BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS IN THE PHILIPPINES

SUNSET is one of the touching gift of nature to human soul.

It extracts overflowing emotions.

It unfolds remarkable beauty of nature.

It is free and magical.

In this particular blog, I will collect and share dramatic sunsets along my JOURNEY in LIFE...

1. BAGAC, BATAAN

This is in LAS CASAS FILIPINAS DE ACUZAR HERITAGE RESORT in BAGAC, BATAAN.

WATERFALLS IN THE PHILIPPINES

I was able to visit numerous waterfalls within the country during our educational tours when I was still a cadet at the Philippine Military Academy and when I was still deployed as Pilot of the UH-1H Helicopter. Unfortunately, those activities were conducted about 20 and 10 years ago, respectively. There were no digital camera then that I failed to capture those amazing wonders of nature.

But this year, I was able to visit two majestic waterfalls. One in MAJAYJAY, LAGUNA while the other one in BAGAC, BATAAN. I am hoping and fervently praying that I will be able to visit more within the year and the years to come. 

NOTE: Please click the link (underlined) provided in each featured waterfalls for more information and pictures.

1. TAYTAY FALLS
The TAYTAY FALLS is located in Barangay GAGALOT in the municipality of MAJAYJAY in the province of LAGUNA. The falls is 12 meters high. From the entrance way, the falls can be reached by walking in a cemented pathway for about 10 minutes. Swimming and camping are the major activities. The water flowing from Mt. Banahaw is iced-cold. Day or overnight stay is available for a very affordable rate. There are stores with lots of food stuffs and drinks to choose from. There are also hotels nearby. Campers can cook in the falls and river area. There are also stores for souvenir items. Don't forget to experience crossing the hanging bridge.

2. AMBON-AMBON FALLS

The AMBON-AMBON FALLS is located in Barangay BINUKAWAN in the municipality of BAGAC in the province of BATAAN. The falls is 60 meters high. There is another waterfalls 50 meters away, the LIMUTAN FALLS which is 20 meters high. AMBON-AMBON FALLS and LIMUTAN FALLS can be reached by trekking 2 to 3 hours the 9 kilometers rough road from Barangay Binukawan Hall or ride/drive a 4x4 buggy jeep. You will be treated to the majestic view and iced-cold water of the walls to commensurate the tiring journey along the way. There is no single store to buy water or food along the way or even within the vicinity of the waterfalls. You should bring water to constantly refuel your body along the way. But you can drink unlimited water near and even refill your water container from the "free-flowing" naturally clean water  coming from a "bamboo faucet" situated near the falls area. It is also advisable to bring food that you can share and enjoy while in the falls area.

Watch out for my next adventures to other waterfalls within the country and even in the foreign lands.

Everything About Laguna

LAGUNA is one of the provinces of REGION IV-A or CALABARZON (CALABARZON stands for CAvite, LAguna, BAtangas, Rizal, and QueZON Province).

LAGUNA is located south of RIZAL, west of QUEZON PROVINCE, north of BATAAN, and east of CAVITE. It occupies the southern shores of LAGUNA DE BAY, the country's largest lake. The province is the birthplace of JOSE RIZAL, the country's national hero.

The province of LAGUNA has 6 cities (BINAN, CABUYAO, CALAMBA, SAN PABLO, SAN PEDRO and SANTA ROSA) and 24 municipalities (ALAMINOS, BAY, CALAUAN, CAVINTI, FAMY, KALAYAAN, LILIW, LOS BANOS, LUISIANA, LUMBAN, MABITAC, MAGDALENA, MAJAYJAY, NAGCARLAN, PAETE, PAGSANJAN, PAKIL, PANGIL, PILA, RIZAL, STA. CRUZ, SANTA MARIA, SINILOAN and VICTORIA). *I already visited the places in YELLOW ink

I will be sharing the interesting places in the province of LAGUNA that I already visited.

1. SAMPALOC LAKE

The largest of the 7 lakes  of SAN PABLO CITY is located within the vicinity of the city proper. SAN PABLO CITY is the first city of LAGUNA.

ACTIVITIES.
1. Jogging, walking or biking.
2. Just enjoy the view of serene water and mountains.
(There are numerous hotels within the vicinity)

How to go?

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. Ride a bus bound for LUCENA CITY, alight at SAN PABLO CITY, then ride a tricycle going to SAMPALOC LAKE.

PRIVATE VEHICLE. Take the SLEX, exit at CALAMBA CITY (LAGUNA) or STO. TOMAS (BATANGAS) then proceed to SAN PABLO CITY passing thru STO. TOMAS PUBLIC MARKET and ALAMINOS (LAGUNA), then SAN PABLO CITY proper. (SAMPALOC LAKE is located at the back of the SAN PABLO CITY HALL).

...SAMPALOC LAKE in SAN PABLO CITY...

...sunrise at SAMPALOC LAKE...

2. TAYTAY FALLS

The falls is located in BARANGAY GAGALOT in the municipality of MAJAYJAY.

ACTIVITIES.

1. Swimming. (day or overnight)

2. Camping. (day or overnight)

3. Trekking and passing thru the hanging bridge.

How to go?
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

OPTION 1. Ride a bus going to STA. CRUZ (LAGUNA) for 2 to 3 hours travel time ( P140 fare), then ride a tricycle going to STA, CRUZ market, then ride a JEEP to MAJAYJAY (P35 fare), then ride a JEEP to TAYTAY FALLS (P16). (Please take not that the JEEP to TAYTAY FALLS is only available from 6am to 10am, beyond that time frame you have to rent tricycle for P700 going to TAYTAY FALLS)

OPTION 2. Ride a bus going to LUCENA CITY (QUEZON PROVINCE) for 3 to 4 hours travel (P220), then from LUCENA, ride a jeep  (P30) or aircon van (P50) going to LUCBAN, then from LUCBAN ride a jeep going to MAJAYJAY (P10), alight at Barangay GAGALOT, then ride a tricycle going to TAYTAY FALLS (P20).

OPTION 3. Ride a bus going to LUCENA CITY, then alight at SAN PABLO CITY (LAGUNA), then ride a TRICYCLE going to NAGCARLAN (P40), then ride a JEEP going to MAJAYJAY (P16), then ride another JEEP going to TAYTAY FALLS (P16). (Please take not that the JEEP to TAYTAY FALLS is only available from 6am to 10am, beyond that time frame you have to rent tricycle for P700 going to TAYTAY FALLS)

PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION. Take the SLEX. Exit at CALAMBA CITY. Proceed to TAYTAY FALLS passing thru STA. CRUZ and MAJAYJAY TOWN PROPER. (TAYTAY FALLS is located in between the municipalities of MAJAYJAY and LUCBAN.

...TAYTAY FALLS in MAJAYJAY...

...another perspective of the TAYTAY FALLS...

3. RIZAL SHRINE

Jose Rizal, the country's national hero, was born on June 19, 1861 at the RIZAL HOUSE or the the RIZAL SHRINE. Its is located along F. Mercado and J.P. Rizal St., in Poblacion, Calamba City. It was declared as the national Shrine by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

How to go?
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. Ride a bus going to CALAMBA CITY. Then ride a tricycle or jeep going to the RIZAL SHRINE. 

PRIVATE TRANSPORATION. Take the SLEX, exit at CALAMBA then proceed to the shrine within the city proper.

...at the RIZAL SHRINE...

4. UNDERGROUND CEMETERY

The only UNDERGROUND CEMETERY in the Philippines is located in NAGCARLAN, LAGUNA. 

5. TSINELAS CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES

The municipality of LILIW is the TSINELAS CAPITAL of the PHILIPPINES and the FOOTWEAR CAPITAL of Laguna.

6. TOURIST CAPITAL OF LAGUNA

The home of the popular PAGSANJAN FALLS is the TOURIST CAPITAL of LAGUNA.

The list will be updated after the author personally visited numerous interesting places in the province of LAGUNA.