One Super Rainy Saturday, out of ignorance that the deadly Typhoon Sendong was rampaging through Visayas and Mindanao region and sending neverending rain in Southern Luzon, me and my husband drove off to San Pablo, Laguna.
Although this post will only describe our journey to one of those seven lakes. It is still a worthwhile experience to read about especially if you are planning to pass by San Pablo. I also highly recommend taking the Lake Pandin green rafting experience knowing that supporting this program help preserve the cleanest lake in San Pablo and also brings livelihood to those who live near the lake.
But before I go on detailing about our trip. I think I have to get this off my chest. To be honest, I feel a bit uneasy writing about this particular trip knowing that on the very same day more than 1,000 Filipinos lost their lives because of the flash floods that hit Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete and other parts of Visayas and Mindanao islands one week before Christmas, many are still missing and thousands remain homeless up to this day. It's really heartbreaking to know that many welcomed 2012 in evacuation centers. My prayers goes to all who has experience this terrible tragedy. And, I would like to encourage anybody who is reading this blog to give to Red Cross Philippines. Just click here to go directly to their website.
For Filipinos, I know having the title as the text capital of the world, we can easily extend our donations via sms messaging. Just Text RED<space>AMOUNT to 2899 (Globe users) or 4143 (Smart users). Amount may be 5, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 or 1,000 (Globe users) and 10, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 or 1000 (Smart users). Transaction is free.
Home of the San Pablo Cathedral Church and considered one of the oldest city in Laguna. It is most popular for having seven lakes (or pitong lawa) namely:
Lake Sampaloc, Lake Palakpakin, Lake Calibato, Lake Muhikap, Lake Bunot, Lake Pandin and Lake Yambo.
Although this post will only describe our journey to one of those seven lakes. It is still a worthwhile experience to read about especially if you are planning to pass by San Pablo. I also highly recommend taking the Lake Pandin green rafting experience knowing that supporting this program help preserve the cleanest lake in San Pablo and also brings livelihood to those who live near the lake.
For Filipinos, I know having the title as the text capital of the world, we can easily extend our donations via sms messaging. Just Text RED<space>AMOUNT to 2899 (Globe users) or 4143 (Smart users). Amount may be 5, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 or 1,000 (Globe users) and 10, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 or 1000 (Smart users). Transaction is free.
As I mentioned, we were being bombarded by heavy rain when we made this trip. We had a hard time finding the lake when we got to San Pablo City even when we asked around. I am not in my usual "prepared" mode when we made this trip so I wasn't able to jot down driving directions ^_^. Thankfully, there was a gas attendant who knows where it is and led us to the road upto a sign that says Pandin Lake. We were met by Aling Sion on the side of the road, our contact guide. We were warned of the 30 minutes slippery and muddy trek that we have to go through before getting to our destination.
After trekking for 30 minutes, the Welcome to Pandin sign greeted us and a stunning view of the lake can be seen from afar
The lake is actually about 20.5 hectares and has been rumored a crater lake. It's exact depth according to the oarswomen were never really determined. They said that there's a part in the lake that has remained unmeasured up to this date and so when we asked if someone has died in the area. They said they can only think of 2 accounts - one, was when a mentally handicapped person committed suicide on the lake (which was before the green rafting program was launched) and the other one was when a tourist who doesn't know how to swim followed a friend who jumped off the raft thinking the water is shallow. That is why, wearing a life vest is now a requirement to any travelers who'd go on the lake tour. Also, being far from town and any means to get immediate help, they also forbid anybody who has a heart condition to go into the lake tour.
The package for the eco lunch tour is PHP180/per person and you can opt to pay another PHP180/per head if you want them to arrange lunch for you like we did, the food are locally caught fish and super small shrimps plus some veggies that were prepared right on the lake shore. For those with allergies though, I'd leave alone the shrimp. I had an allergic reaction after eating it and have to call my friend doctor for help (thanks doc Pau ^_^).
There's also fresh buko juice (coconut juice) but I'd suggest you bring your own bottled water as it might not suffice enough for the whole tour.
For added security measures as well, they have a barangay police on raft ^_^ that is on duty throughout the day. It's quite nice to know that he's there watching over us :).
The very informative and helpful Aling Sion rowed and pulled the ropes against the rain and cold wind ^_^.
We wanted to go swimming and have actually packed a lot, but because of the foul weather, we opted to stay off the waters and just enjoy the lunch tour and just fooled around and listened to the many chikas of our lovely oarswomen. ^_^.
We also visited the man-made grotto on the farthest side of the lake.
Overall, it was a unique road trip - different from any trips we had -- not because of the destination but more of -- the not so smooth experiences we encountered along the way. We had fought over the littlest things (like asking directions and wrong turns and who to ask for help) and the gloomy weather does not help any bit. There was a point that we just want to cancel and just head home but our determination to struggle through it (and yes, our fights did a lot of good too) helped us to move forward until we get there. We were also not afraid to say sorry to each other after the many quarrels and then laughed about everything that happened afterwards. ^_^ -- And I guess, it made the difference in the world. It made the experience unforgettable for us.
We drove straight to the STAR tollway via SLEX and exited in Sto. Tomas Batangas, from there, we just followed the signs that leads to San Pablo City. Once you're in San Pablo -- go straight to the city center, you'll see the big church, San Pablo Cathedral. Go find Schettelig Avenue (this is the tricky part) I have forgotten how we were able to find it but it's best to ask around. Go straight, all the way to Sto. Angel. Once you see Lake Bunot sign, you're in the right track, the next lake will be Lake Pandin. There's a parking area for your vehicles, parking fee costs about PHP20. Make sure to give tips to the oarswomen. :)
Contact guide: Aling Sion
Contact number: 09299789565
*theroomylife.blogspot.com* supports Eco-tourism
Hi. Where to stay in Laguna when we visited San Pablo. Thanks in advance! :)
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