Trece Martires
Philippines · Asia
About Trece Martires
Trece Martires, officially the City of Trece Martires (Filipino: Lungsod ng Trece Martires), is a component city and de facto capital city of the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 227,892 people.
The city was the provincial capital of Cavite until President Ferdinand Marcos transferred it to Imus on June 11, 1977. Despite the capital's relocation, the city still hosts the majority of the offices of the provincial government and some national-level agencies.
Trece Martires, which is Spanish for "thirteen martyrs", is named after the Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite—a group of prominent Caviteños convicted of rebellion and executed by the Spanish colonial government on September 12, 1896, in Cavite Puerto (present-day Cavite City) during the Philippine Revolution.
Trece Martires started as one of the largest and most remote barrios of Cavite. Originally named Quinta or Quintana, it was part of the municipality of Tanza. The land was basically agricultural subdivided into cattle ranches...
Trece Martires travel guide
Understand
The city was established in 1954 as the new government center for Cavite, and is named after the Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite, who were executed by the Spaniards during the Philippine Revolution. Trece Martires was created from Quintana, a barrio (or barangays) of the Tanza. The capital was officially transferred to Imus during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, but the government offices remain at Trece Martires, and is further reinforced by the construction of a new provincial capitol building at the edge of town in 2025. There are plenty of restaurants and shopping around town, but hotels are rather scarce. It is home to about 228,000 people (census, 1 July 2024)
Getting there
Trece Martires lies at the crossroads of Governor's Drive (Governor Juanito Remulla, Sr. Drive, or Routes 65 and 403), Tanza-Trece Martires Road (Route 64), and Trece Martires-Indang Road (Route 404). Travelers will usually travel via Dasmariñas or Kawit and Tanza. From Metro Manila, there are buses serving Trece Martires from the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX). Passenger vans also operate from Calamba, Laguna and Santo Tomas, Batangas. Jeepneys also connect Trece with neighboring towns such as Indang, Tanza, Naic and General Trias.
Getting around
Tricycles are the main form of transportation in town, with fares starting at P25. A trip from the city center to the New Provincial Capitol may cost P50.
See
1 New Cavite Provincial Capitol, Governor's Drive, Barangay Lapidario. Opened in 2025, the complex replaced a previous office at the back of SM Trece Martires that became too cramped. The new building is a massive and imposing edifice whose design is inspired by the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, complete with a towering spire at its center. At the front are large bronze statues of Cavite's own Emilio Aguinaldo and his main rival for leadership of the Revolution, Andres Bonifacio, who died at the hands of Aguinaldo supporters in Cavite. Construction is underway on other buildings in the area that would compose a new set of offices for the Cavite provincial government, along with a helipad. (updated Feb 2026) 2 St. Jude Thaddeus Parish Church (Trece Martires Church), Governor's Drive, Barangay San Agustin (beside Trece Martires City Hall). A modernist yet airy and cheery church featuring curved ceilings, painted windows and a large sculpture of the crucified Christ reclining on its back at a 45-degree angle in the altar. (updated Feb 2026)
Do
Thirteen Martyrs Day (September 12) - Commemorates the Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite, with reenactments of the executions. Feast of the Holy Cross (September 14) Feast of St. Jude Thaddeus (October 27-28)
Buy
1 Tower Mall. Locally founded shopping mall, opened in 2015. (updated Jan 2019) 2 SM City Trece Martires, Governor's Drive corner Capitol Road, Barangay San Agustin (in front of Trece Martires Public Market). 10 AM–9 PM. (updated Feb 2026) 3 WalterMart Trece Martires, Governor's Drive corner Thirteen Martyrs Avenue, Barangay San Agustin (beside Thirteen Martyrs Monument). (updated Feb 2026) 4 Trece Martires Public Market, Governor's Drive corner Market Road (across the street from SM Trece Martires). (updated Apr 2026)
Drink & nightlife
1 Kanlungan Cafe, Cabuco,, ☏ +63 968 415 0503, [email protected]. 11AM-9PM. (updated Mar 2024) 2 Kura Cafe, Jack Building. 10AM-11PM. (updated Mar 2024) 3 Trece Cafe & Kitchen, 45 KM Governor's Drive, ☏ +63 962 840 0196, [email protected]. (updated Mar 2024) 4 Starbucks, L/GF, SM City Governor’s Drive, corner Capitol Rd, ☏ +63 464402648. 10AM-9PM. (updated Mar 2024) 5 Corner Café, 80 Luciano, Trece-Indang road, ☏ +63 46 501 4772, [email protected]. (updated Mar 2024) 6 R-Tea & King Frappe MAIN, 0152 GS (Bitangan) Trece-Indang Road Barangay Luciano, (Landmark: Petro Gazz Gasoline Station along BIR), ☏ +63 955 915 1783. 10AM-10PM. (updated Mar 2024) 7 Goodgood Trece, Goodgood, Tanza - Trece Martires Rd, ☏ +63 966 534 8585, [email protected]. 11AM-8PM. (updated Mar 2024) 8 Virtuous Cafe, SM City Upper Ground floor, ☏ +63 9054300199, [email protected]. 10AM-9PM. (updated Mar 2024) 9 The PalpitatE Cafe, Indang Rd, Inocencio, ☏ +63 915 004 1554, [email protected]. 11AM-10PM. (updated Mar 2024) 10 Ohana Teahouse and Coffee Shop, Panungyanan Rd, ☏ +63 9328880145. Noon-7PM. (updated Mar 2024)
Sleep
Trece Martires lacks any hotels; nearest accommodations can be found at General Trias, Dasmariñas or Naic.
1 Marinaio’s Travellers Inn, VM Alex Bulek Road, Luciano, toll-free: +63 46 505 8654. (updated May 2026)
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.