The South Luzon Expressway, more commonly known by its abbreviation SLEx or SLEX, is a controlled-access highway in the Philippines. It connects the National Capital Region (or Metro Manila) to the provinces of the southern part of Luzon, the main island in the country. Measuring 51 kilometers or 32 miles long, it starts at an intersection with Quirino Avenue in the district of Paco in Manila. It then passes through the settlements of Makati, Pasay, Parañaque, Taguig, and Valenzuela in the capital area and the provinces of Cavite and Laguna in Southern Luzon. It ends at an exit in the settlement of Santo Tomas in the province of Batangas, where it continues as Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (or better known as STAR Tollway).