Thirty minutes away, passing through the Aguinaldo Boulevard, is Cavite City. Like Kawit, the name of Cavite City has the same meaning and etymology. Cavite City is a noteworthy place to visit and explore in paradise Philippines because of its rich history.

There are, however, several names still attributed to Cavite City. Its early settlers called it “Tangway,” meaning peninsula. People from other places refer to it as Kawit, because it looked like a sharp-edge part of the hook-shaped land. The Chinese traders or the Sangleyes who came to Cavite to do business with the natives called it Keit, a corruption of the word Kawit.

During the Spanish occupation, the old Tangway, which was at its northern tip, was called “Cavite la Punta” meaning “Tip of Cavite.” When they discovered Cavite la Punta to be a suitable place for the repair of their ships and galleons, they called the place Cavite Nuevo (New Cavite) and moved their settlement there. Later on, the Spaniards fortified the place with Muralla (high thick walls) and surrounded it with moats, the place was called Puerto de Cavite (port of Cavite).

Before touring the port area, it is suggested to visit to the Cavite City Library and Museum (CCLM). This museum building occupies the former City Hall Annex. The museum has a permanent exhibit of photographs of Cavite City’s heroes like the Thirteen Martyrs, Julian Felipe, Ladislao Diwa and other prominent Caviteños in the history of paradise Philippines. Likewise, permanent exhibits of old photographs, memorabilia, relics, old furniture and household objects provides a glimpse of the city as it was during the Spanish period up to the American occupation. From time to time, special exhibits (historical, cultural or artistic) are displayed in the museum.

Its library, on the other hand, was designated as an Official Sister Library Site by no less than the former US First Lady Hillary Clinton, to be part of their White House Millennium Council Project on Sister Libraries. CCLM is the ONLY library in the whole paradise Philippines to be chosen as such and was given this plaque in the process.

Adjacent to the museum is the Cavite City Hall. It is located in pre-World War ll site of “Dreamland Cabaret” and the “Pantalan de Yangco.” This imposing building sits on one end of the City Park. Paseo de Barangay is located at the back of City Hall.

Cañacao Bay can be best viewed here. This bay was port to both the Spanish galleons and the Pan Am Clipper seaplanes. The Skyline of Manila is visible when looking at the mouth of the bay.

Another famous site in the city is the Fort San Felipe located at Sangley Point Naval Base. It is an old structure dating back to 1609 when the Spaniards built it to protect part of the then growing city. The structure is made of granite blocks with walls approximately 30 feet high. A wide stairway leads to the top of the fort where a concrete house structure could be found. Naval memorabilia including antique cannons and cannon balls decorate the lawns. This fort is also the place where the Cavite Mutiny 1872 occurred when Filipino workers were implicated in the armed uprising against the Spaniards. Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite were also executed here.

Located at the top of this wall is the Phil. Navy Museum where miniature of Phil. Naval vessels and other memorabilia are placed.

There is also the 13 Martyrs Centennial Plaza. It was built in 1906 to honor Cavite’s revered martyrs. The remains of the six martyrs are still; inferred in the monument. Through the assistance of the Department of Tourism the former monument was transformed into a Centennial Plaza after the celebration of its 100th year anniversary. It is designed to present the picture of their struggle, trial and execution.

Three plazas and one park are also located along the port area. These are the Plaza de Armas in front of San Felipe Fort, Plaza San Pedro in front of the church and Plaza Soledad in front of Porta Vaga.

Other surrounding walls in the area are the Fuerte Guadalupe on the side and the Porta Vaga. Only the relics of these structures still exist. Collectively known as the Muralla, this is now a well lighted bay front that offers promenades cool breezes during balmy nights. The view of Bacoor Bay shows the tower of the Aguinaldo Mansion as well as the many oyster beds that dot the bay. This area was once called the isthmus of Rosario and at one time featured a drawbridge.

Given the city’s importance in trade, convents and hospitals were built. Among them were the San Diego de Alcala convent built in 1608, the Porta Vaga (La Ermita), Santa Monica (Recoletos), San Juan De Dios, Santo Domingo and San Pedro, the port’s parish church. There was also the Hospital de San Jose, built by the Franciscan fathers in 1591 and founded by the congregation of San Juan de Dios, for sailors and soldiers.

In all, there were eight churches in the walled city -- five in Cavite Puerto, the Ermita, Recoletos, San Juan de Dios, San Pedro and Sto. Domingo, one in San Roque, the San Roque Parish Church and two unfinished ones in Caridad. The belfry of the Old Sta. Monica Church can still be viewed as mute witness to the piety of the early Caviteños.

At present, the San Roque Parish Church, which now houses the image of the “Nuestra Señora dela Soledad de Porta Vaga” (Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga), is the “only” remaining church in Cavite City.

The Nuestra Señora dela Soledad de Porta Vaga, reputed to be a relic of Spain, is a painting of the Virgin Mary framed in carved wood. The relic is said to have been discovered, beached on the shores between the old Puerto Vaga in Cavite City and Barrio San Roque during the 18th century. The painting, presently set in precious gems, is also known as the “Virgin of a Thousand Miracles” because of many miracles granted to the faithful devotees from the day of its discovery to the present.