Culture and adventure in Laguna: A ‘Biyahe ni Drew’ Itinerary

Laguna is quickly becoming a gateway for extreme sports since Republic Wakeboarding Park opened in Nuvali. This, in addition to the wide range of sights and other activities, makes Laguna a perfect quickie road trip destination.

Quick facts:

• Laguna is the Spanish word for lagoon or lake. The province was named such because of Laguna de Bay, the lake surrounding the province.
• Dr. Jose Rizal was born in Calamba, Laguna. Tourists can visit there a reconstruction of his ancestral home.
• Tourists flock Laguna for its hot spring and native crafts such as tsinelas, papier-mache and wood carvings.

How to go there:

From Manila, Laguna is a one- or two-hour drive. If you're taking the bus, several bus liners in Cubao and Buendia bus terminals have trips to Calamba, Laguna.

What to see:

Pagsanjan Falls

Be one with nature in Laguna as you marvel at the majestic Pagsanjan Falls, also known as Magdapio Falls. A popular activity here is to “shoot the rapids” where you can rent a boat to get to the falls. "Shooting the rapids" costs P1,475 per person.

Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery

Brush up on history in Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery. The cemetery was built in 1845 by the Franciscan Friar Vicente Velloc.  It became secret hideout of Filipino patriots during the 1896 revolution and by guerillas who fought in the World War II.

What to do:

Nuvali Republic Wakeboarding Park
 

Manileños need not fly to CamSur to go wakeboarding. Republic Wakeboarding Park in Nuvali offers the same thrilling experience, for a minimum fee of P250 per hour and P995 for 8 hours. If you don’t have a wakeboard, you can rent one for an additional P350 per hour. If you get tired from all the wakeboarding action, just chill at Republic’s spacious lounge where you can order drinks and the in-house restaurant’s laing pizza.

Where and what to eat:

Calle Arco

If you want traditional Filipino cuisine, head on over to Calle Arco. The sinigang na baka with langka is a definite must-try at the resto. The sweetness of the langka perfectly complements the sour flavor of the sinigang. Other specialties are their garlic chicken and pako salad. Calle Arco’s pako salad is flavored with kesong puti and olive oil, and topped with singkamas.

Check out Calle Arco at Rizal St., Brgy. Uno, Pagsanjan, Laguna.

Bibingkang abnoy
 

Bibingkang abnoy (P100/piece) is a native delicacy in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. The main ingredient of this dish is abnoy, or premature penoy. Bibingkang abnoy is made purely from a mix of different eggs (abnoy, penoy and raw eggs) so its texture is similar to that of an omelette.

Unlike the traditional bibingka, bibingkang abnoy is normally eaten as a pulutan. Locals dip the bibingka chunks in vinegar and sip their beer afterwards.

Where to stay:

Villa Escudero
 

Villa Escudero is a coconut plantation-cum-resort that has been serving tourists since 1981. The estate houses a museum and holds rural village tours as a way of showcasing our country’s rich culture and heritage.

Villa Escudero offers day tours that cost P1,250 for adults and P625 for children (below 4 ft.) on Mondays to Thursdays, and P1,400 for adults and P700 for children (below 4 ft.) on Fridays to Sundays and holidays. Day tour packages include welcome drinks, carabao cart rides, use of outdoor recreational facilities, and lunch at the famous Villa Escudero Waterfalls Restaurant. Cultural shows are also available from 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. every Fridays to Sundays, and holidays.

Rooms available for lodging are spacious and clean. Another plus is the rustic Filipino-Spanish-inspired interiors that will take you back to the past.

A room for 6-8 pax costs P2,415 per person, inclusive of three meals and activities. For other room rates, check out Villa Escudero’s website.

What to buy for pasalubong:

Kesong puti
 

Kesong puti (P50-small, P100-big) is soft, white cheese made from carabao’s milk. It has creamy texture with a hint of saltiness perfect to go with pan de sal and a cup of coffee. If you’re buying kesong puti for pasalubong, make sure to buy one in the morning so the cheese would still be fresh.

Tsinelas

Head on over to Liliw, the Tsinelas Capital of Laguna, and buy a pair of colorful slippers to go with your everyday pambahay outfit. For P100, you can already buy three pairs of tsinelas. Sandals and shoes, meanwhile, cost from P300-500, depending on the design.

Espasol

Espasol is a cylindrical and sometimes square-shaped rice cake made from rice flour and coconut milk. You can buy three packs of this sweet delicacy for only P100 and P5-P10.00 per piece in pasalubong stores and even bus vendors.

Buko Pie

A visit to Laguna isn’t complete without bringing home buko pie (P180/box). It doesn’t matter who “d’original” buko pie maker is, your loved ones will surely appreciate this classic treat!

— Bernice Sibucao/CM, GMA News