Named after the second president of our country and the first to be freely elected, the province of Quezon, with its breathtaking sights, has become one of the most visited places in recent years. Although tourism is still in its “growing up” stages, the province has now become popular with fun-seekers and those who want to immerse themselves in its rich culture and history.
A major tourism attraction is Mount Banahaw, the popular mystical mountain, believed to be surrounded by good spirits because it used to be a sacred site for pre-colonial inhabitants of the area. To this day, Christian cults live on the mountain and many pilgrims visit it during Holy Week.
Of course, there are the sand-sea-sky attractions that bring in tourists, not only from other parts of the country but also from abroad.
There is Balesin, the playground of the country’s rich and famous, which features seven different deluxe resorts providing its members the luxury of choosing which differently themed villas to stay in. At the other end of the price spectrum is the Salibungot Beach in Jomalig, popular with backpackers for its white sand beach.
And there are the three famous colorful festivals: The Pahiyas is the grand thanksgiving celebration of the people of Lucban to the patron saint of farmers, St. Isidore Labrador. The residents decorate their houses with their harvest vegetables and colorful kiping, giant leaves made of ground rice flour and dyed in different colors.
There is also the Niyugyugan Festival, celebrating the province’s main product, coconut, and featuring an elaborate float parade and street dancing. And, the foodies go for the Katang Festival, which features different ways of cooking katang (crab), and banners the “Higanteng Alimango” as the celebration’s mascot.
One of the more progressive municipalities in the province is Candelaria because it is home to a large number of desiccated coconut factories and oil refineries employing thousands of its residents, posting through the years a continuous decrease in the town’s poverty incidence index.
This is why South Luzon’s top developer, Ovialand, put up Caliya, a master-planned residential community in Candelaria, offering a premium living experience for its residents and those of the nearby municipalities and provinces.
Caliya, which means “flower wreath” in Greek, embodies what family living is all about: nurturing a space where homeowners, like Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio, can take a much-needed breather and spend some quality time with family and friends in Quezon.
It comes as no surprise that Ovialand remains the top-of-mind choice in South Luzon. From its location and layouts to its amenities, Caliya is built with the idea of developing safe and vibrant homes for Filipino families without breaking the bank.
Caliya is a three-hour drive from Manila, and stands alongside Pan-Philippine Highway. With its highly accessible location, this new first-class residential community affords residents and guests the convenience of being near the Candelaria town proper – where municipal hospitals and schools are located – and of course, Quezon’s top tourist destinations.
A tourist destination near Caliya is Alibijaban Island, located just off the coast of Bondoc Peninsula, and is popular for its powdery white sand beach, coral reefs, and mangrove forest.
A 15-minute drive from Caliya is a cornucopia of attractive hand-crafted souvenirs at UGU Bigyan’s Pottery Garden, which also offers pottery workshops to visitors. It has an al fresco restaurant in its Balinese-designed garden area.
Ovialand’s Caliya not only offers dream homes to families in the Quezon area, but also space for leisure and recreation for us metro residents who wish to go off the beaten path and take a break from city life. More information on Caliya may be obtained through bea.zorrilla@imgroup.ph.
For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com.