Mythologies of the Cavite People

Cavite, officially the Province of Cavite (Tagalog: Lalawigan ng Kabite; Chavacano: Provincia de Cavite), is a province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region in Luzon. Located on the southern shores of Manila Bay and southwest of Manila, it is one of the most industrialized and fastest-growing provinces in the Philippines. As of 2020, it has a population of 4,344,829, making it the most populated province in the country if the independent cities of Cebu are excluded from Cebu's population figure. The name "Cavite" comes from the Hispanicized form of kawit (alternatively kalawit), Tagalog for "hook", in reference to the small hook-shaped peninsula jutting out to Manila Bay. The name originally applied to the peninsula, Cavite La Punta (now Cavite City) and the adjacent lowland coastal area of Cavite Viejo (now Kawit, reverting to the original native spelling). The peninsula was also known in the pre-colonial era as Tangway, from Tagalog for "peninsula". Edmund Roberts, in his 1821 memoir, stated that the "natives" called it Caveit due to the "crooked point of land extending into the sea".

Manila Bay has been a strategic location throughout Philippine history. In the past, it has been a prime area for military defense. However, more than a distinct fort, the bay and its surrounding regions served as an avenue for intercultural engagements. Such interactions later on created distinct cultural as well as linguistic outcomes, which is evident in the province of Cavite. Cavite has an interesting geographical location. It is at the heart of the Tagalog region, close to the historic Manila Bay and Corregidor Island. The province is surrounded by Manila to the north, Batangas to the south, Laguna in the east, and Manila Bay and Corregidor in the west. Now, it is home to a mix of ethnic communities, and most specifically the Caviteño. The name Cavite came from the Tagalog word kawit, which means “fish hook.” At present, Caviteño is a term used to collectively identify an individual of Cavite descent. Linguistically, however, the Caviteño language is a variant of the Spanish-based creole Chavacano. This type of creole language is from the combination of the local native language and that of Spanish. Based on close studies of this creole in Luzon, specifically in the areas of Cavite, Ternate, and Manila, the people used a Tagalog and Spanish mix. Cavite Chavacano came to be the result of such a mix of languages. However, at present, this language is exclusively used in Cavite City and the coastal area of Ternate. The Cavite Chavacano used in the municipalities of San Roque and Caridad in Cavite City is considered highly endangered. This is because only about 4% of the population in the city speaks this language. Also, only older people are active speakers of the language. Though there are oral records present, there are some available texts as well as a part of the revitalization efforts in the region. Ternate Chavacano has more speakers than Cavite Chavacano but is still considered endangered as the only oral practice available is through informal usage in primary school.

Before the arrival of the Spaniards in the Philippines, Cavite was already a significant area of interest for foreign merchants and traders. The colonizers arriving in the late 16th century found importance to the unique tongue of land thrust and deep waters into Manila Bay. They perceived its value to become the main staging ground where they could launch their bulky galleons and later became the most important port linking the colony to the outside world through Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade. Cavite became one of the significant areas of influence during the Spanish times. The present location of Cavite City, formerly known as Tangway, played an essential part in trade with the settlements around Manila Bay, wherein it was considered the mooring place for Chinese junks. In 1571, Spanish colonizers established the port in the said area. They also fortified the settlement as the first line of defense for the city of Manila. Ships were built and fitted at the port. Many Chinese merchants settled in Bacoor and Kawit, which are opposite the Spanish town, to trade silks, porcelain, and other oriental goods. The vibrant mix of traders, Spanish seamen, and residents gave rise to the use of pidgin Spanish called Chabacano. However, Cavite labor, conscripted through polo or forced labor, bore the brunt of the burden in cutting and hauling timber from the mountains to the shipyards at Cavite el Puerto. Thus, behind each galleon built that gave huge earnings to highly placed Spaniards in Manila was a tale of woes and sacrifices of Caviteños who welcomed the outbreak of the revolution. In 1614, the politico-military jurisdiction of Cavite was established. It covers all the present territory of Cavite except for the town of Maragondon. Maragondon used to belong to the Corregimiento of Mariveles. In 1660, exiled Christians brought by the Jesuits from Mollucas established a settlement within Maragondon. This land was named Ternate after their homeland. Mariveles ceded Maragondon to Cavite in 1754 when it gained independence from Pampanga. Considering that Cavite was a valuable asset due to its military importance, Cavite was attacked by foreigners in their quest to conquer Manila and the Philippines. In 1647, the Dutch unsuccessfully made a surprise attack on the city, pounding the port ceaselessly. Moreover, the British defeated the Spaniards and occupied the port in 1672 during their two-year interregnum in the Philippines. These events sparked an idea to the Caviteños the possibility of overthrowing Spanish rule and be at the forefront of the Philippine Revolution against Spain.

Cavite is a province in the Philippines situated in the CALABARZON region occupying the central section of Luzon. Its capital is the City of Imus. The province has a land area of 1,526.28 square kilometers or 589.30 square miles. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 4,344,829. This represented 26.83% of the total population of the CALABARZON region, 6.99% of the overall population of the Luzon island group, or 3.98% of the entire population of the Philippines. Based on these figures, the population density is computed at 2,847 inhabitants per square kilometer or 7,373 inhabitants per square mile.

Cavite occupies a significant role in the country’s colonial past from Spanish rule, especially in the nation’s fight for independence. It is one of the first few provinces to cradle the Philippine revolution. The most important event that happened here is the Declaration of Philippine Independence from Spain on June 12, 1898, in Kawit. Its historical significance spans more than 300 years, earning it the moniker “Historical Capital of the Philippines.” There are several theories on how Cavite or Cabite came into existence, although the most accepted is the Hispanization of the word kawit. The term comes from kalawit, which is a Tagalog term for “hook.” The place was named as such because of the hook-shaped peninsula of Cavite La Punta and Cavite Viejo, which are now known as Cavite City and Kawit, respectively, based on how they appeared on old Spanish maps. The term was later corrupted to Cavite.

Cavite, city, southern Luzon, Philippines. Cavite occupies a peninsula on the southern shore of Manila Bay and is primarily a residential centre for commuters to Manila, which lies to the northeast. In 1872 the city was the site of the Cavite Mutiny, a brief and unsuccessful uprising of Filipino soldiers and workers against Spanish rule. In 1896–97 the city was an important base for Emilio Aguinaldo, the insurrectionary leader against Spain. Cavite was chartered in 1940 and served for a time as a provincial capital. Sangley Point Naval Base, at the city’s outer edge, was an old Spanish naval base that was captured by Commodore George Dewey (May 1, 1898). It thereafter functioned as the chief U.S. naval base and fueling station in Asia until 1941. It continues as a Philippine naval air facility and shipyard, and transport equipment is manufactured there. It is also a commercial centre and fishing port. Pop. (2000) 99,367; (2010) 101,120.