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Quezon Province can be found in the southeastern portion of Luzon, bounded on the north by Aurora province, on the east by Polillo Islands and Lamon Bay, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Batangas on the west and Tayabas Sea on the south. The province was formerly known as Tayabas and at one time under the jurisdiction of various provinces. In 1585, the southern and central portions were under the jurisdiction of the province of Bonbon, (now Batangas), the northern portion was divided between Laguna and Nueva Ecija, while the remaining portion was divided into the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque and Camarines.
Considered as the longest and sixth largest province in the Philippines with Lucena City as its capital. It is also the home of prominent people such as the late president Manuel L. Quezon (hailed from Baler, for whom the province was named after), Claro M. Recto (hailed from Tiaong) and Apolinario dela Cruz, better known as “Hermano Pule" (hailed from Lucban).
The province is also famous for its exotic food, tourist attractions and fascinating festivities. Lucban for example, is known for its delicious longganisa and the flamboyant Pahiyas Festival. Pahiyas is held every month of May in thanksgiving to the patron saint of farmers, San Isidro Labrador, for a bountiful harvest. This annual festivity has become a major attraction to tourists as the townspeople lavishly deck their homes with their harvests like fruits, flowers, vegetables and rice grains.
One popular spot in Quezon is the mystical Mt. Banahaw near the town of Dolores, an extinct volcano considered to be sacred by the local residents and a favorite trekking destination of mountaineers. Farther down south are Quezon National Park and the beaches dotting along the coastal towns of the province.
The province of Quezon is accessible to Manila and its neighboring provinces via a network of roads regularly plied by various bus lines such as the Batangas-Laguna-Tayabas Bus Co. (BLTB), Tritran, JAM, JAC Liner, Philtranco and Superlines. Lucena, which is the capital, is a 3-4 hour bus ride from Metro Manila.
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