Stand on P. Burgos Street in Barangay Poblacion Uno and the town plaza opens in front of you, with the façade of St. Polycarp Parish Church behind it. This is the old centre of Cabuyao, and it is where a short visit makes the most sense.
Cabuyao suits travellers passing through Laguna who want a half-day of church-and-plaza time rather than a full itinerary, and anyone tracing the history of the province. The city is a component city of Laguna, and its name comes from the kabuyaw tree, whose fruit was once used as shampoo.
This guide covers the sights worth your time, plus a plan for a single day. The sources describe a small number of specific places, so the list below is short by design.
Top things to do in Cabuyao
1. St. Polycarp Parish Church (Cabuyao Church)
The city's main Roman Catholic church, on P. Burgos Street in Barangay Poblacion Uno, built during the 18th century and restored in the 2020s. A few 19th-century bells are displayed at the side, and in front a memorial commemorates the 35 people killed at the churchyard during the Sakdalista Uprising in 1935.
It sits beside Cabuyao Town Plaza, so combine the two in one stop. There is a side entrance on Manuel Quezon Street if the front is busy.
2. Cabuyao Town Plaza
The plaza beside St. Polycarp Parish Church in Barangay Poblacion Uno. It is the natural place to slow down between the church and the surrounding streets, and it puts you within a few steps of the church's front memorial.
Pair it with the church rather than treating it as a separate trip. The two are adjacent, so a single walk covers both.
3. Diocesan Shrine of San Vicente Ferrer
The city's second Roman Catholic church, on Mamatid Road in Barangay Mamatid. It contains a revered image of Saint Vincent Ferrer.
This is a separate stop from the Poblacion Uno cluster, so plan it as its own visit rather than squeezing it into a walk around the plaza.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at St. Polycarp Parish Church on P. Burgos Street. Look for the 19th-century bells displayed at the side and the memorial in front, then step through the side entrance on Manuel Quezon Street if the main approach is crowded.
Afternoon: Move next door to Cabuyao Town Plaza and spend the middle of the day there, using it as your base before heading on.
Evening: Travel to Mamatid Road in Barangay Mamatid for the Diocesan Shrine of San Vicente Ferrer, the city's second Roman Catholic church, and close your day there.
Frequently asked questions
Where is St. Polycarp Parish Church located?
It is on P. Burgos Street in Barangay Poblacion Uno, beside Cabuyao Town Plaza. There is also a side entrance on Manuel Quezon Street.
What can I see at St. Polycarp Parish Church besides the church itself?
A few 19th-century bells are displayed at the side of the church, and a memorial in front commemorates the 35 people killed at the churchyard during the Sakdalista Uprising in 1935.
Where is the Diocesan Shrine of San Vicente Ferrer?
It is on Mamatid Road in Barangay Mamatid. It is the city's second Roman Catholic church and contains a revered image of Saint Vincent Ferrer.
Why is the city called Cabuyao?
The name comes from the kabuyaw tree, Citrus hystrix. Many kabuyaw trees grew in the area, and their fruit was used as shampoo.
Decide which of these stops anchors your day, then build the rest of your Laguna trip around it.