Discover Los Baños

It’s summer. You are stuck in your office. The air conditioned room cools your body from the summer heat. Outside, you feel the sun burning your skin and wish you were in a beach and applying suntan, but your short weekend break does not allow you for a long travel. Where can you go to relieve the stress and hot summer days?

Then I propose that you go to Los Baños!

Los Baños is a town in Laguna which means “the baths”. It is your nearest exit from the scorching heat of Manila. All you need is two hours of travel and you are on your way to a relaxing summer vacation.

True to its name, Los Baños is full of public springs and resorts lining up its highways. All you have to do is roll down the window of your car, breathe in the fresh air that is so rare in Manila, and call one of the resort caretakers flashing the “private pool” sign. You are on your way to ease that stress! But if you are looking for premium resorts, Los Baños also has Splash Mountain, Monte Vista Resort, Sun City, Libis ng Nayon, and many more which are all promoted by the Department of Tourism. Ooops! Don’t forget! Buy some buko pie before going to your chosen resort. Nothing beats submerging in cool water and eating the famous Los Baños buko pie.

Now, if you had already rejuvenated your worn out soul, why not go to some mountain trekking and explore the wonders of Mount Makiling? By just looking at the panoramic view of this mountain (which looks like a maiden sleeping on its back) will make you marvel of what this mountain holds. And your first stop in this adventure hike is the University of the Philippines, Los Baños.

UPLB is the largest UP Campus because of its upper campus, Forestry, which covers the foot of Mt. Makiling. Stroll around the campus or maybe have a family picnic in Freedom Park while indulging on ice creams, yogurts, kesong puti, and fresh chocolate milks made from DTRI. You could also visit Museum of Natural History and Philippine High School for the Arts located at the top of the campus or camp at night at Jamboree.

For a more adventurous trek, visit the so-called “flat rocks” near the Botanical Garden of UPLB. It is a clump of large flat rocks forming a ruin or cave that excites your exploratory soul. After taking a short break and washing your hands and feet in the river beside the flat rocks, climb up and boil some eggs in mud spring. It is one of the many “mouths” or craters of Mt. Makiling which is really an inactive volcano. The reason for the inactivity of Makiling is that its hot, boiling water runs down to the many hot springs now enjoyed by the locals and tourists.

Now that you have explored Mt. Makiling, enjoyed the cool, fresh air, and marvelled at the huge trees, it is now time to go down the mountain. Try the route called the “Magnetic Hill”. This hill got its name “magnetic” because vehicles are pulled up the hill when their engines are turned off. But not just metals are magnetized by this hill, even water and coconuts are found to be rolling up instead of rolling down. Because of this, locals have explained that the hill is really going down and not up as what the eyes can see.

So after wondering and wandering, maybe now you know where the nearest exit to paradise is. Don’t waste your weekend! Pack up your bags and see you at the paradise that is Los Baños.

Sonya’s Garden: Tagaytay’s Best-Kept Secret

Kabalikat, are you a tourist or a traveler?

Well, you might say that they are one and the same. Honestly, I beg to differ. I define a tourist as one who goes on a trip and take on the usual route listed on those commercial travel books. They are those who are willing to shell out some hard-earned cash to view those so-called tourist spots. A traveler, on the other hand, is one who goes on a journey and braves out onto the off-beaten tracks. They are those who are never afraid to wander in unfamiliar grounds, get lost, and eventually make new discoveries along the way. They are those people who are able to unlock some of the best-kept secrets hidden in their destination.

Paete: Carving Capital of the Philippines

No place in the Philippines comes to the minds of the Filipinos when it comes to wood carving than Paete in Laguna. In fact, the name of the town Paete was derived from the word “paet,” (or pait) which is the local counterpart of chisel, the principal tool for wood carving, in the Filipino vernacular. The place has produced a great quantity of statues and other wood carving products; these products, usually found in churches, have reached the different places of the Philippines, and even outside the country. Truly, the people in Paete have mastered and really dedicated their lives perfecting their centuries-old craft, which ultimately culminated to the declaration of the town as the “Carving Capital of the Philippines” back in 2005.

Magdapio Falls: Shortcut to Paradise

Niagara. Angel. Iguazu. Victoria. Maria Cristina. The list goes on.

Perhaps one of the beauties nature offers to mankind that people in the metro do not see ever so frequently is a waterfall. Many city inhabitants are deprived of its beauty simply because there is none in the metro. Or if there is one, it surely is man-made. Imagine what these people miss – a breath-taking view of playful water that freely and briskly falls from an edge into a wide basin whose water runs profusely toward its many conjunctions or exits – wait, just describing a waterfall alone gives us an imagery you would want to see for yourself – surely a paradise!

Herb Republic: Food Savant’s Heaven on Earth

For whatever reason, whenever I am hungry, I find myself surfing back and forth at the Lifestyle Network, the Food Network and Travel and Living, among other channels. This leads to, of course, me getting even hungrier. It might be because of the way every show never fails to display appetizing dishes each and every episode. Or perhaps because every single dish, for that matter, never falls short in making my mouth water, my taste buds salivate to the extent that I crave for the current dish that was presently onscreen. Every. Single. Time.

The Southern Gateway to Paradise

Jose Rizal, swimming pools, buko pie, and the right combination of urbanity and nature – this is the city of Calamba. Popularly known as the birth place of the national hero of the Philippines, Calamba has grabbed the attention of many visitors, especially local and foreign tourists who want a change of scenery.

Angono: The Philippines’ Art Capital

What do New York in the United States, Paris in France, and Rome in Italy have in common? Aside from being the forefront of progress and development, these places are considered as the art capitals of the world! They brag about their collection of art works, from paintings to sculpture to jewelry, made by world-renowned masters of art.

Aguinaldo Shrine: Cradle of National Liberty

Wouldn't it be nice if we can take a step back into time and revel in the glorious days of the Philippines? That time when every Filipino is filled with so much love for his country that he would risk everything, even his own life, for this thing called independence. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we can transport back to that day and bear witness when the Philippines was declared an independent republic?

Antipolo City: Sky’s the Limit

"Tayo na sa Antipolo, at doon maligo tayo sa batis na kung tawagin ay Hinulugang Taktak. At doon tayo'y kumain, ng mangga, suman, balimbing. Kaya't magmadali ka kung ikaw ay sasama sa Antipolo."

We all grew up with this song as kids, and ever since then we have often wondered of this place called Antipolo. What makes it so special --- so unique --- that it has to be immortalized in a song?

Kamayan sa Palaisdaan Restaurant: Road-Trip Destination

For one too many reasons, a road-trip offers the best solution should you wish to go on pollution detoxification. Without a doubt, being away from all the busy streets and traffic of the metro, even for just a short while, gives a feeling of refreshment, of both tranquility and excitement. And this particular destination would surely suit any road-trip clique you are with: from a family adventure (road-tripping with mom and dad does not necessarily equate to a boring journey), to a thrilling barkada excursion (I know, most people my age would prefer this!), to a romantic lovers’ escapade to the mountainside.

Specializing in fish and other seafood dishes, hence the name Kamayan sa Palaisdaan Restaurant, is just an hour-and-a-half to two-hour drive from Manila to its location at Brgy. Dila, Bay, Laguna. Locals pronounce it as ba-EH, not Bay, so it would be easier for you to ask for directions to the place if you would say it like the locals do.

Mount Cristobal : Not for the Faint-hearted

Mount Cristobal: Not for the Faint-Hearted

Hello there, kabalikat! First, let me ask you these questions: Do you want your next trip to be what you can call a “real” adventure? Are you tired of your barkada’s usual nature tripping and mountain climbing spots? If you and your buddies are bold and daring true-blooded nature enthusiasts, then Mount Cristobal is the right place for your next escapade!

Tagaytay : Solace in the Heart of Nature

Tagaytay : Solace at the Heart of Nature

Are you a dynamic, young professional who has dreams of a life full of leisure, excitement and thrill – but finds those dreams impossible fantasies given your monthly earnings? Do you stop for a quick second and find yourself tired of commuting to and from your workplace, desperately needing even just a short break from having to brave the gruelling traffic of the metro? Have you had enough of paying exorbitant rates just to get yourself away from your hole of a living quarter?