Imus - city of the Philippines and capital of the province of Cavite
Imus (dead link: January 2023) is a city in Cavite, and the de jure capital of the province. The city is the site of Battle of Alapan, a major encounter during the Philippine Revolution on 1898. Though now part of the immense sprawl of northern Cavite from the 1980s, it still contain some sights of historic importance.
Understand
Imus is the de jure capital of Cavite, but government offices remain at the de facto capital in Trece Martires. It is also the religious center of the province, serving as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Imus.
The city's history traces back to the Spanish era, but the origin of the name "Imus" remains obscure, and shrouded by numerous theories and urban legends. Imus is the site of the Battle of Alapan, a major encounter during the Philippine Revolution, and a giant flagpole is erected in the historical battlefield site.
The area is once dominated by rice paddies, but uncontrolled suburbanization from the 1980s converted them into the notoriously crowded sprawl it is today. Agriculture now plays a marginal role in the local economy. Newer developments, like real estate giant Ayala's Vermosa and local developer Pro-Friends' Lancaster New City further adds to the sprawl, though the former tries to incorporate new and sustainable urban design elements into their development.
The city is divided into 97 barangays, many that can be lumped into one district.
Get in
The heavily trafficked Aguinaldo Highways cuts through the city. You can take either a bus or jeepney, or drive your car to Imus.
By bus
Imus is served by city bus route 28 between Parañaque and Dasmariñas via the Aguinaldo Highway (Rte 419).
By car
Imus is 25 km south of Manila, and reachable by a 45-minute drive from Manila. The city is not yet served by expressways, but there are two nearby exits providing indirect access to the city:
- From Manila–Cavite Expressway (CAVITEx) - Exit Bacoor Exit, which connects Aguinaldo Highway in Bacoor. Best route if coming from Manila city proper or Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
- From South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) - Take the Muntinlupa–Cavite Expressway (MCX) from Susana Heights/MCX Exit in Muntinlupa, and follow Daang Hari through southeastern Bacoor. Toll fees and travel times are twice compared to just taking CAVITEX, and prepare for traffic jams at Molino junction.
Imus lies on the route of the Cavite–Laguna Expressway (CALAx), and will be served by an exit connecting with Open Canal Road, but as of 2022, a section of it near the Alapan Monument is still being built.
Get around
See
- Battle of Alapan National Monument, 14.4037578°, 120.9151266°. Houses a giant flagpole with the Philippines flag. This site commemorates the Battle of Alapan, where the Philippine flag was first raised during the Philippine Revolution. 2018-12-05
Do
Buy
- The District, Aguinaldo Highway (At the junction with Daang Hari). 10AM-9PM. Neighborhood mall. Has a Metro department store and a Toys R' Us location. 2019-07-30