DAY

TOUR
The Resort Province of the Philippines

LAGUN
A By Arsenio Gadiel S. Lazo
 Not only the proud birthplace of the Philippine National Hero, Laguna plays
host to a wealth of natural wonders and cultural treasures from its hot
springs, scenic jungle-clad canyons, picturesque waterfalls to its wonderful
and sought-after craftsmanship of the finest embroidery, wood-carvings , and
footwear in the country.
 Step 1: RESEARCH OTHER IN THE MARKET PLACE
 The area is one enormous grandstand of Southern Tagalog craftsmanship. The town of Paete is
well known for its woodcarvings, papier mache, and carefully assembled paper products. Tree
seedlings, Sampaguita blossoms, orchids, and fascinating plants are huge business. Cut blossom
ranches are discovered generally in towns of Calamba, Los Baños, and Cove. Sweet tropical
natural products abound, for example, the lanzones from Paete, pineapple from Calauan, chico,
banana, mango, rambutan, and avocado. Add to these Laguna's weaved articles of clothing. Jusi
fabric produced using banana fiber is meticulously, though deftly, changed into wonderful bits of
attire deserving of being customized into the Philippine national outfit, the Barong Tagalog.
Shoes produced using abaca hemp is a developing industry in the town of Liliw.
Step 2: NAME YOUR TOUR

“LAGUNA: A HISTORICAL
ESCAPADE”
Step 3: MAP OUT THE DURATION, FREQUENCY
AND DEPARTURE DETAILS
 THE MEETING PLACE IS IN JAC LINER, CUBAO
(QUEZON CITY) – 4 AM
 ESTIMATED TIME OF DEPARTURE (JAC LINER)
-
5 AM
 ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL (SAN PABLO,
LAGUNA) – 8 AM
Step 4: LIST THE MAJOR LOCATIONS AND TOUR
HIGHLIGHTS
WHERE TO GO IN LAGUNA?
 NAGCARLAN UNDERGROUND CEMETERY
 SAN BARTOLOME APOSTOL PARISH CHURCH
 LILIW SHOPS
 TAYAK HILL
 BUNGA FALLS
Step 5: RESEARCH TOUR CONTENT AND DRAFT
COMMENTARY
NAGCARLAN UNDERGOUND CEMETERY (NAGCARLAN, LAGUNA)
- Brgy. Bambang, Nagcarlan, Laguna

 The Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery in Laguna was built in 1845 under the
auspices of Franciscan Fr. Vicente Velloc. The town’s elite enjoyed the privilege of
burial space in this distinctive cemetery. During the revolution against Spain and the
war against the United States, the Underground Cemetery was used as a rendezvous
of Filipino revolutionaries. Similarly, the cemetery served as a hideout for guerrillas
resisting the Japanese occupation in World War II.

 In 1981, the Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery was declared a National

Historical Landmark.
Step 5: RESEARCH TOUR CONTENT AND DRAFT
COMMENTARY

SAN BARTOLOME APOSTLE PARISH CHURCH (NAGCARLAN)

 St. Bartholomew Parish Church ("Nagcarlang Church") in Nagcarlan, Laguna

was first built in 1583 of light materials by then resident priest Rev. Tomas de
Miranda. In 1752, the second church was built using bricks and stones by
Father Cristobal Torres but the church was partly destroyed by a fire in 1781.
In 1845, the church was reconstructed and a choir loft was added by Rev.
Vicente Velloc, who also built the Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery.
Step 5: RESEARCH TOUR CONTENT AND DRAFT
COMMENTARY

LILIW

 Dubbed as “The Tsinelas Capital of the Philippines”, Liliw is perhaps

best known for its cold water spring resorts, native homemade sweets and
a sizeable shoe industry that rivals that of Marikina City. The town is also
known for its baroque church and its Liliw-style houses.
CHEF MAU’S RESTAURANT

- Magdalena Road, Bongkol, Liliw, Laguna

Owned by Chef Mauro Arjona, Jr., a Liliw native and award-winning

executive chef who co-owned and operated 18 restaurants at different times,
the restaurant has a facade that resembles the old heritage houses. The
interiors were well-decorated giving a traditional ambiance of dining for a
Filipino cuisine.
Dishes here are Filipino, Asian and Western influenced.
CHEF MAU’S RESTAURANT

FAVORITES:
 Paco or Fiddle-head Fern Salad
 Stuffed eggplant
 Crispy Biya (Goby)
 Humba
 Pancit Lechon
 Laing
 Thai Tilapia
SHOE SHOPS
- Gat Tayaw Street, Liliw, Laguna

FAMOUS SHOE SHOPS IN LILIW:

 Edna’s Footwear
 Entrada
 Socialite
Step 5: RESEARCH TOUR CONTENT AND DRAFT
COMMENTARY
TAYAK HILL
- Brgy. Tala, Rizal, Laguna

 Tayak Hill is situated in the Municipality of Rizal, right beside Mt. San Cristobal.
Dubbed as the Biker’s Heaven of Laguna, the hill is a frequent destination to
bikers and pilgrims alike. A short uphill walk and one will be at the windy peak and
see two crosses, a view of Laguna upfront, and a view of Mt. San Cristobal behind.
 Adjacent to the hill you can find the Landing Point where Fil-Am troops used it as
a runway for their planes during the war. During the Liberation in 1945, the
guerrillas of San Pablo built a 300 meters landing strip that served an L-4 Piper
observation plane. The said runway also served as drop-off point for ammunitions,
arms and other provisions during the war.
Step 5: RESEARCH TOUR CONTENT AND DRAFT
COMMENTARY
BUNGA FALLS
-Brgy. Bunga, Nagcarlan, Laguna

Only a few people know of this perfect side-trip destination just a few minutes away
from Lake Yambo, the Bunga twin waterfalls in Nagcarlan; very affordable, easy to
reach and definitely a treat for the thrill seekers.
Bunga Falls is a twin waterfall neatly divided into two similar-looking cascades by a
protruding rock in the middle.
There are several native-style makeshift shelters along this stream and around the
catch basin that one can rent if planning to stay longer.
Step 5: RESEARCH TOUR CONTENT AND DRAFT
COMMENTARY
COLETTE’S BUKO PIE AT PASALUBONG
-No.52 Maharlika Highway, San Pablo City, Laguna

Colette’s Buko Pie at Pasalubong now produces a variety of pies, rice cakes
and pastries, with Buko Pie as its carrier product. It also sells native
delicacies (pasalubong) and confections sourced from various suppliers.
Step 6: ANY 3RD PARTY ACTIVITIES, ATTRACTIONS,
ENTRANCE FEES AND INCLUSIONS
 TAYAK HILL ENTRANCE FEE – P20
 JEEPNEY FOR TAYAK HILL – 50 PHP PER PERSON (ROUNDTRIP)
 BUNGA FALLS ENTRANCE FEE – P5
 BUNGA FALLS COTTAGE – P200
 WATER TUBE RENTAL – 40
TRAVEL FARES
 BUS (CUBAO – SAN PABLO, VICE-VERSA) – P270
 JEEPNEY (SAN PABLO TO NAGCARLAN) – P24
 JEEPNEY FROM NAGCARLAN TO RIZAL – P8
 JEEPNEY FROM NAGCARLAN TO LILIW – P8
 TRICYCLE FROM NAGCARLAN TO BUNGA FALLS – P50
 BUNGA FALLS TO COLETTE’S BUKO PIE, SAN PABLO - P60
 TOTAL: P735
Step 7: ORGANIZE SUPPLIERS FOR MEALS

 MORNING – JOLLIBEE (CUBAO)

 LUNCH – CHEF MAU’S RESTAURANT (LILIW)

 DINNER – KFC (SAN PABLO)

Step 9: PERFECT TIMING
 MEETING PLACE: JAC LINER CUBAO – 4 AM
 BREAKFAST: JOLLIBEE CUBAO (TAKEOUT) – 4:30 AM – 4:55 AM
 ESTIMATED TIME OF DEPARTURE: 5:00 AM
 ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL (SAN PABLO): 8:00 AM
 SAN PABLO TO UNDERGROUND CEMETERY: 8:05 AM – 8:50AM
 UNDERGROUND CEMETERY: 8:50AM – 10:00AM
 UNDERGROUND CEMETERY TO SAN BARTOLOME APOSTOL
PARISH CHURCH: 10:00AM – 10:10 AM
 SAN BARTOLOME APOSTOL PARISH CHURCH: 10:10AM – 10:50 AM
 SAN BARTOLOME APOSTOL PARISH CHURCH TO LILIW: 11:00AM –
11:10 AM
Step 9: PERFECT TIMING
 LILIW: 11:10 AM – 12:45 PM
 LILIW TO TAYAK HILLS: 12:50 PM – 1:30 PM
 TAYAK HILL TREKING – 1:30 PM – 3:30PM
 TAYAK HILL TO BUNGA FALLS: 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
 BUNGA FALLS: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
 BUNGA FALLS TO SAN PABLO: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
 DINNER (KFC SAN PABLO): 7:00PM – 7:30PM
 COLETTE’S BUKO PIE AT PASALUBONG: 7:30 PM – 7:45 PM
 HOMEBOUND: 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM