The municipality of Carmona is located in the South-Eastern part of the province of Cavite. It is approximately 36 kilometers south of Manila and 38 kilometers from Trece Martires City, the seat of the provincial government. It is bounded on the north and south by the Municipality of Biñan, Laguna; Gen. Mariano Alvarez (GMA) on the southwest and Silang on the west. The geographical location of the locality is 120⁰3^’ latitudes and 14⁰ 19^’ longitudes. The proximity of Carmona in CALABARZON gave way to becoming a tourist destination here in Cavite. Tourism establishments and activities are recognized as an important asset and as an enhancer of the quality of life of people in the Municipality.

      Carmona is an industrial community that dubbed itself as the only town in the Philippines that gives its local citizenry a chance to till communal agricultural lands for three years free of any financial liabilities thru their “Sorteo ng Bukid”, a method of raffling off communal agricultural lands to any qualified son and/or daughter of the town every three years.  This is a tradition that became a cultural event due to the fiesta-like atmosphere whenever it is held. This also serves as catalysts for the town to be a tourist attraction due to the uniqueness of its nature. It highlights the town’s tradition of promoting agricultural advancement long before agrarian reform was introduced. The activity is about giving opportunity for everybody to own a farm and produce farm products for theirs and the town’s benefit. Carmona is also a pool of cultural wealth with their number of Marching Bands and the people’s inclination to performing arts. Also a fun-loving people, competitions of all sorts have been included in the Sorteo ng Bukid Festival. Save for the existing tourist destinations in the town which are all sporting in nature, the people alone is the main tourist attraction of Carmona, enough for anyone to get curious and discover what the town is all about. A lot of people outside have yet to hear about the town and much has to be done on the part of the LGU for them not to miss the opportunity to see and feel the adventures and thrill of Carmona.

Arrivals inventory of tourists both local and foreign 2019

Below is the breakdown of the submitted VARs for the year 2019:

Manila Jockey Club – JANUARY-DECEMBER

Casino Filipino – MARCH-DECEMBER

Manila Southwoods Manor-       JANUARY-DECEMBER

Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club – JANUARY-DECEMBER

Carmona Race Track, Inc. – Closed for Renovation

The Viewfort Venue – JANUARY-FEBRUARY

Arrivals

• Carmona’s visitors were mostly locals and Asians brought in by the town’s investors and some Europeans.
• The majority of the clients of Ahn’s Baseball Academy are Koreans
• Carmona Racing Circuit’s clients are mixed local, Asian and European karting enthusiasts.
• Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club have a number of member-shareholders who enjoy exclusive use of the club’s amenities. As of 2009, their membership has reached 1,904. It is also open to foreign visitors through their partner travel agencies abroad.
• Locals also visit the San Lazaro Leisure and Business Park. It has the biggest number of arrivals in 2010.
• According to BPLO records for 2011, tourism contributed a total of P 684,596.25 to the local revenue collection thru licensing and business permit fees.

Availability and accessibility of tourism support facilities, 2019

Availability and Accessibility of Major Tourism Facilities, 2019

• Accessible thru land travel from all directions, it is at the crossroads of Cavite and Laguna as well as the gateway to the southern provinces of the region and beyond.
• All tourism establishments in Carmona are accessible by land transport vehicles. Public transport vehicle such as passenger jeepneys and tricycles usually goes around the town to transport passengers to their point destination.
• Tagaytay is easily accessed thru Maguyam Road which connects to Governor’s Drive and Aguinaldo Highway in Silang, Cavite.
• Tourism establishments in Carmona are all accessible by land through the Governor’s Drive. With an average distance of 5 kilometers from the Carmona exit, the average travel time to each destination is 10 minutes.

Tourism Development

Carmona has been known for its sports activities, accommodation, commercial activities and food delicacies that attract visitors and generate income. This year, Carmona has five (5) Lodging Facilities and two (2) Shopping Malls that houses Puregold (Remington) & WalterMart (Macaria), eleven (11) Recreational Sports destination, two (2) Educational Facilities and thirty-three (33) Restaurant Facilities including popular fast-food chains in the country. More development is expected for the following years to showcase the uniqueness of the municipality.

Tourism development for the last two (2) years, 2018-2019

Lodging facilities

For Overnight Stay

• Manila Southwoods Manor House is the only Hotel with 48 standard guest rooms and support facilities.
• Other non-accredited economy class living accommodations are the:
  • The Viewfort Venue with 15 rooms classified into 11 Casitas, 1 Deluxe and 3 Dorm Type
  • Hotel Monti Drive Inn with economy class 67 rooms
  • Asiatel Inn also with 26 economy class motel rooms
  • Sylvia’s Events Place and Restobar

Restaurant Facilities

• Lei Yuen Seafood Restaurant is formerly known as Le Garden with 260 seat capacity
• Bonsai Garden Sizzling Haus Restaurant
• RSM Lutong Bahay with 100 seats
• Aling Nene’s Binalot with 20 seats
• Karen’s Binalot
• Daharo Chicken House
• Atoy’s Porksilog
• Tudling’s Porksilog
• Daniel’s Tapsilogan
• Daniel’s Diner
• Sunset Food Park
• Sitio Latag
• Bekylog
• Chantily with 120 seats
• Southwoods Manor Restaurant with 50 seats
• Music 101 Restobar
• Season’s Family KTV
• Margarita’s Bread and Pastries
• QP2 Café
• Ben’s Halo-halo
• Sylvia’s Resort and Restobar
• Zee’s White Sauce Carmona
• Pizza Streat
• Sisig Barn
• Jawo’s Corner Restobar
• Classic Savory Carmona
• Tropical Hut
• Mang Inasal Carmona
• Jollibee Carmona with 2 outlets (Waltermart and Carmona Exit)
• Shakey’s Carmona
• McDonald’s Carmona
• KFC Carmona
• Yellow Cab Co. Carmona

Educational and Sports destinations

• San Lazaro Leisure and Business Park which showcase horse racing (Manila Jockey Club), casino (Casino Filipino), resto bars and business centers
• The Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club which features their world-class golf courses: The Masters and The Legends and their sports facilities
• The Carmona Race Track, Inc. which is a motor racing track for car, motorcycle and kart racing.
• Paragliding Site (ASAP) in Barangay Lantic
• E. & H. Baseball Academy which is a South Korean-operated 4 field sports facility.
• Carmona Cavite Integrated Shooter Inc. (CCIS), a target shooting range for gun lovers.
• PDAO in Carmona Elementary School, Barangay Lantic
• Carmona Ecology Center in Barangay Lantic

      Carmona Ecology Center is a Lakbay Aral destination for other Local Government Units. Ecology Center is the municipality’s Central Material Recovery Facility, Composting, Vermi-composting facilities and Transfer Station. It also houses the Carmona Livelihood Center, Mini-nursery garden, and green spaces. Development of the new Organic Demo Farm at the Center compound will help promote the Ecology Center as an eco-tourism destination that will also showcase the products made from collected waste materials.

      The Persons with Disability Affairs Office or Pdao created in accordance with the 1992 Magna Carta for Disabled Persons aims to integrate persons with special needs into the mainstream society thru rehabilitation and skills development. It is the mandate of the local government to make them functional, independent, and productive citizens of the community regardless of their handicaps thru the process of detection and identification, diagnostics and referrals to appropriate programs, early intervention, and normalization under the 4k Program or the Kilusan Kabalikat ng may Kapansanan para sa Kinabukasan with the support of the NGOs, private sector and the National Government.

Cultural Activities/Festivities

      Sorteo Festival celebrated every three years, is a week-long festivity that showcases the best of Carmona’s people and cultural character. Sorteo ng Bukid ng Bayan is the actual raffling off of the communal lands to lucky Carmona residents. The actual Sorteo lasts for three days.  During its run in February 2010, more than 1,000 people from neighboring towns and Manila came to witness the festivity.

      The Investors’ Cultural Night is staged annually to allow locals and foreigners in Carmona to learn more about each nation’s culture and identity. During this event, Filipinos, Taiwanese, Chinese and Koreans present their culture and history through live performances.                             

Carmona own Fiesta

      The people of Carmona cherish their centuries-old traditions. Fiesta celebration is a common fare in Carmona as in other municipalities. The traditional town fiesta is held every March 19. This special occasion, in honor of the town’s patron saint, entails much preparation of food and street decoration to enhance the festive mood. This festival attracts people from other municipalities as they enjoy the distinct hospitality of the people of Carmona and witness Carmona’s transformation from a sleepy town into a prime metropolis in the province.

Eco-tourism zone plans/projects/activities:

Prepare plan/feasibility study for an eco-tourism zone in Mabuhay:

• Lots along Governor’s Drive shall be developed as eco-tourism facility for biking, trekking/hiking, camping, sightseeing, picnicking and other relevant hobbyists’ activities.
• Will highlight the new concept of environmental protection and preservation thru proper utilization and maintenance.
• Facilities include a zip/cable line, Bike trails, Four/two-wheel motoring adventure trails, Hiking Trails, Viewing decks, picnic/camping sites, bungee jumping platforms, tree climbing exploring thru wood bridges, river traversing, rappelling and the likes.

Paragliding – Development/improvement of the existing site in Barangay Lantic.

The Sports Center – Commercial and Recreational

• The sports facility shall have a track and field oval with 2 outdoor basketball courts, tennis courts, a football field, 2 baseball fields, etc.
• Another building will house the table tennis, badminton, board games, 50m long-8 lane Olympic standard swimming pool, a diving pool.
• A covered basketball court with a 5000 seat capacity will also be included that may also be utilized as boxing, taekwondo, weightlifting gyms.
• Arcaded walkways – pedestrian-friendly environment and security features.
• Administration Building, sports medical clinic, souvenir and equipment outlets, food outlets.
• Development of a Sports Academy inside sports center

Carmona Community Center

      The Carmona Community Center (C3) is the first Local Government Unit’s events center. It houses several multi-purpose halls which can be used for various functions. Besides these halls, a special room in the C3 is dedicated as the headquarters of the CYH which can be used as an area for children and youth to meet one another to discuss topics or even house trainings for skills development. The office of the Youth Development Officer of the local government will also be situated here. It also serves children through the play area that can be found outside the main area of C3.

Carmona Inventory of Cultural Properties

Hon. Marciano Mapanoo Park

Location: JM Loyola St., Barangay Maduya

Type: Immovable tangible

Ownership: Municipality of Carmona, Cavite

      The Carmona Town Plaza was built in 1941 in honor of Hon. Marciano Mapanoo passed away during his term as Mayor of the town. It was built on an open space with no roof, just a basketball court and a monument of Dr. Jose Rizal. When there’s an event held in the said venue, the audience usually stays on the field of grass.

      Over time, the renovations were continually done through the initiatives of the succeeding municipal mayors.  The Hon. Marciano Mapanoo Park has amenities that provide the current essentials in catering to different municipal and sports events, such as roof with light installations, tiled stage with built-in LED screen and backstage, comfort rooms, painted basketball court, bleachers, etc. The field of grass was covered by full cement with a barrier/hedge around it to accommodate the parking vehicles.

Carmona Performing Arts Group (Cpag)

Location: JM Loyola St., Barangay Maduya

Type: Movable tangible

Ownership: Municipality of Carmona, Cavite

      To promote the heritage, culture, and tourism of the town, the Carmona Performing Arts Group (CPAG) was launched on December 22, 2003, through the initiative of Congressman Roy M. Loyola, former mayor of the Municipal Government of Carmona.

      Since its establishment, CPAG has become the pride of the municipality in the field of performing arts. The group has already represented the town in several national artists’ assemblies and cultural events aside from invitations received to perform in different events within and outside the municipality. One of the most prestigious appearances is when they joined the Sayaw Pinoy (a national dance competition) and was awarded 3^rd Place in Contemporary and Folk Dance Competition in 2011 and 2^nd Place in Contemporary Dance in 2012.

      Presently, the group is composed of 22 student members from elementary, high school, and college-level; while the two members have already graduated from college. Full-time company members receive monthly allowance, provision of free weekly training with meals; while college student members receive educational assistance every semester.

       CPAG is persistently searching for young individuals who will continue the legacy of CPAG as young ambassadors of culture and arts. The current members/director of CPAG conduct auditions every one to two years to accept new members and to train them with the right discipline and principles as youth ambassadors of culture and the arts.

      The new members shall acquire knowledge about the culture, tradition, and different events in the Municipality wherein they will showcase their talents while conveying the message of each piece. There are regular series of training conducted every week to further strengthen not only their talents, but also their integration. 

St. Joseph Parish Church

Location: JM Loyola St., Barangay Maduya

Type: Immovable tangible

Ownership: Diocese of Imus, Cavite

      Like many churches in the Philippines, Saint Joseph Parish Church started as a small covered hut made mostly of bamboo. Through sheer will and collective desire of the leaders of Carmona for a bigger and stronger structure, a church made of stone and a massive convent were built during the Spanish colonial era which became the center of SONA during the Japanese period.

      Over the years, the church withstood natural calamities and wars. Church restoration began in 2005. The original structure is made of adobe but it was covered by cement to prevent it from future damage. The bell tower was also renovated. 

Sorteo Ng Bukid ng Bayan / Subasta delas Tierras Communales del Pueblo de Carmona

Location: Carmona, Cavite

Type: Movable tangible

Ownership: Municipality of Carmona, Cavite

      Two centuries ago, Carmona was called “Latag,” one of the barrios of the Municipality of Silang.

      In 1838, the movement for separation of Carmona from Silang started. A formal request was directed to the Governor-General of the Philippine Island.

      On February 20, 1857, through a decree signed by Governor-General Ramon Montero y Blandino, Latag’s autonomy from Silang was granted and was then called “Carmona,” also a province of Seville in Spain.

      Stipulated in the decree granting Carmona’s Independence is that certain parcels of land shall be communal to its residents for grazing and cultivation.

      The “communal” status enticed immigration from different parts of the country and to democratically settle the dispute, the Spanish government initiated “Subasta de las Tierras Communales del Pueblo de Carmona” or the Lottery of Communal Lands of the town of Carmona, which will be held every three years.

      Commonly known as “Sorteo ng Bukid ng Bayan,” the lottery of communal agricultural lands has since then, become a tradition, which Carmona practices until now.

      In 2003, then-Mayor Roy M. Loyola thought of making the unique tradition known throughout the country and started the first Sorteo Festival in partnership with the Department of Tourism.

      The first Sorteo Festival was staged in 2004, and then in 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016 with a weeklong gala of colorful competitions, showcase of talents, and the parade of beauty and artistry on top of the 3-day lottery marathon of communal lands.

      In celebration of the triennial festival of Carmona, the municipality prepares several activities spread out across the week where the Carmona Day falls with activities such as: Ani ng Kinabukasan Grand Opening, Parada Sorteo, Barangay Mo, Gayak Sorteo, Hataw-Galaw, Indak Sorteo (Street Dance Competition), Carmona StrEAT, Basketball with the Stars, Binibining Sorteo (Beauty Pageant) Search for the Outstanding Citizens of Carmona, Gintong Tinig, Gintong Himig (Singing Contest), Palaro ng Lahi, Sorteo Grand Prix, and Sorteo ng Bukid ng Bayan Grand Opening.

      The Sorteo ng Bukid ng Bayan is being passed on through the efforts of the Municipal Government of Carmona by providing collaterals that include the history and the triennium practice. Different media platforms such as print media (magazines, tarpaulins, brochures) and alternative media (website and social media) played an important role in disseminating information about the festival.

      Another way of preparing the people for the festival is the Launching of the 100-Day Countdown to Sorteo Festival, which is being held every November prior to the festival year. Various shows such as the Semi-Finals of Gintong Tinig, Gintong Himig (Singing Contest), performance by the Binibining Sorteo candidates, and the unveiling of the Sorteo Festival Countdown Board give life to the event.