Revisiting Laguna - A Place to Remember

Since I was little I always visit my Lolo in Calamba, so I considered Calamba as my hometown. Located at the foot of Mount Makiling, it lies at the southern terminal of the South Luzon Expressway.

Last September 15, 2012, my family went to Calamba again, this time to revisit famous sites so I can write something for this blog. 

Just less than an hour drive from Buendia, we first proceeded to my Lolo’s house. Then, we ate at Aling Ely’s Restaurant located along the Calamba National Highway, which is famous for their Lechon and Lumpiang Sariwa.

Since Calamba became famous because of our national hero and martyr Dr. Jose Mercado Rizal, the first place we revisited was Rizal’s house or also called as Rizal’s Shrine, which is the one of the most popular tourist spots in Laguna. There were no entrance fee inside the Rizal Shrine but there were donation boxes. The money collected there was used as funds for keeping the house and its grounds clean.

Video of Rizal Shrine

As I roamed around in Rizal’s Shrine, I saw the different antique furniture which have been preserved through the years. My most favorite places in the house were the main stairs and the main dining area with a big piece of cloth hanging in the ceiling serving as their fan when pulled by their maid.

Just across the street, we found the big Banga which was known to be the origin of the name of the city, the Tagalog words "Kalan Banga" meaning clay stove and water jar, respectively. The story goes that during early days of Spanish occupation, a lady carrying a water jar and a stove was met by 2 Spaniards who asked her, in Spanish, what the name of the place was. The lady thought they were asking for the name of what she was carrying and nervously uttered "kalan banga". Unable to pronounce the words correctly, the Spaniards just called the place Calamba since then.

Then we went to the city plaza where Rizal’s tall statue stood.  Erected on a 7 hectares (17 acres) land at Calamba City Hall Complex, the monument is 22 feet (6.7 m) tall, with the number symbolizing the 22 languages and dialects used by Rizal. It sits on top of a 15-step podium, symbolizing one decade since Rizal was born. It is the tallest Jose Rizal Monument in the World.

We next proceeded to UP Los Banos to buy fresh carabao milk and yogurt. Our trip to Laguna will not be complete without buying them. Laguna is also famous for its Buco Pies.

Then we went to our lot in Los Banos where we intend to build a mini-resort someday. The grasses have grown more than 9 feet tall already.

Speaking of resorts, Calamba is a popular tourist destination with its hot spring resorts, most of the resorts are located in Barangay Pansol and Barangay Bucal. With a total of 661 resorts, Calamba City is known as the "Resort Capital of the Philippines".

I have been to several resorts in Laguna, some big ones and others were private pools. The water was really hot but refreshing. 

These resorts make me want to visit Calamba and Los Banos again and again.

Likewise, Calamba is very near other tourist spots within Laguna which I already visited which guarantees relaxation and fun, namely:

• Villa Escudero in San Pablo
• Caliraya Resort in Caliraya
• Pagsanjan Falls in Pagsanjan
• Wood carvings and papier-mache places in Paete

So , if you are looking for a place near Metro Manila  to relax,  have fun, simply see and enjoy the historical sites and wonderful tourist spots, come and visit Laguna. It is really more fun in the Philippines with places such as Laguna.