The Philippines Department of Tourism partners with the Department of Trade and Industry to support the local handicrafts businesses all over the country. Through this partnership, many local producers have been able to reach a wider customer base. Projects include seminars, trade fairs and expositions, along with souvenir stops at popular destinations. Together with creating travel circuits that are based on attractions in each region, the DOT also highlights artisanal products that can showcase the local talent and culture. 

There are many native materials that are transformed into beautiful works of art by Filipino craftsmen.  Here are some of the cool souvenirs that travelers can bring home from the Philippines. 

Baguio’s woodcrafts

Woodworking in the uplands of the Cordillera Region ranges from utilitarian items used at home or in the fields, to ceremonial items used in community celebrations, and spiritual figures called Bulul that serve as house guardians that are passed on from generation to generation. Baguio’s public market and roadside stalls offer many choices of hand-carved wood items to fit your fancy and your luggage space – such as the infamous ‘barrel man’, or larger statues of warriors and animals such as eagles that can serve as a conversation piece in your home.     

The Inabel of Ilocos

The practice of weaving cotton thread into fabric on a wooden loom used to be one of the household duties of many Ilocano women. The hardy Inabel or Abel Iloco, is a soft, simple, pliable fabric with varied unique patterns and designs that can be woven to be big enough for use as blankets, table runners, and even dress material. Some Inabel items that are available at souvenir shops such as the ones in Vigan, Ilocos Sur or even online are tea towels, blankets, shawls, bags, and even made-to-order apparel from young designers who are keen to use this sustainably made and sourced fabric.   

Vigan’s Pagburnayan Clay Jars

Burnay is the Ilocano word for the brown clay pot used by Filipinos even before the Spanish arrived in the country. These earthen pottery pieces were used by early Filipinos as water containers because they help keep the water cool even on a hot day. They were also important household items as containers for salt and rice, or for vinegar, fermented fish paste, and they were vessels for items that were sold to the Chinese in the days of the sea trade. In Vigan, one can visit a pottery shop and learn how Burnay is made using carabao power to mix the mud, and have your own photo opportunity on the potter’s wheel. You can also purchase these thick and hardy jars to use as decorative pieces or planters at home.     

Cebu’s Guitars and Capiz Shells

Guitars that are handmade in Cebu are famous throughout the Philippines because they are durable, affordable, and of high-quality compared to the mass-produced ones in the market. The art of making guitars, which was introduced in the Spanish era, has been passed on through generations of local masters who make these musical instruments by painstakingly shaping the wood into the familiar hourglass shape. These are available at souvenir shops or at family-owned guitar stores, particularly in Lapu-Lapu City, have become local attractions for music lovers of all ages.  

The Visayas is also where dainty Capiz shell art is a traditional handicraft industry. The translucent Capiz, which can still be found adorning windows of heritage homes or painted in the stained glass windows of churches, comes from the shell of a mollusk called the Windowpane Oyster. After the meat has been eaten, the shells are gathered to be used in handicrafts. Local artists use the shells to create magnificent décors such as complicated chandeliers, pretty wind chimes, beautiful floor lamps, or smaller stationery items that can be given away to friends and family back home.  

Barako Coffee from Batangas 

Barako is a Tagalog word that means ‘strong’ and that is a good descriptor for the brew that comes from the coffee beans grown particularly in Batangas and some parts of Cavite. The farmers take pride in their coffee plants, which have been cultivated in their region since the 1800s. Coffee experts describe the taste as woody and smoky with a hint of sweetness from its floral, fruity aroma. Its bold, intense flavor from Liberica beans has been translated into local coffeehouse favorites and even into cakes and pastries. A cup of coffee made from your souvenir bag of ground beans is a great way to perk up on a cold day.

Davao’s Malagos Chocolates

While growing cacao is an agricultural practice in many parts of the Philippines, Davao is hailed as the country’s Chocolate Capital and the entire Davao Region as the Cacao Capital of the Philippines. One of the frontrunners of the industry in the region is the award-winning Malagos Chocolates brand which uses high-quality beans from a sustainable source for a “tree to bar” chocolate journey. Its latest award was for its 100% Premium Unsweetened Chocolate that won four Golds and one Bronze at the 2020 World Drinking Chocolate Competition organized by the International Chocolate Awards. The products offer a rich, velvety, melt-in the-mouth chocolate experience that makes it a perfect gift for the chocoholics in your circle. 

Manila’s South Sea Pearls Shops

There are many high-end jewelry stores located at the malls selling a sundry of pearls and other gems. But for those who want to have the element of a bargain when they shop for their jewelry and accessories can visit the bazaars of Manila, where one can find an assortment of South Sea Pearls from Palawan and some parts of Mindanao sold at stalls beside cellphone accessories and rubber shoes. There, one can browse through their collections of luminous necklaces and dainty earrings while asking for the “final price” that the vendor can offer.     

Davao Oriental’s Virgin Coconut Oil 

Touted to have many health benefits, virgin coconut oil is produced from fresh or mature coconuts, without undergoing chemical refining, bleaching or deodorizing. VCO products that are available in the Philippines come in oil and capsule form or even as cosmetics. While coconuts grow abundantly all over the country, Davao Oriental is poised to become a big exporter of coconut products overseas, with 18 Virgin Coconut Oil processing centers set to rise within the year. Modern production at the processing plants such as the one of Oriental Golden Coco Inc., ensure high quality through multiple microfiltration processes for additional purity to result in products with that wonderful fresh coconut aroma and flavor in what is called the “purest and healthiest” form of coconut oil. 

Cordillera’s Heirloom Rice

Heirloom rice varieties have been grown in the Cordillera Mountains for centuries, and studies have found that there could be about 500 traditional varieties of rice that are indigenous in the region and are mostly being planted for personal or family consumption through generations. So far, there have been 88 varieties that have been identified and studies have shown these to have higher nutritional content. Try this heirloom rice with your next meal and have it the Filipino way by eating with your hands for a more authentic experience. 

The Philippines’ Alcoholic Drinks

Imbibe the spirit of the Philippines through its choice of alcoholic concoctions. A short story by the late Don Alejandro Roces who is a National Artist of the Philippines for Literature, cheekily says, “We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers”. This is offset by the local distilled drinks such as Don Papa Rum, a premium aged single-island rum from the sugar cane fields at the foot of Mt. Kanglaon in the Visayas. Coconut Wine called Lambanog is another potent brew obtained from the distillation of naturally fermented coconut sap. Modern version of this celebratory drink now has added flavors. Travelers can bring this home to European countries if they are for personal consumption while restrictions in Muslim countries may apply. 

Liliw, Laguna’s Native Slippers 

The town of Liliw in Laguna is known for its slipper industry, with local artisans crafting the footwear from abaca which grows abundantly in the area. These comfortable and colorful house slippers are perfect for keeping your feet warm while relaxing at home and they make great handcrafted gifts – just make sure that the recipient gives you a coin in return as Philippine superstition says that if you don’t get one, you might get into a quarrel. 

Filipino Designer’s Modern Filipiniana

Young Filipino designers are rediscovering local woven fabrics and reimagining them for use as modern apparel in order to support traditional industries and local communities. While the National Dress of Barong Tagalog (long-sleeved embroidered formal shirts) for men and Baro’t Saya (that literally translates to blouse and skirt, made from fine pina cloth) for women are still worn on important occasions, designers such as the ones at Filip + Inna are coming up with stunning garments that make use of handmade woven material, beading, and embroidery that can be worn at the office or even at the beach.  Bring home something old, something new with gorgeous designs that will make you stand out in a crowd. 

More Treasures to Unbox

The Philippines is a haven for those who want to enjoy local culture through tangible items. Rattan is one of the indigenous materials that are used for traditional packaging, the leaves are dexterously woven into shopping bags called bayong and boxes that are used to store items in the home. Banig, or woven mats are another Filipino woven product, used for sleeping or as bags and home accents, while abaca bags are fashionable and summery all year long. Wooden utensils are utilitarian and decorative items, which can be found both on the dining table or if in their supersized form, hanging from the walls of the dining room.  For those who want to try their hand at a little Filipino cooking, local brand Mama Sita offers condiments and sauces to help capture that local palette. 

Travel safely!

All these tourist destinations have health and safety protocols in place to protect locals and visitors alike. Everyone is expected to comply by wearing face masks, regularly washing their hands, and practicing physical distancing.

To check out up-to-date information regarding local destinations that are open and the safety protocols and requirements needed for each location, you may visit philippines.travel/safetrip or download the Travel Philippines app at app.philippines.travel, Apple Store, or Google Playstore.

The post Bring Home Memories and a Piece of the Philippines With You appeared first on 7641 Islands of the Philippines.

Thankfully, the nearby province of Laguna offers attractions that might fit your unusual tastes. While it is most popularly known as Jose Rizal’s birthplace, Laguna has made a name for itself over the years with tourist destinations that would only take you two to three hours of travel from Manila.

Sampaloc Lake
San Pablo, Laguna

San Pablo is home to the famous Seven Lakes. The biggest of these bodies of water is Sampaloc Lake, which is located in the middle of the city. It was largely known for agriculture and fishing until the local government saw its potential for tourism and recreation in the mid-2000s.

With the Laguna Lake Development Authority and San Pablo’s Tourism Council’s supervision, this inactive volcanic maar then became a leading destination of the city.

Here, you can take a relaxing stroll around the area. You can also rent bikes for around Php 20 to 50 for the whole trip around the lake. Benches and solar lamps are present at the green mini-parks around the circumference of the 3.7km lake for when you want to stop for a quick break. If you are into watersports, you can also try boating and kayaking in Sampaloc Lake—but this is subject for approval from the LGU.

Before the pandemic, festivities were also regularly held here such as the Tilapia May Festival, Balsa Regatta race, and Diwata ng Pitong Lawa pageant. But even without these activities, a trip here is worth it for visuals alone.

TANAW Park
Barangay Tala, Rizal, Laguna

If you love being rewarded with refreshing views of nature, you will definitely enjoy TANAW (Tayak Adventure Nature and Wildlife) Park. Located in the municipality of Rizal, this 300-hectare protected forest is managed and maintained by the local government. The recreational area covers 24-hectares of land, which includes the famous 30-foot cross in the hilltop structure called “Noah’s Ark.”

What’s great about the park is how it’s actually a collective effort of the national and local government, Rizal locals, visitors, and even private groups. According to Rhodora Isleta, Municipal Administrator of Rizal, most of the things that can be seen in TANAW Park are donations from frequent visitors who have grown to love the place.

The stone steps or slabs going up to Noah’s Ark and even the flooring at the peak is filled with names of its benefactors. Even the bike stands were donated by the bikers who frequent the park’s challenging trail.

TANAW Park’s regular hours are from 6 AM to 5 PM, great for early morning or late afternoon climbs and bike rides. A rewarding atmosphere and view await at the top, San Pablo, Laguna de Bay, and other nearby towns can be seen.

Access here costs Php 80 per head for visitors and a discounted rate of Php 30 for locals.

• Opening hours: 6 AM to 5 PM
• FB page: http://facebook.com/tanawpark
• Entrance fee: Php 80 per head for visitors and Php 30 per head for locals

Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery
Rizal Ave., Barangay Bambang, Nagcarlan, Laguna

Laguna played a big part in the Philippine revolution, and one location that was used heavily in this role is the Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery.

Built in 1845, the cemetery was meant for high-ranking individuals in society like the Gobernadorcillo and Cabeza de Barangay. It was also a secret meeting place for revolutionaries during the 1896 uprising. Before the Biak na Bato pact was signed in Bulacan, several months of negotiation took place at this underground location, solidifying its relevance to our country’s independence.

The site was declared as a historical landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in 1981.

Many spots here remain preserved, with the tiles of the small chapel above being the same ones from 1845. When you visit the site, be sure to drop by the museum to know more about the cemetery’s preservation efforts, and how history and religion play a role in the lives of Nagcarlan locals.

The Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery is open on Tuesdays to Sundays, from 9 AM to 4 PM. Entrance is free of charge, but prior to visiting, you must book online through the QR code posted on the cemetery’s official Facebook page at least two days before your intended visit. As part of health and safety protocols, make sure to come in a group of five people or fewer.

• Contact number: 0915 770 1007
• Opening hours: 9 AM to 4 PM, Tuesdays to Sundays
• FB page: http://facebook.com/mlilnofficial
• Entrance fee: None, but visitors must book 2 days prior to visit using the QR code on their FB page

Makiling Botanic Garden
College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños College, Laguna

Probably the biggest land area in Los Baños is the University of the Philippines campus here, where the Makiling Botanic Garden (MBG) is located.

Originally, the botanical garden was meant to be a learning laboratory. As explained by Leilani Castillo, University Researcher and former head of the MBG, the botanical garden’s vision is “to serve and support professional instruction and research related to forestry and plant sciences.”

The place, thankfully, opened its doors to tourists and recreational activities eventually.

As a biodiversity conservation area, everything found in the botanical garden is a crucial part of the ecosystem. This will be emphasized during the orientation you will have to undergo before entering the garden.

Once inside, you’ll be surrounded by a diverse collection of plants and flowers. The MBG is particularly proud of its Dipterocarp Arboretum section. Endemic and threatened plant species like the Medinilla Magnifica or rose grape plant can also be seen here.

The peak period of the MBG is from August to October as these months are usually when schools schedule their educational field trips. By the time April and May rolls around, the visitors are usually families and friends looking for bonding activities as well as plant enthusiasts from all walks of life.

While the MBG is still closed at the moment to comply with LGU regulations, the school management is using this period to develop the area further.

• Contact number: (049) 536 2637
• Opening hours: MBG is currently closed due to the pandemic but its regular hours
• are from 8 AM to 4 PM daily, excluding holidays
• Website: http://makiling.center
• FB page: http://facebook.com/makilingbotanicgardens/
• Entrance fee: Php 60 per head for non-students and Php 45 for students and PWDs

Daang Hari Campgrounds in Esmeris Farm
Barangay Ilayang San Roque, Liliw, Laguna

If you’re searching for the backdrop of your next Instagram post, look no further than Esmeris Farm.

To reach the campgrounds, you have to go up a hill for 10 to 15 minutes, an experience in itself as you are enveloped by lush greenery all the way through. Once you reach the campgrounds, you’ll be welcomed with a refreshing view of Laguna like you’ve never seen before.

According to owner Vic Esmeris, the farm is a “stress-free zone” because of its relaxing atmosphere. The fresh air and greenery is enough to make you want to stick around for a few hours or even an overnight stay.

As an environmentalist and retired architect, “Tito Vic” (as he is fondly called) wanted to merge his profession with his love for farming. He wanted the place to be the prototype of how farm tourism can be developed in the mountains or in a secluded location.

Being a native of Liliw, Esmeris wanted to share the beauty of his town to other people, all while doing environmental conservation efforts. Aside from being a site for recreation, Esmeris Farm also produces crops like ampalaya, radish, and tomatoes, making it a local livelihood contributor.

Perhaps the most famous attraction in Esmeris Farm are their giant swings that mimic those found in Bali, Indonesia. You can also check out their viewing decks, treehouse, hammocks or invite your friends for camping. Joggers and bikers are also welcome.

The campgrounds recently opened their mini-canteen, too, so visitors can have snacks or meals while overlooking the mountains.

• Opening hours: 7 AM to 6 PM daily
• FB page: http://facebook.com/Daang.Hari.Campgrounds (rates are found here)
• Entrance fee: Php 50 per head

Travel safely!

All tourist destinations in Laguna have health and safety protocols in place to protect locals and visitors alike. Everyone is expected to comply by wearing face masks and face shields, regularly washing their hands, and practicing physical distancing.

To check out up-to-date information regarding local destinations that are open and the safety protocols and requirements needed for each location, you may visit www.philippines.travel/safetrip or download the Travel Philippines app at app.philippines.travel or the Google Playstore.

The post 5 Unique Experiences That You Can Have in Laguna appeared first on 7641 Islands of the Philippines.

While many of these structures remind us of colonial rule, these are, more importantly, representations of how life was lived and how faith was held and expressed centuries ago. Each church is not just a repository of prayers and intentions, but also of stories that toggle between encouragement and curiosity.

Many of these churches and many more of these stories exist in Laguna. The southern province has parishes that have existed for half a millennia, and, as such, have our national history built into their foundation. Here are five of them.

San Sebastian Parish in Lumban
J.P. Rizal Street 4014 Lumban, Laguna

Lumban is regarded as one of the oldest towns in Laguna and was once the center of missionary activities in the province during the Spanish occupation. When Christianity was introduced in 1578 by Franciscan friars, the townspeople here built a structure out of nipa and bamboo in a site they called “Entablado” (stage).

This simple church, however, was destroyed when a flood hit the town. A wooden church was made to replace it but was destroyed by a fire. For the third rebuilding of the church, then Parish priest Padre Pedro Bautista suggested stone as the main material.

San Sebastian Parish, which is also called the Lumban Church, then became the first stone church in Laguna and the first Franciscan stone church outside of Metro Manila.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BasteOfficialPage

St. John the Baptist Church in Liliw
9th St. corner Gat. Tayaw St., Liliw, Laguna

St. John the Baptist Church is famous for its Baroque architecture and facade of red bricks, which are still the original ones from the 16th century. Because of a series of natural calamities, the insides of the church had to be renovated with the help and generosity of Liliw citizens.

Most churches will have Jesus’ cross behind the altar. St. John the Baptist Church, in contrast, will greet you with striking retable altars, which house Franciscan holy men, the family of Mary, and other saints like San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Isidro.

Another important figure for Liliw residents is San Buenaventura, who, according to Franciscans, cried tears of blood in 1664.

Devotees from even outside Laguna would flock to the province, and fill a small chapel dedicated for him inside the church. There, they can pray for their special intentions using color-coded candles: blue for wisdom, pink for success, violet for forgiveness, green for good health, white for holiness, yellow for family, and red for strength.

• Facebook: https://facebook.com/SJBP.Liliw/

St. Peter of Alcantara Parish in Pakil
Tavera St., Pakil, Laguna

It took the St. Peter of Alcantara Parish 35 years to finish building, starting in 1732 and finally finishing in 1767.

Early residents of Pakil, stories say, were allowed not to pay government taxes for five years to collect more funds for building the church. Today, the Corinthian and Ionic style structure is located right in front of the spacious town plaza, making it easily accessible to locals.

While its main patron is St. Peter of Alcantara, Spain, the church is also the designated diocesan shrine of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Turumba or Our Lady of Sorrows of Turumba.

The image of Turumba was discovered in 1788 by fishermen who decided to bring it to the nearest church. Strong waves led them to the shore of Pakil where they dropped the image. The next day, a group of women found the image, which was surprisingly dry despite the storm.

As the ladies could not carry the image, they decided to seek help from the church. Its priests then came and successfully lifted it, to the amazement and joy of the crowd. From then on, the Turumba has been venerated by devotees from Laguna and other nearby provinces.

Apart from being the shrine of the Turumba, St. Peter of Alcantara Parish also takes pride in its religious paintings made by local Pakil artists.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TurumbaShrine/

National Shrine and Parish of San Antonio de Padua in Pila
82 Burzagom St., Pila, Laguna

If you happen to misplace something important, you might want to visit this church as it is dedicated to the patron saint of the recovery of lost things.

The National Shrine and Parish of San Antonio de Padua is also known as the Pila Church. It was inaugurated in 1581 as the first Antonine church in the Philippines and possibly in the whole of Asia.

The church was first located in Barangay Pinagbayanan but was transferred to Barangay Pagalangan because of flooding. It flooded again in its second site and was finally moved to its current location in Barangay Sta. Clara.

While it may be smaller compared to other churches in Laguna, the National Shrine and Parish of San Antonio de Padua has a significant claim to fame.

It has the fourth oldest surviving church bell in our country, which was supposedly submerged in Laguna de Bay during the British occupation to keep it safe. Now, visitors can see the bell up close by the church’s main entrance. Other kampana (bells) previously used by the church are also displayed by the church’s side entrance.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalShrineOfSanAntonioDePadua/

San Bartolome Apostol Parish Church
Poblacion, Nagcarlan, Laguna

The San Bartolome Apostol Parish is also called the Nagcarlan Church and was made from the collective effort of its townspeople. According to stories, its workers mixed egg whites with lime to stick stones together, which was a popular adhesive of the time.

Though located in Laguna, the church is also frequented by Batangueños, possibly interested in the decidedly graphic story of San Bartolome.

The saint was skinned alive due to his Catholic faith, which is why his image holds a knife. As makers of balisong (butterfly knife), Batangueños may have found a connection with the saint.

Early stories also say that Nagcarlan did not gravely suffer during the Japanese occupation because they were protected by the grace of San Bartolome. Over the years, his devotees have prayed to him in times of disasters or natural calamities.

This church also had its contributions to the world of entertainment. Film or TV buffs might recognize Nagcarlan Church as the location of Kampanerang Kuba (hunchbacked bell-ringer), both for the 1974 movie starring Vilma Santos and the 2005 teleserye with Anne Curtis.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parokyanisanbartolomeapostol/

These are just five of the historic churches in Laguna that you ought to visit. You may add these on your Visita Iglesia list for the next Holy Week or just drop by if you have special intentions meant for the venerated patron saints of the churches. Getting to Laguna would approximately take a 2-3 hour drive from Manila if you pass through the South Luzon Expressway. You may start your church visits in Pila, then travel to Nagcarlan, Liliw, Lumban, and finally, Pakil.

Have a safe trip!

All tourist destinations in Laguna have health and safety protocols in place to protect locals and visitors alike. Everyone is expected to comply by wearing face masks and face shields, regularly washing their hands, and practicing physical distancing.

To check out up-to-date information regarding local destinations that are open and the safety protocols and requirements needed for each location, you may visit www.philippines.travel/safetrip, check the Travel Philippines app at app.philippines.travel, or download it from the Google Play or Apple Store.

The post The Miraculous Stories of Laguna’s Historic Churches appeared first on 7641 Islands of the Philippines.

With a vibrant community behind it and the obvious benefits tending to greens brings, it is easy to become passionate about this hobby. However, it can be confusing and many of us who are interested in taking up the shovel, so to speak, might get overwhelmed.

We suggest Laguna as a good place to start for the budding plant parent. Apart from its landmarks and attractions, the province down south is also a hub for farming and horticulture, and getting there only takes a 2-3 hour drive from Manila. Even a quick day can, pun intended, yield a lot of good buys, fresh ideas, and visits to many vibrant establishments. Here are just some of them:

Joni and Susan’s Agroshop and Integrated farms
Maharlika Highway, Barangay San Ignacio, San Pablo, Laguna

Joni and Susan’s Agroshop and Integrated Farms is famous for its sunflower mazes, which have become the staple photo backdrops of visitors.

From the moment you enter the gate, a field of yellow will already greet you. Not only are the sunflowers Instagrammable, but they also bloom all year round because of the place’s unique cultivation practices.

You can also check out The Greenhouse Restaurant, their farm-to-table restaurant where 90 percent of the menu are made from their own crops. The whole place makes for a refreshing walk, but you may also rent one of their ATVs to check their vegetable gardens and mushroom village.

• Opening hours: 7 am to 5 pm, Mondays to Saturdays
• Contact number: 0917 165 8053 or (049) 557 6344
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/JASIFINC
• Website: https://joniandsusanagrosh.wixsite.com/joniandsusanagroshop
• Restaurant menu price range: Php 69-600 for individual dishes; up to Php 1,699 for set meals
• ATV rental fee: Php 200

Gintong Bukid Farm and Leisure
Nagcarlan-Rizal Road, Brgy. Buboy, Nagcarlan, Laguna

Gintong Bukid (golden field) Farm and Leisure has only been operational for three years but it’s already making a name for itself in the field of sustainable organic farming.

The owners named the place as such because they believe that you can find riches from below the ground if you have the right knowledge. “Pag binungkal ang lupa, may gintong makukuha (When you plow land, you’ll be able to find gold or treasure),” shares Janiel Gesmundo, the resident resource person of Gintong Bukid.

Before you reach the Bahay Kubo (nipa hut) which serves as the farm’s main structure, you will pass through cultivation areas with crops like tomatoes, kale, lettuce, and string beans.

In Gintong Bukid, guests could “pick and pay,” or personally harvest the crops they wanted to take home. They also offer half-day, whole day, and overnight tour packages, complete with meals, for those who want to learn more about organic farming. These activities might take a pause to comply with changing community quarantine regulations, so make sure to check their official pages for announcements or contact them using the details below to see if the activity you have in mind can be accommodated.

• Opening hours: 8 am to 5 pm, Mondays to Sunday
• Contact number: 0917 167 8047
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gintong-Bukid-2031034607157331/
• Fees per head: Half-day Aral Bukid Tour for Php 250, Whole day Pasyal Bukid Tour for
• Php 600, and Overnight Buhay Bukid Tour for Php 1500

Makiling Botanic Garden
College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños College, Laguna

Makiling Botanic Gardens is home to a wide collection of flora. Photo by SinoPinas courtesy of the Department of Tourism.

Here you will learn more about conserving our biodiversity as you’re surrounded by a wide collection of plants and flowers. These include the Dipterocarps and the threatened Medinilla Magnifica, or rose grape plant, which also happens to be in the logo of the MBG.

While the garden remains closed to comply with LGU regulations, the school management is using this period to develop the area further. So, expect a spruced-up garden once its gates reopen.

• Contact number: (049) 536 2637
• Opening hours: 8 am to 4 pm daily, excluding holidays (Walk-ins not allowed at the moment)
• Website: http://makiling.center
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/makilingbotanicgardens/
• Entrance fee: Php 60 per head for non-students and Php 45 for students and PWDs

Plant shops in Bay and Calamba

Both the municipality of Bay and the city of Calamba are filled with plant shops and garden centers, which makes for a fantastic last stop before heading home. In Bay, you should pass by National Highway while in Calamba, the go-to place is Chipeco Avenue.

These shops have a variety of flora on-hand, from succulents for your workspaces to bigger indoor plants like Monstera, Bromeliad, and Money Trees. Price ranges from as low as Php 20 to Php 5,000, depending on the size, type, and rarity of the plants. Bring your haggling skills because some shops can even give you discounted rates if you buy in bulk. Gardening accessories, supplies, and equipment are also available for purchase.

Have a safe trip!

All tourist destinations in Laguna have health and safety protocols in place to protect locals and visitors alike. Everyone is expected to comply by wearing face masks, regularly washing their hands, and practicing physical distancing.

To check out up-to-date information regarding local destinations that are open and the safety protocols and requirements needed for each location, you may visit www.philippines.travel/safetrip, check the Travel Philippines app at app.philippines.travel, or download it from the Google Play or Apple Store.

The post Destinations in Laguna for the Plantito and Plantita appeared first on 7641 Islands of the Philippines.

Luckily, Laguna is just a 2-3 hour drive from the busy streets of Manila, and they have a number of places which are conducive for a workation, and then some.

If you plan on going on a workation, schedule it when you don’t have obligations in the office or other important on-site work. But while working on your to-do list, don’t forget to enjoy and make time to experience what these unique accommodations have to offer.

Casa San Pablo
Colago Avenue, Barrio San Roque, San Pablo, Laguna

Upon entering the Casa San Pablo compound, you’ll be greeted with vast gardens and tall coconut trees—a remnant of its days as a coco plantation.

Today it serves as a bed & breakfast as well as a community arts space. It even has a gallery which you can visit for free if you book a stay. And if you’re lucky, you might even catch their Artist in Residence working on his or her unique creations.

They also have a cafe where they serve hometown-inspired meals like the San Pablo staple Kulawong Talong (grilled eggplant with coconut cream sauce). Speaking of which—you can sign up for either their Coconut cooking tour or demo to learn more of these dishes.

In Casa San Pablo, no two rooms are the same, with the furniture carefully-selected to inspire creativity of those lodging there.

“People say that when they come here, they want to create things,” says innkeeper An Alcantara, who also makes the terra cotta clay figures you’ll see in the cafe. This simply proves that, even in this genteel setting, a lot of work can be done.

• Contact number: 0917 772 8981 or 0917 812 6687
• Room Rates: Php 2,400 to Php 5,900 depending on capacity
• Tours: Coconut Native Cooking Tour starts at Php 3,750 per head inclusive of ingredients; Coconut Cooking Demo starts at Php 1,900 per head
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/casasanpablo/
• Website: https://casasanpablo.com/

88 Hotspring Resort
#9061 National Highway, Bagong Kalsada, Calamba, 4027 Laguna

Spread over seven hectares of land at the base of Mt. Makiling, 88 Hotspring Resort has 10 outdoor pools surrounded by a well-maintained landscape. For hundreds of years, locals have relied on these hot springs to heal and restore their bodies.

According to the resort, the “miraculous water” that comes from the hot spring is odorless, clear, and tested and proven to be rich in organic minerals. These are believed to relax the body and cure several skin diseases.

Forty-eight rooms of seven different types are available in the resort, from Standard and Bamboo Suite to Villa and Nipa Hut.

• Contact number: (049) 536 1388
• Room Rates: Php 3,500 to Php 7,000 on weekdays and Php 4,600 to Php 10,000 on weekends depending on room type. All rooms come with free breakfast for 2 people.
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/88HotSpringOfficial/
• Website: http://www.88hotspring.com/

Sulyap Gallery Café, Restaurant and Boutique Hotels
Brgy. Del Remedio, Cocoland Compound, San Pablo, Laguna

Before becoming the sanctuary that it is today, Sulyap (which means “to glance”) started as a museum and coffee shop back in 2007.

Owner Roy Empalmado loved art, antiques, and architecture that he hoped to spread this appreciation by opening a gallery with old paintings and artifacts for Laguna locals and visitors alike.

Over time, they’ve built several casa or houses using restored materials of old homes from different provinces like Quezon and Batangas. They would disassemble the houses from their original locations and rebuild them colonial-style on Sulyap’s land.

The rooms there are spacious enough for two to four people. They also have a balcony with benches to lounge in as well as a swimming pool at the end of the lot’s garden where you can take a dip in after a hard day’s work.

Sulyap also has an open-air restaurant which offers modern Filipino cuisine such as Ensaladang Pako (fiddlehead fern salad), Boneless Bangus (milkfish), and Pork Adobo sa Kamatis (pork adobo with tomatoes).

• Contact number: (049) 545 5144 or 0917 182 1483
• Room Rates: Php 2,100 to Php 8,000 depending on capacity
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sulyapgallerycafe
• Website: http://www.sulyap.info/

Auravel Grande Hotel and Resort
Maharlika Highway, Brgy. San Francisco, Calihan, San Pablo, Laguna

If you prefer a full-service hotel with simple and elegant interiors and basic amenities like a swimming pool and an indoor gym, Auravel may be better for you. A carwash run by the hotel owners is also located in the same compound, so you can easily give your ride a quick cleanse before heading home.

Aside from the two main hotel buildings which house a total of 48 rooms, Auravel also has a restaurant called Auravel Fusion Cuisine where they serve Filipino food with a twist. Next to the restaurant is Cafe Avelino, which is a go-to for students and young professionals who want to get some work done while enjoying a sweet drink.

Both the restaurant and coffee shop are open to walk-ins, so you can definitely drop by for a quick bite or sip.

• Contact number: (049) 503 0579
• Room Rates: Php 3,070 to Php 6,460 depending on capacity
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auravelofficial/
• Website: http://www.auravelgrandehotelandresort.com/

Have a safe trip!

All tourist destinations in Laguna have health and safety protocols in place to protect locals and visitors alike. Everyone is expected to comply by wearing face masks, regularly washing their hands, and practicing physical distancing.

To check out up-to-date information regarding local destinations that are open and the safety protocols and requirements needed for each location, you may visit www.philippines.travel/safetrip, check the Travel Philippines app at app.philippines.travel, or download it from the Google Play or Apple Store.

The post Top Work-cation Spots in Laguna appeared first on 7641 Islands of the Philippines.

The region, known for its many natural and historical attractions, is also not lacking in long-standing restaurants, unique dining concepts, and eateries locals love to frequent that offer one-of-a-kind dishes, treats, and specialties.

Lucky for you, these are already open and available to tourists. Here are all the food and drinks you should try when in CALABARZON.

Cavite’s Filipino Food With A Twist

Some of Cavite’s best restaurants—regardless if long-standing or relatively new—are not afraid to experiment with Filipino food.

Asiong Caviteño Restaurant, for instance—a restaurant built in the 1960s by the father of the current owner, Sonny Lua—serves dishes like their bestselling Original Pancit Pusit (Php380) The noodles are cooked in squid ink, giving it a black tinge. It’s then topped with vegetables and chicharon or fried pork crackling.

For dessert, you shouldn’t pass up on their Caviteño Cheesecake (Php120/slice) .

Their take on the classic American treat features all-Filipino ingredients: Mendez’ Jacobina or cubical biscuits; Amadeo’s Kapeng Pahimis, an exclusive blend of finest Robusta, Arabica, Excelsa, and Liberica; Alfonso’s Tablea or pure ground roasted cacao beans; General Trias’ carabao’s milk; and topped off with Chocnut, a milk chocolate candy bar with peanuts, from Imus.

At Siglo Modern Filipino Restaurant, meanwhile—known for preserving heirloom recipes, supporting local farmers, and championing sustainable food production—well-loved Filipino dishes are fused with new flavors and cooked in unconventional ways.

Their Baked Bulalo Kaldereta (Php550) features baked—not stewed—beef cubes in tomato sauce and liver paste, with diced potatoes, bell peppers, and carrots.

Bagoong or shrimp paste, honey, and labuyo or wild chili tabasco become the main ingredients of the sauce that coats/is paired with Himagsikan Chicken (Php300), their version of the Buffalo Wings.

For South Korean food fans, the restaurant has also come up with Bagnet Samgyupsal (Php320). The serving includes crispy pork belly slices, homemade kimchi, garlic, thinly-sliced carrots and cucumber, and atcharang labanos or pickled radish.

Like you would with traditional samgyupsal, you can make a ssam or wrap through this dish. Just take a leaf of green lettuce, put a slice of crispy pork belly before topping it off with atcharang labanos and kimchi.

Laguna’s Local Favorites

Buko pie isn’t the only local treat worth trying or taking home for anyone visiting Laguna.

At the Philippine Carabao Center’s Dairy Training and Research Institute inside the University of the Philippines Los Banos, there’s Milka Krem’s Carabao Milk (Php175). It comes in a variety of flavors: plain, chocolate, and even coffee.

A product of the Philippine Carabao Center-Dairy Training and Research Institute, and the Department of Agriculture-attached agency, Gene Pool, the fresh milk in each bottle of Milka Krem is sourced from local dairy farmers.

Kesong Puti (Php150) or White Cheese is another carabao-based product worth trying. The soft and unaged cheese is mildly salty with a creamy aftertaste and is often paired with bread.

For the best kesong puti in the province, your best bet is the municipality of Sta. Cruz, which is considered the “Home of Kesong Puti.” The town, after all, has been producing the said cheese for four centuries.

Makers of the cheese pour the unskimmed milk into a rolled banana leaf container then set it aside to thicken over time. You can buy it cold and wrapped in even more banana leaf, like those from Leony’s Kesong Puti.

With a shelf life of one week, you can take home morekesong puti for cheesy breakfast sandwiches.

While you’re at it, remember to snack on some Espasol (Php220). The rice cake, which originated in Laguna, is made from rice flour cooked in coconut milk and sweetened coconut strips. It’s dusted with toasted rice flour before serving.

It’s traditionally sold during the Christmas season, but has become a popular afternoon snack or pasalubong. For any of the two, you can never go wrong with Belen’s Espasol in Nagcarlan.

The shop has been making espasol since 1954 and has remained a favorite among locals and tourists alike. They are the first to make flavored versions of the rice cake, too, offering options like ube and langka.

Batangas’ Signature Dishes

The place where a dish originated likely serves the best version of it. In Batangas, there’s more than one food that Batanguenos do better than anywhere else in the country.

At Kainan sa Dalampasigan in Nasugbu—a restaurant that’s been around since the mid-1970s offering home cooked food—they serve a dish called Balot sa Dahon (Php300).

It’s a mix of chicken and pork adobo, halabos na hipon or garlic-flavored shrimp, and steamed white rice wrapped in banana leaves. It’s often paired with fried tomatoes and bagoong or shrimp paste. A single serving can easily feed two people.

Balot sa Dahon is an original recipe of Teodora “Doray” Limjoco, who received the restaurant as a gift from his husband Apolonio “Poniong” Limjoco. She is one of, if not the first, to sell the dish in Nasugbu.

Lomi is another dish that originated in Batangas. It was first served in 1968 when Lipa-based Chinese restaurateur To Kim Eng cooked it for his mahjong friends.

He and his wife, Natalia, then opened Lipa City Panciteria (noodle eatery), the first-ever lomi house in the city. He even shared the recipe with others, who later opened their own lomi houses.

Typically, the egg noodle dish is served in a thick but mildly-flavored broth that you can season to your liking with soy sauce, calamansi, and crushed chili peppers. It’s then generously topped with pork liver, kikiam, and quail eggs.

The Lomi Special (Php80) at Liam’s Lomi House, however, is already flavorful without additional seasonings.

One of the many popular lomi restaurants in Lipa today, their take on the classic Lipa dish is so good that its owners Corrine and Francis Yuson are two-time champions of the city’s annual Lomi Festival.

If you feel like trying out other variations of this comfort food, the spot also offers Chicken Lomi (Php90), Lechon Lomi (Php105), Beef Lomi (Php90) and Asado Lomi (Php95).

Rizal’s Unique And Exotic Delicacies

The province of Rizal is not only where you can explore its many natural attractions, it’s also where you can try unique and exotic food.

At Balaw-Balaw Restaurant, they serve Adobong Palaka (Php370). It’s your usual meat stew in vinegar, garlic, soy sauce, bay leaves, and peppercorns. The only difference is that instead of chicken or pork, the restaurant serves it with frog meat.

The Angono food spot also cooks up Kamaro (Php250) or crickets from the rice field cooked in garlic and seasoning before being fried to a crisp. The result is a chicharon-like crunch.

For even more unique food, Crescent Moon Cafe in Antipolo has a few must-try dishes on their menu.Alagao (Php300), for instance, features basil, coconut, chili, green mango, and other spices on an Alagao leaf. It’s a fusion of sour, spicy, and menthol flavors.

It’s good for your health, too, as Alagao leaf is known for its herbal and medicinal properties.

You can also try Suman Itim (Php120), their take on the sweet sticky rice dessert. They use the black mountain variety, which explains the dark color. It’s then topped with coconut cream and cashews.

Quezon’s Famous Specialties

Quezon’s brand of hospitality does not end with welcoming people to their well-known Pahiyas Festival in Lucban or letting visitors into their homes. In fact, the true highlight is the food, which likely explains why the province’s specialties are just as famous as its festivities and attractions.

Pancit Habhab (Php225) is a staple in gatherings. This dish has miki or dried flour noodles, sautéed with tender pork, vegetables, and kikiam or Chinese sausage. It goes well with vinegar.

It’s best enjoyed using a banana leaf as your plate and consuming it without utensils, just as the word habhab implies—eating with your hands.

Hardinera (Php285), another must-try, is just as popular as Pancit Habhab in local holidays. The meatloaf has diced or ground pork topped with sliced hard-boiled eggs, pineapples, carrots, bell peppers, peas, tomatoes, raisins, among others. It’s then cooked in a small metal pan typically used for leche flan.

In case you’re in the province when it’s not fiesta season, both dishes are easily available at the town’s own Buddy’s Restaurant.

Still in Lucban is their well-loved take on pork sausage, aptly called Lucban Longganisa (Php250). It is known for its salt and garlic flavor, as opposed to sweeter versions from other provinces. Instead of using bay leaves, this sausage uses oregano with a mix of vinegar and other secret ingredients.

Abcede’s Lucban Longganisa, one of the first factories to produce these sausages, makes large batches of these to be sold in their own stalls and pasalubong centers all over the province.

For dessert, no treat in the province is as famous as Rodilla’s Yema Cake (Php280).

It began as a business idea of finding new ways to enjoy yema, a small custard candy made with egg yolks, milk, and sugar. For Juliet Rodilla from Tayabas, that meant turning the candy into a chiffon cake with yema icing and various toppings.

With her husband Vincent, they began selling it in their small bakeshop and it was met with an overwhelmingly positive response.

Yema cake has become such a hit that Rodilla now has a factory to produce it in massive quantities and make it available in many parts of the country.

Home to the largest Lambanog (Php185) manufacturer in the country, you should at least try Quezon’s concoction of this local liquor, too. The distilled alcohol drink is made from coconut or nipa palm sap and derived from tuba–another local liquor–that has been aged for at least 48 hours.

It has a whopping 70% alcohol content per volume so be mindful of your lambanog consumption.

In Infanta, a group of lambanog producers called Binonoan Producers Cooperative (BIPCO) makes bottles of this while working to preserve a rehabilitated mangrove eco-park that serves as a catch basin during the rainy season.

Travel safely!

All tourist destinations in CALABARZON have health and safety protocols in place to protect locals and visitors alike. Everyone is expected to comply by wearing face masks and face shields, regularly washing their hands, and practicing physical distancing.

To check out up-to-date information regarding local destinations that are open and the safety protocols and requirements needed for each location, you may visit www.philippines.travel/safetrip or download the Travel Philippines app at app.philippines.travel or the Google Playstore.

The post Dishes and Drinks You Shouldn’t Miss When in CALABARZON appeared first on 7641 Islands of the Philippines.