoying a warm meal in Tagaytay’s cool weather.
We also dined at Siglo Modern Filipino, which reimagines classic Filipino dishes from different regions. Their specialties include bulalo-lomi, tortang talong embotido, Imus longanisa pasta, and adobong pusit sa gata — each a flavorful nod to local culinary traditions.
Experiencing comfort and fun
For visitors seeking convenience, Quest Hotel Tagaytay near the Rotunda offers cozy rooms, a relaxing pool, and artisanal breads and pastries from its Baker J Café.
Meanwhile, SkyRanch Tagaytay continues to be a favorite leisure stop, with attractions such as the Sky-Eye Ferris Wheel and Drop Tower. Its latest addition, Cartoonville, brings an interactive children’s theme park experience with games, rides, shows, and playful characters.
With expressways like Cavitex and Calax reducing travel time and providing easier access, Cavite is once again becoming a destination worth rediscovering. And once the Cavitex-Calax link is fully completed, driving from Manila to Tagaytay could take just about an hour — bringing history, flavors, and fun closer than ever.
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