Heritage Trail
Contents
1 Heritage Trail
2 Nature Adventure
3 Food Trip
4 Local Finds
5 Board & Lodging
6 Getting Around
The province of Laguna is hour's away from Manila It is one of the perfect getaways that can suit a travelers wish for both cultural immersion and exciting adventure. While it is famous for its hot springs and water destinations, Laguna has a wealth of old churches and heritage sites that I came to appreciate and marvel at lirat in list was the former our residence of Laguna's most famous son and our national hero Jose Rizal, the Rizal Shrine, I had been here before during our school field trips but what is different now is that the replica of the family's house is colored green. Curious about the major change, we learned that this move served to honor the family s roots in agriculture. The shrine has interesting and precious memorabilia from Rizal's life like the toothbrush holder that he made for his sister Trinidad and some of his old clothes and shoes. Our second stop was the Shrine of st Anthony in Pila. T e area where the church stands, facing the town hall and with the school on its right side. reflects the old layout of the town plaza from the Spanish era. Being in the area felt like living a scene from Noli Me Tangere and rightly so because these well preserved old houses have been around for centuries. For this reason, the whole town center of ila was declared a National Historical Landmark in 2000 Going back to the church, we earned that its structure is made adobe stones which were transported by hand from the original and larger church in Bgy Pagalangan Its bell is considered the third oldest bell in the country and will mark its 400th year in 2012. After Pila, our next stop was the St. Bartholomew Church in Nagcadan. The church stands massive and breathtaking with its Baroque style architecture. It still has its original facade but most of its architecture has already undergone restoration. A short distance from the church is another site declared by the National Historical Institute as a National Historical he Underground Cemetery. surrounding the chapel an the underground cemetery is a circular wall that also served as crypts and tombs The chapel that stands on top of the underground cemetery is quite small in size and has simple altar During the Spanish era this chapel was where final blessings were given to the dead before they were laid to rest in the crypt 15ft below. The entrance to the crypt can be found at the side of the chapel. After ing through two flights of stairs, we reached the place where Katipuneros used to hold their secret meetings. Our guide told us that there are only 36 niche the t which were reserved for church leaders, the rich and the affluent and priests who died in that era It was already late in the afternoon. when we arrived at Casa San Pablo in San Pablo, Laguna, where we spent the remaining hours of the day exploring its grounds and lounging on the hammocks spread across its lawn The following morning, we left early to get to Liliw where St.John the Baptist Church is located. The centuries-old church was formerly part of Nagcarlan unfortunate events in the past an earthquake in 1880 and a fire in 1898-- rendered the church devoid of its original structure, save for one of its walls which s stand today. On the way to the church we passed by Gat Tayaw street. The numerous stalls selling all kinds of footwear line this street reinforcing the reputation of Liliwa a town also known for its thriving footwear industry. By lunchtime, we were already in Maryjay appreciating yet another magnificent structure-the Church of St. Gregory the Great. This brick made church is massive, moreso if ou look at it from the outside Apart from being the country's third --largest church, this structure has survived two fires in the past. It used to be made of bamboo but the locals decided to alter its structure constructing it using red bricks in order to preserve it From Maryja, we proceeded to Cavinti. This was where we spent the evening. On the way to the resort (Lagos Del Sol), we passed by the Japanese Memorial Garden, a shrine dedicated to Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita. We had to climb up several flights of stairs to get to the upper part of the 12-hectare attraction. The shrine reflects the simplicity and minimalist style of the Japanese The ambassador of Japan visits this site every year. Aside from Gen. Yamashita, other Japanese soldiers who perished during the war are also buried here. At the top part of the garden, a very picturesque view of Caliraya Lake is sure to attract everyone. The next morning, we were off to visit more churches in the towns of Pete Paki and Mabitac. Pete is known for its people's excellent craftsmanship in woodwo This is clearly reflected in the interiors of the St James the Apostle Parish Church, especially its ceiling. Amazingly, the wood-clad ceiling was made without using nails Interesting fixtures in the churc also include two paintings featuring St. Cristobal. These two paintings had different origins the first one is oriental and the second one European. Stories have it that the parish priest then did not like the oriental painting and had it red with the European version. It was only in the 70s that the original painting was discovered when the church underwent renovation. After visiting these church we decided to go around the town and visit some of the woodcarversas they went about their daily work. One ofth mos famous wood sculptors from Paete is --Luis Ac-Ac His gallery that doubles as his shop is located on JV Quezada St and houses some of his most prized pieces like the Bunong Braso and Nagkaka rosa. Also in Paete, we passed by some taka or papier mache makers One of the most colorful shops that sell papier mache products is the Ang Buh at Hugs sa Paete Art Shop. They have taka pieces masks fruits, images that are usually used in plays. From Paete, our second to the last stop was Pakil The town is famous for the Turumba Festival, a grand procession of the image o the Virgin Mary through the streets, up to the seashore and back to the church. Merriment follows the image with people dancing to the beat of drums in the street. The Virgen de los Dolores de Turumba stands at the center of the altar People who want to get closer to the image and offer their intentions can go to the back of the church where a designated pahalikan" can be found. It's a small window situated directly at the back of the image. Apart from having an awe inpi ring church, Pakil is another town in Laguna that displays the skill and craftsmanship of its people through woodcrafts. They are the no. 1 producer of decorative items, with designs that range from butterflies to fans and peacocks made from woodshavings On shop where you can find these designs is the Whittler's Arts and Crafts at 175 Tavera St. ur last stop for the day was the town of Mabitac. The church Our Lady of Candelaria was already renovated and not much of the old structure remains but its location is the story itself The church is perched on top of a hill and to get to it, we had to climb up exactly 126 steps.
Nature Adventure
Laguna has a lot of diverse waterforms where you can enjoy swimming or simply relax and enjoy the view. Some of the natural sites that are more exciting include the Seven Lakes ofSan Pablo, the Pueblo El Salvador in Cavinti where you can find the Magdapio Falls,Nakaho Falls,---- Tibatib Nature Trail and Bayakan Falls. In Majara, try plunging in the ice-cold water
Food Trip
Kusina Salud in By Sta Cruz in San Pablo offers sumptuous and interesting dishes Try their Adobo Diablo (Php255),en abao meat with milk and chilis and spices coconut or their Binagoongang Baby (Php 255), The cozy yet eclectic ambiance of the restaurant adds to the unique dining experience that also can be enjoyed by guests. Another restaurant worth visiting is Ana Bela, a quaint cafein Liliw. They serve a variety of past and salad dishes as well as mouth-watering pastries. The café and bakeshop offers food at affordable prices- pasta dishes start at Php 60. This dining haven is located at 503 Rizal St., in Liliw For a taste of something quite out of the try going to the Exotik Restaurant in ordinary, Kalayaan, Laguna. As the name implies, they serve exotic dishes like frogs, snails, deer, wild lizards (bayawak) flavorful y cooked for guests enjo Even the ambiance of the restaurant is reflective of its name-it houses a number of animals including birds, monkeys and python named Samantha.
Local Finds
Take home treats from this province include the buco pie and espasol available in installs found along the highway, If you find yourself in the town of Liliw drop by the store in Mabini St. called S Prime Choice They offer a wide range of pastries (uraro, yema, turones, cart) with interesting flavors such as buko pandan black forest and melon polvoron.
Board & Lodging
Tranquil surroundings charmingly tucked in one o Lagunas town asa San Pablo Gomez Compound, Bgy San Roque, San Pablo City, Laguna; tel. no. 0920-9624083/0917-812 6687) is one-- of the places that provide a unique yet relaxing way to spend a weekend. Quaint cottages, with itte poter pieces make for a good vacation. Lagos Del Sol (tel. no. 049-526-8088 loc. 120/523-1827), a resort in Cavinti fronting the Caliraya Lake has modern facilities that also provide a good retreat from the busy life in the city. It also has local and international cuisines that guests can enjoy.
Getting Around
Several bus companies that regularly ply the South Luzon Expressway can take you to the towns of aguna Getting from one town to the next is easy with jeepneys, tri and buses but f you want to go to the more far flung areas of Laguna, its best to bring your own vehicle or renta van for convenience. Postscript: The Open Road From Laguna, the road remains open to adventures that could take one further south to the province ofBicol, to the port of Orso and to the island ofMasbate, Samar all the way to Surigao.
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