Posts Tagged ‘lake’

Laguna Philippines

What has this province in the Philippines stand out among the provinces of the Philippines? Of course, most Filipinos who have known Laguna Philippines already knew why. Of course it is not only Dr.Rizal’s home province located, but of course Laguna Philippines is well known for its Hot Springs and beautiful resorts which has been due to it is within Laguna De Bay- the largest lake at the Philippines at the borders of two dormant mysteriously labeled mountains/volcanoes – the Mt.Makiling and Mt. Banahaw.

Mt. Makiling is known for its hot springs resorts which are all located at its slopes and also labeled as mysterious mountain like Mt. Banahaw. Mt.Makiling is located between Calamba Laguna and Los Banos Laguna. Mt.Makiling is known for the godess residing in the mountain which of course the godess Maria Makiling.It can be accessed through South Luzon Expressway via Maharlika Highway. The famous Pagsanjan Falls can also be found at the hillsides. Pagsanjan Falls is formerly known as the Magdapio Falls. However, aside from Pagsanjan Falls, there is another Falls at Laguna Philippines, that is the Buriwisan Falls at Siniloan Laguna Philippines, however it not accessible via Maharlika highway.

And because it is Lake Province, it boasts of some lakes surrounding it, one of this Lake is the Crocodile Lake at Los Banos Laguna where of course crocodiles could be seen. There are other lakes which are collectively called “Seven Lakes”, namely Sampaloc Lake, Lake Bunot, Lake Calibato, Lake Pandin, Lake Yambo, Lake Palakpakin, and lake Muhikap. These lakes could also be accessed through South Luzon Expressway via Maharlika highway.

Three of Laguna Philippines famous resorts are Villa Escudero Resort which is located at San Pablo City Laguna Philippines, Hidden Valley Springs which is located at Alamino Calaun Laguna Philippines, and Lagos de Sol Resort which is located at Lake Caliraya, Cavinti Laguna Philippines. However, Hidden Valley Springs is the most famous of its resorts due to Hidden Valley Springs truly hot spring because it is naturally-made.

Aside from beautiful and bountiful resorts and hot springs, Laguna Province is rich of bamboos, soft hardwoods and rattan on its forest, which is of course an evidence of Laguna Philippines’“lake” character and nature. Thus, a bamboo industry could be aspiring for it, however, bamboo is not its main industry rather it is wood carvings and paper Mache.

Futhermore, in terms of historical interest, not only the Rizal Shrine at Calamba Laguna is amazingly interesting, but also the Underground Cemetary at Nagcarlan Laguna, the Homma-Yamashita Shrine at Los Banos Laguna, the Japanese Garden at Cavinti Laguna, the Baker Hall at Los Banos Laguna, the Ancestral houses and town plaza at Binan and Pila Laguna, and other historical interest.

Moreover, did you know that the oldest crematorium in the Philippines is located at Laguna Philippines? This oldest crematorium is located at Pila Laguna Philippines.

There are also numerous churches you could see at Laguna, of course one of these is the St. John The Baptist Church where Dr. Jose P. Rizal was said to be baptized.

The First Class Batangas Philippines

This Province in the Southwestern part of the Philippines is known as the most popular tourist destinations near Manila Philippines and at the Philippines. And why is it so? Of course because of Batangas Philippines famous beaches and resorts and diving spots, like Matabungkay, Anilao, Punta Fuegeo, Calatagan, and other famous tourist spots. Moreover, the famous Taal Volcano was also located at Batangas Philippines where most tourists flock to see the volcano. Taal volcano is the smallest active volcano known in the world and famous for its crater which has a lake in it. Its crater with lake is now called “Crater Lake” which most tourist love to look into. It is a volcano within a lake (Lake Taal) and the volcano itself has also a lake with its crater. Amazing is not it?

However, there are also interesting stuff about Batangas Philippines than its popular beaches and resorts. That is, Batangas Philippines’s famous fan knife or in local dialect “balisong”. Batangas Philippines has been known of this famous product in connection with its urban legend that a “Batangueno”(or local residents of Batangas ) always carry a secret “balisong” in anticipation to defend oneself from any outsiders who would challenge or offend one Batangueno to fight. Thus, there is a scare saying that “don’t mess yourself with a Batangueno” if you love your life. Batangas knife is a folding pocket knife with two handles counter-rotated at the grip of the blade of the knife. The knife can be concealed and surprise revealed when an enemy is attacking you. That’s really quite terrifying if you happen to bull with a Batangueno.

Batangas Philippines is also known for its cattle species, throughout the Philippines the “Batangas Cow” is sought after and almost every Saturday there is an auction.

However, like other region in the Philippines, Batangas in the Philippines has also other products which it can be proud of like pineapples, tuna fish, bangus, tilapia, coconut belt, etc.

Batangas Philippines is also known as the Cradle of Noble Heroes in the Philippine history because of heroes and statemens it produced, like Teodoro Kalaw,Apolinario Mabini,Jose Laurel,Claro M. Recto, and others. There are number of museums also which depicts this historical side of Batangas Philippines like Marcela Marino Agoncillo Museum and Monument which immortalized the contribution of this semi-hero Marcela Agoncillo who sew the first Philippine flag which was raised and wave during the times of Emilio Aguinaldo. This museum is actually an ancestral house of Marcella Agoncillo or where Marcela Agoncillo used to live during her times.Actually, I thought this was called Apolinario Shrine.

So where Batangas Philippines does located? Batangas Philippines is located at the CALABARZON region of Luzon Philippines, confined with the provinces of Cavite and Laguna. If you are from Manila Philippines, Batangas in the Philippines is 110 kilometers away southward through land transportation. Once you get there, you can ride a passenger jeepney or tricycle to go around the province or you can ride boats if you want an island-hopping adventure.