The Tagalog region covers the provinces of Bulacan, parts of Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Rizal, Bataan, Quezon, Laguna, Batangas, Aurora, Marinduque, Mindoro, parts of Camarines Norte and northern Palawan, and, not to forget, Metro Manila, which is the national capital.

The term Tagalog is believed to have been derived from "taga-ilog," meaning "people who liveby the river." The language spoken in these areas is, of course, Tagalog, on which the national language, Filipino, is based, along with English.

The Tagalog area is diverse and spread out. There are towns that are highly industrialized, like many parts of Cavite, Laguna and Bataan. Some provinces are largely agricultural, like Mindoro and Marinduque. Metro Manila is of course the commercial and political capital of the country.

In agricultural areas, the principal products are rice, fish, salt, coconut, and sugarcane. Abundant in the Tagalog provinces are fruits like mango, citrus and papaya, and a variety of vegetables. Beef, pork, and poultry products are also supplied by these agricultural towns.

Rice and fish are a major part of the Tagalog diet. Several varieties of fish provided by the many fish farms in the region abound, but the most popular and most delicious to the Tagalog palate is the bangus (milkfish). Meat, beef, pork, and poultry, are also consumed. Vegetables complete the Tagalog meal, and a variety of these are available, produced locally as well as imported from the Mountain Province in northern Luzon.

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