Just inside the Marilag Eco-park in Sta. Maria town of Laguna, Three Falls is a cascading three waterfalls with cold water of Sierra Madre mountain range.

To get there, you need to drive about an hour away from the the highway (Manila East Road) boundary between Siniloan, Mabitac and Sta Maria then trek another 30 minutes to get to the actual park



About 30 minutes trek from the park entrance





my Snadugo trekking shoes got wet again :)

Details:

Marilag Ecopark
Three Falls

Entrance fee/Admission

adults: PhP20.00
children PhP10.00
cottage rentals: PhP250.00

bringing of food/drinks allowed. no alcoholic drinks
overnight camping is allowed (bring your own tents)

How to get there:

about an hour from Manila East road, set your phone to Marilag Ecopark on Google and you'll get there, weak mobile signal at the site

by commute, from EDSA crossing, ride a jeepney going to Tanay, Rizal. in Tanay, transfer to a jeepney going to Sta Cruz but ask to be dropped off in Sta Maria. Ride a tricycle in Sta Maria going to Marilag Ecopark


Related post:
List of Waterfalls in Laguna

Labels: Calabarzon, Laguna, Waterfalls

It was Good Friday and with nothing to do in the morning, drove from Paete all the way to Liliw to look for this hidden organic strawberry farm in Liliw, Laguna, owned by barangay captain Mario Cortez of barangay Ilayang Sungi Upon arriving at the place, accessed by a narrow farm to market road, you can see several rows of strawberry plants, sweet basil, tomatoes, broccoli and other fruit trees, including a coffee tree.

Tough luck though that there were a few visitors to the farm the last following days that's why not much ripe berries were available but still managed to get hold of a few ripe ones including several seedlings with ripe berries to show.






you can buy strawberry seedlings with ripened berries to take home for PhP25.00 for a small one and PhP50.00 for a medium one. There's free entrance fee/admission to the farm but very limited parking space along the narrow road

This farm deserves another visit by Tutubi and will probably try to visit the mini-waterfalls in the area, at the foot of Mt. Banahaw one of these days. Here's hoping there's less need to go to Baguio, specifically La Trinidad, Benguet to do strawberry picking activity where you pay per kilo of the berries you picked if the farm and adjacent areas can be developed.


How to get there:

from Manila, drive through Slex, take Calamba exit then head towards Sta Cruz, Laguna all the way to Jollibee Pagsanjan where you turn right (the area called Sambat). COntinue towards the old church in Liliw then take the service road going to Ilayang Sungi about 4.1 kilometers from the church as measured using a car's trip meter.

By commute, take DLTB, HM Transport or Green Star bus to Sta. Cruz, Laguna. In Sta Cruz, take a jeepney going to Liliw. ride a tricycle to take you to Captain Matio Cortez's farm in barangay Ilayang Sungi.

Labels: Calabarzon, Farms, Laguna, Southern Tagalog

Tourism sites often list the Homma - Yamashita Shrine in Los Banos, Laguna as a tourist spot yet you cannot really find any information about it, even asking supposedly tourism personnel at Laguna Tourism went for naught several times.

Tutubi, in typical spur-of-the-moment fashion, en route to Paete from Makiling Onsen Hotel suddenly thought of finding Yamashita's treasure along the national highway and turned to Jamboree Road going up to Mt. Makiling and UPLB and asked several people and tricycle drivers where to find the long, lost treasure of Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, the Tiger of Malaya, conqueror of the "impenetrable" Singaport and commander of the defense of the Philippines during the closing months of World War II in the Philippines



After a few hits and misses, Tutubi was led to a narrow that was too narrow for Scarlett (his ride) to enter so they went on foot. Further asking around from locals led him to the caretaker of the shrine who opened the locked gates for him

the locked gates of the execution site of Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, with contact number posted on the sign

the arch of the Memorial Monument of General Yamashita

Yamashita came to the Philippines on October 10, 1944, a few days before Gen. MacArthur landed on the beaches of Leyte (in a scripted and heavily practiced landing actually for propaganda purposes) and surrendered to the Americans in Kiangan, Ifugao (a future destination of Tutubi) then was tried in Manila from 29 October to 7 December 1945 by an American military tribunal for war crimes relating to the Manila massacre (that Tutubi thinks really was not his fault at all)

On 23 February 1946, at this site in Los Baños, Laguna Yamashita was hanged. His final words were “As I said in the Manila Supreme Court that I have done with my all capacity, so I don't ashame in front of the gods for what I have done when I have died. But if you say to me 'you do not have any ability to command the Japanese Army' I should say nothing for it, because it is my own nature. Now, our war criminal trial going under your kindness and right. I know that all your American and American military affairs always has tolerant and rightful judgment. When I have been investigated in Manila court I have had a good treatment, kindful attitude from your good natured officers who protected me all the time. I never forget for what they have done for me even if I had died. I don't blame my executioner. I'll pray the gods bless them. Please send my thankful word to Col. Clarke and Lt. Col. Feldhaus, Lt. Col. Hendrix, Maj. Guy, Capt. Sandburg, Capt. Reel, at Manila court, and Col. Arnard. I thank you."

the simple, minimalist shrine for Gen. Yamashita where he was executed.

Closing up with the tomdstone marker, it's amazing that Tutubi can stillr read basic kanji he learned in Nihongo class in college after all these years. The third kanji character means "Yama" which means mountain in Japanese and the fourth character was "Shita" which means under or below in Japanese. Yamashita in Japanese loosely means "under the mountain" or at the foot of mountain.

How Tutubi wishes to read the whole inscription but can only read two kanji characters. Tutubi intends to also visit the Yasukuni Shrine in Japan to find the "Yamashita treasure" buried there based on maps used by treasure hunters

Gen. Yamashita was buried at this ssame site but was later transferred to the (in)famous Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Japan where Class A war criminals of Japan are interred.

Coming up:

the execution site of Gen. Masaharu Homma, the man hanged for the atrocities of the Bataan Death March

If you need a map of the shrine, Tutubi already updated OpenStreetMap for your reference. You can just set your GPS to the site and avoid the difficulty (yet fun) of finding it. It's near DOST Region 4 Office and Los Banos Community National High School and at the end of Yamashita Road

How to get there:
Take a DLTB or HM Transport/GreenStar Express on EDSA, Cubao or Taft Avenue, Pasay City with signboard Sta. Cruz/Calamba. Request the conductor to drop you off at Jamboree Road and new Los Banos Municipal Hall (munisipyo) then take a tricycle to the shrine.

lastly, Tutubi thinks the Yamashita Treasure is an urban legend, a hoax. even the Golden Buddha supposedly found by Rogelio Santos and later acquired by Ferdinand Marcos. There's just no proof of its existence, only gossips. The golden Buddha too, if real, should've been reported as a lost treasure by an asian country.

Related Post:
The Daring Raid at UPLB in World War II

Labels: Calabarzon, Laguna, World War II

Another waterfall in Laguna conquered by Tutubi recently, opened for tourism just last year, even if Tutubi's been aware of its existence for some time now. In this case, a trek to the now famous waterfall in Laguna, a majestic falls about 90 meters high, was another spur-of-the-moment decision the day before the May 2016 national elections.


Here's a hastily-written (and unedited) Hulugan Falls travel guide written by the busy blogger for those who wanted to visit the place:

1. How to Get to Luisiana, Laguna

Either take an HM Transport bus or DLTB on EDSA, Cubao or GreenStar Transport or DLTB bus on Taft/Gil Puyat/LRT bound to Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

In Sta. Cruz, transfer to a jeepney going to Lucban, Quezon but request to be dropped off in Barangay San Salvador in Luisiana (after passing the road going to
Cavinti poblacion)

for those with cars, ample parking space available near the registration area (guarded), parking is free


2. Get a guide

To get to Hulugan Falls, you need to secure the services of a tour guide (for a voluntary fee but be a bit generous here)


3. Register and pay Hulugan Falls "entrance fee"

pay PhP20.00 "entrance fee" to Hulugan Falls. Senior citizens need to sign a waiver

Hulugan Falls is majestically high but a just trickles in summer, best to visit during the typhoon season

4. Take a tricycle or walk about a kilometer to the jump off point. Tricycle fare is PhP10.00/person

5. Trek down to the falls in about 15-30 minutes. the path is a bit steep yet has bamboo/wooden handrails

6. Enjoy the falls

There's also Talay Falls or Aliw Falls nearby for about another 40 minutes trek but Tutubi didn't go there as it may be hard for his septuagenarian father.

Notes:

1. You can eat at various eateries near the registration area (e.g. Aling Ganda's eatery with tapsilog and pancit habhab for PhP60.00/order).
2. You can take a shower at some homes there for PhP15.00
3. Ample parking available, no parking fee
4. you can buy Luisiana style bibingka with nice pandan basket priced at PhP100.00 for three pieces of bibingka about 5 inches in diameter
5. The best time to visit the falls is during the months of November to February. The falls is more majestic though during the typhoon season yet a bit dangerous
6. On your way back, you can take a tricycle back to the registration area or the main road for PhP10/person
7. There's a first aid station along the trail; the nearest hospitals are in Pagsanjan town

Do you know why it's called Hulugan Falls?
Tutubi asked this question to Aling Ganda (a friendly local and owner of a tapsilogan) who told Tutubi it's probably due to the place used as hulugan ng kalabaw.
Not sure about it though :(

Labels: Calabarzon, Laguna, Southern Tagalog, Waterfalls

A few months old public aquarium and zoo in Pililla, Rizal was visited unplanned by Tutubi recently when he noticed a sign leading to the zoo/aquarium along the highway of Pililla, Rizal just after passing by the twisties from Laguna and the 54 MW Pililla Wind Farm.


Animals to see include lions, tigers, ligers/lygers, camels, sheep, birds, peacocks, civet cat (alamid), deer, boars, monkeys, ducks, sorry no elephants and giraffes and hippopotamuses and dinosaurs and velociraptors :)

a sleeping civet cat (alamid), the one who can make your exotic kopi luwak/kape alamid/civet cat coffee

a dromedary (single hump camel)

you can ride a boat for PhP100 for 15 minutes, then feed the mighty ducks in the small shallow lagoon



a cute kid enjoying mini-horses (i call them hobbit horses or puny ponies)

the resident star of the zoo are these sleeping ligers/lyger that are really huge. Ligers are hybrid cross between a male lion (Panthera leo) and a female tiger, a tigress (Panthera tigris)

Other facilities include a small aquarium, canteen above the lagoon but snacks only, ample parking space, simple toilets.

Lyger Animal Sanctuary/Tiger Holding Facility

Operating Hours:
Open daily from 8:30am to 5:30pm

Entrance Fees/Admission:
PhP200 Adults and Kids above 7 yrs old
PhP160 Senior Citizens and Kids 2 to 7 yrs old
Kids below 2 yrs old Free

Contact numbers: +63.915.308.8398;
Telephone Number: +63.5024294

How to get there:

Driving Directions: if you know the way via Antipolo, Teresa, Morong, Baras Tanay then Pililla
or Via Cainta, Taytay, Angono, Binangonan, Cardona, Morong, Baras, Tanay Pililla

Commuting to Pililla, Rizal:

From EDSA Crossing (either Starmall or EDSA Central), board a jeepney to Tanay, Rizal.
In Tanay, transfer to another jeepney to Siniloan, Laguna but ask to be dropped off in Pililla near the highway junction where you take a tricycle to Lyger Animal Sanctuary.

Labels: Calabarzon, Family Attractions, Rizal, Zoos

When Tutubi fifrst heard the news of the construction of a 54 megawatt windfarm to generate electricity using wind turbines (not wind mills), he already forewaw that those "wind mills" would become a tourist attraction similar to the now famous "windmills" in Bangui, Ilocos Norte by NorthWind near the beaches of Pagudpud.

Tutubi has been passing by the area for months now yet only recently did he drove up to the viewdeck to go nearer the gigantic turbines






Note:

No entrance fee to enter Pililla Wind Farm, there are enterprising individuals there who wants to make money

How to Get to Pililla, Rizal:

driving directions from Manila:
take Marcos Highway, right to Sumulong up to Antipolo, left after Antipolo Public Market and Robinsons Antipolo, go around the rotonda to turn left,
pass Teresa Rizal, left in Sambat (landmark: Flying V), take the highway of Morong and Tanay then the twisties of Pililla. you see markers on the highway by Alternergy.

Commuting to Pililla, Rizal is easy but getting to the actual viewdeck is not. From EDSA Crossing/Starmall, take a jeepney going to Tanay, Rizal. In Tanay, transfer to a SIniloan, Laguna jeepney but drop off near the service road to Alternergy then walk up

Labels: Calabarzon, Rizal

A refreshing dip in the water of Bunga Twin Falls in Nagcarlan, Laguna.

The twin waterfalls of Narcarlan, lesser-known compared to Taytay Falls in Majayjay moreso with the popular Pagsanjan Falls, was visited by Tutubi quite some time ago.

The waterfall features a twin fall "design," quite similar to Kalayaan Twin Falls but has more nature-ish feel to it due to absence of concrete development.


the twin falls, height can be estimated from the people added to the frame to add scale

the natural rocks and boulders of the river and sample of cottages for rent

siesta time on a waterbed?

there's an area where you can pitch tents and cook, ideal for backpackers


Bunga Falls Information:
Entrance Fee: PhP5.00/person (yes, barya lang, even for overnight camping trip)
Cottage Rentals: starts at PhP200.00 (quite expensive though)
Overnight Accommodation (cottage rent): PhP400.00 (free if you have your own tent)
Activities: hiking, trekking, swimming, camping, water tubing, glamping (?), sleeping :P
Parking Fee: PhP20.00 (vehicles), PhP15.00 (motorcycles)

How to Get to Nagcarlan, Laguna:

Take a bus to Sta. Cruz, Laguna (Green Star Express in LRT Gil Puyat Station, HM Transport on EDSA Cubao or DLTB bus.

In Sta. Cruz Laguna (Pagsawitan), transfer to a jeepney to Nagcarlan. In Nagcarlan town proper, take a tricycle to Bunga Falls

Related Post:
List of Waterfalls in Laguna

Labels: Calabarzon, Laguna, Southern Tagalog, Waterfalls

The Philippines, like most other destinations, has lots of scams and tourist traps. Herewith are some of them in Talisay, Batangas with people taking advantage of tourists for extra moolah not thinking that what they're doing scares tourists away and impacts future tourist arrivals

UPDATED January 2016

Here's an updated budget travel guide for Taal Volcano crater trek/hiking with fares, rates and commute/how to get there information, even tourist traps and scams for travelers/backpackers.

early morning view of Taal Volcano and Taal Lake where fishermen/boatmen wait for passengers to ferry to the volcano island

Going on a trek to Taal Volcano involves this "script"
1. Go to Talisay, Batangas either via Tagaytay or Tanauan
2. Rent a boat
3. Trek to the crater (boil eggs at steaming hot springs)
4. Go back (of course)

Rates:

Boat Rental Rate/Fee: PhP1,500.00 (standard boat rate)
Trek guide: PhP500.00 (good for 6 persons)
Horse ride: PhP450.00 (if you don't feel like trekking)

Beware of these Scams/Tourist Traps:
boat guide fee: PhP500.00
Boat "unloading fee" : PhP50.00 (just a small piece of wood to step on to get off the boat)
Drinks at the crater: PhP50.00 (vendor will tell you that you need to buy one for your guide)
Photography: PhP400.00/picture (they will take pictures but not required to avail)


Other Rates and Fees:
SLEX Toll fee: PhP214.00 (Nichols to StarToll)
SLEX to Startoll: PhP25.00
Startoll Tanauan exit: PhP7.00


Overnight Accommodations:
Balai Sofia Bed and Breakfast PhP1,399.00 (overnight stay)
Club Balai Isabel

Overall budget/cost for a Taal Volcano day tour will be low if you avoid tourist traps and scams

How to Get to Talisay, Batangas

Labels: Batangas, Calabarzon, Lakes, Travel Guides, Volcanoes

Just two away from Manila is this hideaway of the rich and famous, of which Tutubi is neither of rich nor famous, via CAVITex and the new Kaybiang Tunnel connecting the towns of Ternate, Cavite with Nasugbu, Batangas, Pico de Loro is synonymous with the nearby Mt. Pico de Loro well-loved by mountaineers.

Located inside Hamilo Coast of Nasugbu, Batangas is a condo resort development with a hotel and beach club. It has Pico Sands hotel for guests and events (like a planning session attended by Tutubi that's why he was able to gain access to the facilities), weddings, prenups, parties, swimming pool, a beach for swimming, swimming pools, a man-made lagoon surrounded by mid-rise condominiums for sale/lease/rent or member-only use.

Pictures of Pico De Loro, Nasugbu, Batangas:


the lobby of Pico Sands Hotel

the two queen size beds of Pico Sands Hotel room. Room also comes with a 32" LCD TV and cable TV provided by Cignal with several HD channels (but do you go to places like this just to watch TV? c'mon!)

the key card access of Pico Sands Hotel

Pico Bar and Restaurant just near the lobby of Pico Sands Hotel

sample menu for order and pick-up from your room via Pico Bar and Restaurant. The hotel does not have room deliveries. Just an FYI on food prices and menu for budget purposes


the shower has a sliding glass door with shower controls quite far away from the shower. very nice as Tutubi opens the shower but stays away from it to avoid eeither too cold or too hot water

lotus and lotus flowers floating on the man-made lagoon

the placid water of the man-made lake of Pico de Loro is perfect for early morning photo opportunities


Comments/Review of Pico de Loro:

Coming Up:

The beach of Pico de Loro, Nasugbu, Batangas
How to Get to Nasugbu, Batangas

Other interesting places in Nasugbu, Batangas:

Club Punta Fuego
Munting Buhangin Beach Resort
Beach Resorts for Summer Outing

Disclaimer:
as always, this is not a sponsored post. You may get in touch with Pico de Loro for the latest room rates, day tour rates if not posted on Pico de Loro official website.

Labels: Batangas, Batangas Resorts, Calabarzon, Hotels, Hotels and Resorts, Southern Tagalog

Cavite is really home to nice, cheap beach resorts near Manila for less than two hours via Cavitex. Tutubi's doing research on Cavite beach resorts, beyond Lido Beach Resort he visited a few years back besides Puerto Azul Beach Club, the first true beach resort he visited from way back in 1998.

Herewith is his compiled list of Beach Resorts in Cavite (with or without swimming pool), with official websites, telephone numbers, email address/contact details, current room rates/entrance fee, swimming pool (or infinity pool if available)
and other facilities.

UPDATED: January 2016

Bacoor Beach Resorts

no white beaches here, too dirty. expect vendors/fishermen of talaba and tahong

Kawit Beach Resorts

Cavite City Beach Resorts

Noveleta Beach Resorts

Cavite beaches are all inside Manila Bay except those in Naic and Ternate where you can see fine white sand beaches with clear water and trash-free

Lido Beach Resort
Telephone Number: +63.947.150.0298

Villamar Beach Resort
Entrance fee: PhP30.00, shower stalls at only PhP15.00/person.
Picnic tables rental prices: PHP100.00, PhP250.00
Overnight Accommodations (Room rates): PhP1,000/2 persons (ordinary fan room, extra person PhP100.00), PhP3,000.00 for 2 persons aircon room, PhP200.00 extra person)
Contact Numbers for reservations/inquiries:Baby +63.929.8905763; Lolit +63.920.408.4444

Rosario Beach Resorts

La Isla Bonita De Salinas
Entrance Fee/Admission: PhP20.00 (free for Rosario residents)

Mount Sea Resort and Hotel
Room Rates: PhP2998.00 (budget package), PhP5,500.00 (superior)
Telephone Number: +63.46.438.3888
Remarks: nice facilities

Tanza Beach Resorts

La Playa Resort
Address: Halayhay Rd, Tanza
Telephone Number: +63.46.686.9069

Starfish Beach Resort

Tanza Oasis Hotel and Resort
Room Rates: PhP2,500.00 to PhP5,000.00
Telephone Numbers: +63.2.524.3876;+63.2.708.0704;+63.2.516.5432

Villa Excellance Beach Resort in Tanza
Here is the list of the rates and entrance fees of Villa Excellance Beach Resort in Tanza, Cavite.
Beach Entrance Fee: PhP40.00 (weekday), PhP50.00 Weekends and holidays
Swimming Pool rates: PhP60.00 adults (PhP70.00 overnight)

Villa Buenaflor Resort
Address: Brgy. Calibuyo Tanza Cavite
Telephone Number: +63.46.886.1014

Villa Christina Resort

Villa Excellance Beach Resort
Address: Brgy. Sahud Ulan, Postema, Tanza 4108
Telephone Numbers: +63.46.885.2220


Naic Beach Resorts

Aroma Beach Resort,
Naic Cavite
Phone Number: +63.939.407.1304

Ternate Beach Resorts:

* the best beaches in Cavite can really be found in the southernmost town of Ternate due to its distance
from Manila, meaning it's already clean, unlike filth you see on the beach of Noveleta (sorry, Tutubi is an honest blogger)

Boracay de Cavite Beach Resort (Marine Base)
Entrance fee: PhP100.00, PhP200.00 overnight
Parking Fee: PhP50.00 jeep/cars
Remarks: the beach has a checkpoint as it's inside a General Lim Marine barracks.

Caylabne Bay Resort
Website: http://www.caylabne.com.ph/‎
Contact Number: +63.2.813.8520

Little Boracay Ternate (also known as Marine Base Ternate Beach)
Entrance fee: PhP100 per head
Cottage is P350
Overnight stay room rate PhP500.00

Marine Base Katungkulan Beach Resort
Entrance fee: PhP100.00, PhP200.00 overnight
Remarks: the beach has a checkpoint as it's inside a General Lim Marine barracks.

Puerto Azul Golf and Country Club
Day tour rates:
PhP 650/person with buffet lunch (subject to minimum guests), PhP 450/person with plated lunch,
PhP 300/person – just entrance fee , no meals
Remarks: Tutubi visited this place in 1998 but current pictures in the Internet seems nothing much changed :(
this used to be an exclusive, invitation-only resort then. Puerto Azul website not visible now
Contact Numbers: +63.932.863.6070; +63.919.533.5391

Ternate Beach Resort
Entrance Fee: PhP75.00 day tour, PhP150.00 overnight
Telephone Numbers:
Ms. Beth +63.932.211.2725; +63.908.862.7785
+63.46.515.0662
Website: http://ternatebeachresort.weebly.com/contacts.html

RanRich Beach Resort
Address: San Jose 4, Ternate, Cavite
Entrance Fee: day swimming rates at PhP100.00
Room Rates start at PhP1000.00 including big groups, Cottage rentals at PhP500 and up
Contact Number: +63.908.876.5696
Remarks: with big swimming pool, you can also pitch a tent on the beach (PhP150.00) but bring your own tent at the campsite.
You can bring your own food and drinks at no corkage fee

Beach resorts in Cavite with swimming pool

Coming up:

How to Get to Cavite: Map, Bus and Jeepney routes

Labels: Beaches, Calabarzon, Cavite, Cavite Resorts, Southern Tagalog

On February 23, 1945, American forces aided by Filipino guerillas conducted one of the most successful rescue operations in modern military history, almost a month after the successful rescue at the POW internment camp in Cabanatuan (later dubbed Raid at Cabanatuan and made into a Hollywood movie "the Great Raid").

Following the American forces landing on Leyte Gulf to begin the liberation of the Philippines, the Japanese Imperial Army massacred Prisoners-of-War internees including those at Plaza Cuartel in Palawan.

Gen. MacArthur was worried that other POWs would suffer the same fate that he devised plans to rescue thousands of them interned at various concentration camps including those in Cabanatuan, University of Sto. Tomas and in UP College of Agriculture in Los Banos, Laguna (now the University of the Philippines Los Baños or UPLB).

It was at Baker Hall, now UPLB gymnasium and named after Charles Fuller Baker, the former Dean of Agriculture of UP which housed more than two thousand prisoners.

the historic Baker Hall, now a gymanasium where events and parties are held, also has ghost stories told by students and teachers alike

If the Great Raid at Cabanatuan was executed by crawling soldiers under the cover of darkness and a P61 Black Widow as decoy, the raid at Los Banos was executed with the help or paratroopers as the POW camp is located on the hills of Mt. Makiling with reinforcements also from Laguna de Bay.

If the Raid at Cabanatuan was made into a Hollywood movie titled "The Great Raid," the raid at Los Banos was also turned into a movie in 2004 called "Rescue at Dawn: the Los Banos Raid"

A little girl plays football on Baker Field, a football field lined with huge trees with the chapel and carillon bell tower in view

After a few days, Japanese forces arrived at the camp and found it empty of prisoners. With the help of MAKAPILI (Makabayang Katipunan ng mga Pilipino), they rounded up and massacred about 1500 men, women and children (including people who sought refuge in a chapel) and burned their homes.

The people of Los Banos felt betrayed when the Americans left them behind to feel the wrath of the Japanese but soon learned to forgive them years later.

Labels: Calabarzon, History, Laguna, Southern Tagalog, World War II

For people, friends and families intending to visit the sprawling Avilon Zoo in Rodriguez, Rizal the cheapest and/or fastest way.

Tutubi was able to visit the place when he saw discount vouchers on sale at a group buying site recently.

Herewith is the information you're looking for:

Avilon Zoo Entrance Fee/Admission price: PhP400.00
Children below 2.5 feet: PhP300.00
Senior Citizens: PhP320.00
Children below one year old: free entrance
Avilon Zoo contact number: +63.2.948.9866


How to get to Avilon Zoo, Rodriguez, Rizal:

Map of Avilon Zoo is available on OpenStreetMap here (also updated by Tutubi). Waze app on iOS and Android gives an accurate map and routing to Avilon Zoo only at the last three kilometers of the suggested route (You can search Avilon Zoo on Waze then route automatically).

Driving Directions to Avilon Zoo

From Makati (or SLEx, Laguna, Quezon, Batangas, Bicol), head to EDSA, turn right to East Avenue, enter Quezon Memorial Circle, right to Commonwealth Avenue.

If still early morning, you can turn right to IBP Road, left to Gen. Luna (landmark: Puregold), then right to M.H. del Pilar

if quite late, advise you take Payatas Road, right to E. Rodriguez Highway, left to J.P. Rizal, right M.H. del Pilar

on M.H del Pilar, you can now see direction signs to Avilon Zoo. You need to turn left to a narrow road with a market (talipapa) then cross a bridge (which looks more like a spillway of Wawa River) then a rough road (it's a private road, you need to pay PhP20.00 "toll" to use the road going to Avilon).

Ample parking in front of Avilon Zoo, there's also Noah's Park, some sort of resort and restaurant place.

Travel time from Trinoma is just around one hour early Sunday morning via Batasan Road. On the return leg, Tutubi opted to pass by Payatas Road to avoid traffic in San Mateo proper and there are no dump trucks to race with.

How to commute to Avilon Zoo:

This one's quite easy:
From MRT Cubao-Araneta Station, walk towards Araneta Coliseum then look for the jeepneys with signboard Cubao - Montalban (Rodriguez). Take the jeep then drop off in San Rafael near the gas station and talipapa where you need take a tricycle to Avilon Zoo (no idea on fares though)

Notes:

Avilon Zoo open hours/schedule:
8am to 5pm on Sunday
(no information if open on holidays like Rizal Day, Christmas Day, New Years Day, Holy Week (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday, Easter Sunday)

You can bring your own food and drinks inside Avilon Zoo for free if it's home cooked (baon). Corkage fees apply per meal (PhP30.00) if you bring in food bought outside.

There's a canteen/restaurant/food court in Avilon Zoo where you can buy pizza (PhP50 for personal size, PhP150.00 family size), ice cream, chips, softdrinks (Coke in can costs PhP35.00), bottled water etc

Ark Avilon is the sister "zoo" beside Tiendesitas in Pasig, same admission price but with air-conditioned.

Other Zoo in Metro Manila:
How to Get to Manila Zoo
How to Get to Malabon Zoo

Labels: Calabarzon, Rizal, Zoos

Hot spring resorts are best on rainy days, not during summer!

Laguna is blessed with natural hot spring resorts, claimed to have therapeutic properties, with hot natural spring water heated by Mt. Makiling, a dormant volcano.

After a friend of his father tipped him off about a "secret" hot spring resort in Sta. Maria town, north of Paete, and very near the public cemetery of the town, the home of Three Sisters Falls, Tutubi thought of visiting it when the opportunity presented itself thus another unplanned discovery trip successfully accomplished.

the simple, "secret" hot spring resort in Sta. Maria, Laguna:

a net partially covers the large swimming pool. very good cover when it rains, you don't need to get out of the water

a small children's pool is also nearby, well, for kids

coconut trees and palms surround the area, still under development, giving the rustic feel

a group from Tanay, Rizal doing water zumba

By the way, this is just a warm spring resort, not really hot water. Tutubi finds laguna hot springs as too hot, particularly during summer, this is just right temperature to dip in the whole day even if it's raining.

Tutubi, in his probably senior moment, forgot the name of the resort but remembers the following details:

Entrance Fee: PhP50.00 (cheap, isn't it?)
Free use of tables (there are cottages too but they didn't charge, no idea on price though)
Parking is free but inadequate. The service road leading to the resort may get flooded
Toilets/ Shower room: relatively clean, don't expect five star amenities at the cheap admission fee
Food: bring your own food and drinks
videoke: the omnipresent Filipino entertainment at resorts
Overnight accommodations/room rates: not available at this time, planned though
Night swimming rate: P100.00

How to get there?

Follow this Commute to Laguna guide for starters

From Siniloan public market, take a tricycle to Sta. Maria and tell the driver about the resort using the access road that goes inside Sta. Maria public cemetery.

If you have your own vehicle, coming from Rizal province, turn left on reaching the junction of Sta. Maria and Mabitac towns on Manila East Road then turn right on the service road of the cemetery. follow direction signs, you won't get lost :P

Related Posts:
Hot Spring Resorts in Laguna
Asin Hot Spring Resorts Benguet

Labels: Calabarzon, Laguna, Laguna Resorts, Resorts

The Paet Taka Festival is a reincarnation of the defunct Ukit Taka Festival a few years ago showcasing the art of carving of Paete in various media from the traditional wood to the present ice, vegetable, fruits, chocolate , butter and others. The date of festival celebration is reckoned from the birthday of Mariano Madrinan, a local town hero of the arts.

The street dancing pictures were taken on September 28 during the festival parade where floats from Paete's nine barangay participated.

Pictures from the Street Dance competition Paet Taka Festival, Paete, Laguna:


Next: the gigantes (giant paper mache), floats and beauty queens


Related Paete posts:
How to Get to Paete, Laguna
Tatlong Krus
Map of Paete, Laguna,
Paete Wood Carving
Salibanda

Labels: Calabarzon, Festivals, Laguna, Paete

Look! Katy Perry's latest music video of "Roar" had her, in sexy, "jungle bikini," get a glimpse of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano. The music video plot is of pop singer Katy Perry stranded in a tropical jungle after surviving a plane crash.

The music video though was not shot in Tagaytay, as the picture apparently was taken from, based on the angle of the photo world's smallest volcano located in Batangas province.

As the video explicitly says, it's "a motion theory adventure filmed in in junglescope" :)

Herewith are two screengrabs from the official video of Katy Perry's Roar on YouTube:




Nice to see beautiful places featured in music videos as it promotes Philippine tourism, instead of the bad image projected by others like the "Bourne Legacy," which featured the gritty side of Manila but also showcased the beauty of the island paradise of El Nido, Palawan in the closing scene.

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If you're curious to see what Katy Perry saw in the video, you may want to visit this How to get to Tagaytay post where you can get the same view of Taal Volcano as Katy Perry "saw".

Labels: Calabarzon, Floobydust, Metro Tagaytay, Tagaytay City, Volcanoes

Just a very brief stop-over at Asia's biggest church structure in the heritage town of Taal, Batangas, a famous church and shoot location of several movies and TC series (teleserye).

Tutubi visited the place after participating in the annual Parada ng Lechon fiesta in Balayan, Batangas besides buying a katana (samurai sword), balisong, and several cutlery pieces in Barangay Balisong.

Pictures of Taal Basilica (Basilica of St. Martin of Tours) in Taal, Batangas:

the imposing facade of the Minor Basilica dedicated to St. Martin of Tours with a touch of classical architecture.

the interiors of the church with trompe l'oeil art technique creating a 3D illusion to churchgoers, tourists and curious visitors, similar to the ceiling of San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila

Tutubi admits though that due to very limited time, he wasn't able to fully explore the place or take better pictures from odd angles. He's sure that he'll go back to Taal town to explore more historical places and heritage treasures of this lovely town.

Notes:

How to get to Taal, Batangas, please see this post:
Mass schedules of Taal Basilica to be posted later, contact numbers for weddings, events, baptism rates and other inquiries, please call their telephone number

Labels: Batangas, Calabarzon, Churches

Right after visiting Balayan town to witness and participate in the annual Parada ng Lechon in Balayan, Tutubi passed by the heritage town of Taal, Batangas to visit the largest cathedral in the Philippines, then short pitstop in the birthplace of the Batangas balisong, the deadly butterfly knife that got its name from the small village of Taal town.

The famous butterfly knife, locally known as balisong, a deadly easily concealed and opened knife wielded to perfection by Filipinos got it's name from the place of its origin: Barangay Balisong, Taal, Batangas.

the famous...err...notorious beinte nueve balisong is 29 inches long. this comes in framed and good souvenir

you can buy kitchen knives, butcher knives, small balisong, keychains, shears, and swords

samurai swords known as katana can be had for as low as PhP500.00. Next visit Tutubi intends to get a kampilan and a kris, native swords of the ancient Filipinos and Muslims of Mindanao

Sample prices of swords, knives and balisong in Taal, Batangas:

PhP500.00 two feet katana (samurai sword) ordinary steel
PhP2000.00 up: samurai swords stainless steel
P2500.00 up: sword replicas those used in Hollywood movies and epic series (The Lord of the Rings, Braveheart, 300, Game of Thrones
beinte nueve (29" fan knives begins at Php300.00 up
ordinary balisong at PhP150.00
kitchen knives also available at PhP100.00 up (stainless steel)
jungle survival knife (Rambo) at PhP800.00 up

Tutubi got hold of the business card of the shop that contains the email address and contact telephone numbers but lost it probably in transit. Intend to re-visit Taal again in the future as it's a pretty town full and proud of its well-preserved heritage.

How to Get to Taal, Batangas:

Commute: buses to Taal, Batangas can be found in Cubao, Quezon City, Pasay/Taft/LRT Buendia and Pasay Taft EDSA Rotonda. Look for buses with signboard Lemery and get off in Taal town (some buses don't pass by taal poblacion so you have to ride a jeepney.

There are also shuttle service/FX to Lemery at Starmall at the corner of EDSA and Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong and at Metropoint Mall at the corner of EDSA and Taft Avenue in Pasay. Estimated fare is PhP180.00

Driving Directions to Taal, Batangas:

there are two routes to Taal, the first is via Tagaytay - Lemery and the other is long path (that Tutubi took to fetch a friend in Tanauan) via SLEx, Tanauan, Lipa. Just follow the main highway on the map of Taal town and you won't get lost.

Related Post:

Swords of Pozorrubio, Pangasinan

Labels: Batangas, Calabarzon, OTOP