LUCENA CITY—The historic Alitao River in Tayabas City, flowing from the foot of Mount Banahaw, has been declared a “critical watershed” by three villages in an effort to protect it from ...

On Mt. Banahaw, 170 km (106 miles) southeast of Manila, pilgrims queued to stand under waterfalls believed to have healing powers. Others prayed in caves festooned with Catholic icons.