Quezon is a province of the Philippines named after former President Manuel L. Quezon. It is located south of Aurora Province and west of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur. It is bounded on the west by the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Batangas. Tayabas bay and Alimag Bay are on the south while the Philippine Sea is on the northeast of the province. Its territory include the Polillo group of islands east of the province.

Quezon Provincial Capitol

The farthest province from Metro Manila among the Calabarzon Provinces, Quezon is considered the gateway to Bicol Region.

The northern part of the province is dominated by the Sierra Madre mountain range while the sounthern part consists mostly of hills especially the Bondoc peninsula with scattered coastal plains especially around Lucena City. The 2,217-meter Mt. Banahaw is the highest peak. Rainfall is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year in the eastern side of the province while the area near Batangas and Laguna has no very pronounced seasons: relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year.

The people of Quezon are mostly Tagalogs. Bicolanos are numerous in the areas near the boundary with Bicol Region. There are migrants from other regions as well particularly from the Visayas.

1. Tanada Family - prominent political clan in Quezon started by former Senator Lorenzo Tanada

Quezon is the least developed province in Calabarzon Region. Its poverty incidence is very high at 47.7 in 2006. Agriculture is the main economic activity.

Its farm and fishery output in 2007 are as follows (figure in thousand metric tons, rank among 79 provinces)

Animal inventory of Quezon in 2007 are as follows (figure in thousand, rank among 79 provinces)

Aside from coconuit oil and rice mills, there are no other large manufacturing plants in the province. A large coal-fired power plant is operating in Pagbilao town near Lucena City. Tourism is not as developed as in the other provinces in Calabarzon. In 2006, a total of 128 banks were operating in the province with deposits amounting to 20 billion pesos.

The area around Pagbilao, with the nearby power plant and its deep natural harbor makes it an ideal location for heavy industries such as iron and steel, chemical, and shipbuilding plants. The province is also ideal for food processing and furniture industries. Agribusinesses like commercial cattle fattening, poultry, and production of high value crops such as cacao, coffee, malunggay, fruits, and vegetables are highly recommended. Its rich fishing grounds can make fish canning a viable business.

1. Lucban for its Pahiyas Festival held during the middle of May
2. Quezon National Park - in Atimonan town
3. Mt. Banahaw - favorite destination for mountaineers, it has also a waterfall
4. centuries-old Malagonlong Bridge - Tayabas City
5. Polillo Island - has coral reefs and bird sanctuaries.

Capitol photo credit to panoramio.com

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