Weekend at Caliraya Resort Club

En Passant: Lumban, Laguna

 * bridge views

 

* First Laguna Electric Cooperative[?], Inc. or FLECO, Inc. in Lumban

 A peaceful afternoon to behold as we roamed some of the Laguna towns, this time passing through Lumban, Laguna. Stories of old houses being sold are worth following up. And of course, who wouldn’t want to have embroidered products from this town? A revisit must be done soon.

 

A Peek Into the Neighboring Lumot Lake and Caliraya Lake

Experience-wise, new things are usually found on the most unlikely of places. In an unlikely place such as a mountainous part of Laguna, we found a visual treat: two lakes namely Lumot and Caliraya.

* sceneries on the way to Brgy. Cansuso, Cavinti, Laguna

Perhaps the more well-known of the two is the Caliraya Lake, with its famed man-made origins and numerous resorts and parks around it. But the two lakes form the Caliraya Watershed which provides living for the locals of the towns of Lumban and Cavinti, and power for electricity-consuming citizens, at least in Luzon.

* view of Lumot Lake
* view of a small rice field in Cansuso
* a budding tree I planted

* pandan leaves ready to be made into sambalilo
* mountain views from Cansuso

On this particular trip, we first headed to a village named Cansuso in Cavinti, Laguna where we did a simple yet decidedly crucial tree-planting project. This is where I learned that a tree-planting project is not just a tree-planting project. It requires detailed placement geared for long-term survival. This village also keeps the tradition of sambalilo making, with the villagers doing their hand knitting and weaving on their doorsteps.

* high five on a street sign!

* a gate by the lake!

* my own brand of lunch – lahat marami!

* view of Caliraya Lake from the shore

We then trooped down to the shores of Caliraya Lake, particularly in Brgy. Lewin in Lumban, Laguna. Here we got a treat of some local delicacies. The view of Caliraya Lake exudes a sense of tranquility and enjoyment. Tranquility because the strong winds would definitely aide you in meditating. And enjoyment because you simply cannot resist the temptation to explore the lake’s waters and take a boat. That would be my goal the next time I visit the place.
  

Lakbay sa Lumban, Laguna: The Lumban Houses

* ruins of what must have been a big house

It is quite disappointing to realize that we have lost many photos from Lumban, no thanks to a defective memory card. But then, I am quite thankful that few survived the memory card breakdown and I desire to share them here, at least to spark the interest of a chance reader to visit the town.

* shot against the sunlight

* a pozo found along a Lumban street

* the Lumban Academy, founded in 1949

* wood and capiz: lovely!

* I think it is good to just lounge by those windows in the afternoon (with a cup of coffee)

The town still has the general lay-out of Spanish origins. Streets were lined up which basically lead up to the town church. The proximity of the river to the church also invokes a serene atmosphere (I imagine small boats being rowed to Laguna de Bay during the Spanish times). Some of the houses there are made into shops for embroidered products. I think you can just walk into one of those shops and transact for your clothes needs. But reading through experiences posted by others online, they do not come cheap. Indeed, quality products have to be equaled by substantial amount. Well if you’re into clothes dear chance reader, you can visit and roam the town of Lumban for yourself.

As for me, it would be good to come back again to do just the same thing: obtain a Lumban product. Perhaps a barong for special occasions?

Lakbay sa Lumban, Laguna

* gown for the bride? I wonder

* silhouette of the bridge in Lumban

* the municipal building of Lumban

The town of Lumban lies at the foot of the mountain ranges that stretch on the eastern side of Laguna. Lumban derives its name from a tree called lumbang. But I am yet to see for myself a tree called by that name.

Lumban also experienced division into different towns we now know as Sta. Cruz, Cavinti, and Pagsanjan. If you decide to continue traveling to the neighboring town of Paete, you’ll notice that a large part of Lumban is still open land for planting. Online reading informed me that two barangays – Kulyon and Binayuyo – are uninhabited. I wonder what can be found in these parts.

The town is also famous for its embroidered products primarily jusi and piña. To showcase the town’s prime products, they are holding an annual activity called Burdang Festival. They have rightfully earned the title Embroidery Capital of the Philippines.

* the church of Lumban

* the church’s interior

* Doric columns(?) found outside the church

Lumban Church

Lumban was once the heart of all missionary activities of the friars in the province. In 1578 Reverend Juan de Plasencia O.F.M. ministered in the town. The first church built there was only thatched and wooden. It was later destroyed by fire. Reconstruction of the town church marked the construction of the first stone church to be built in Laguna in 1600. On October 9, 1600 a Eucharistic procession was held. But earthquakes during the year 1880 brought much damage to the church.

From 1606 to 1618 a rest house was kept there to house the sick Franciscan missionaries. Also in 1606, a regional school for boys was put up by Reverend Juan de Santa Maria. About 400 boys were taught there liturgical hymns as well as use of several musical instruments.

* tower for a cross?

* an unlikely feature in the church’s vicinity: a tennis court!

Places Yet to be Visited

Lake Caliraya, for one. I was earlier confused about this lake for I thought it is found in Cavinti, Laguna. I have once visited the Japanese Garden there and I hope to share it here next time. There is also the Talahib Falls although I am yet to find out how to get there.

Revisiting Pagsanjan, Laguna

We recently did a four-town tour here in Laguna: Paete, Kalayaan, Lumban, and Pagsanjan. Pagsanjan was not in our list actually but the place was simply irresistible. Besides, visiting three towns in a day was already a tiring activity; Pagsanjan was certainly a good place to rest…and sip a cup of coffee.

Another motivation for revisiting Pagsanjan was a comment posted on one of my Pagsanjan entries. In it, someone suggested to me that I visit Mabini Street. It turned out that Mabini Street was just the street adjacent to Rizal Street, the one I have recently blogged about. The revisit was worth it.

[I will just share two finds here, as we were primarily in need of a comfort room and a place for rest when we arrived in Pagsanjan.]

* standing against the fiery sun

A Curious Obelisk

I did not notice this solitary monument until I took a picture of a statue of Father Pio on the far side of the Pagsanjan church’s patio. It seemed at first that it was a monument for Rizal. But no; he has his own at the town plaza. Neither did it look like a monument for World War II veterans. They have their own at the town plaza too.

And so I contented myself in observing the inscriptions on its base. I noted two plaques bearing the following words:

MORET CREADOR _ _ _ AS JUNTAS DE REFORMAS ULTRAMARINAS 1869
and..
MAURA AUTOR DEL R.O. DE 19 DE MAYO 1893.

Using an online English-Spanish translations program, these can be translated roughly as

MORET CREATOR _ _ _AS BOARDS OF REFORMS OVERSEAS 1869
and…
MAURA AUTHOR OF THE R.O. OF 19 OF MAY 1893

Who are these people and what are those boards mentioned are topics that can be studied next.

* the Pagsanjan Municipal Building, again!

The Pagsanjan Municipal Building

Alas, I was able to take some notes about the town’s municipal building. It was erected in mid-19th century and originally accommodated the Tribunal del Gramio de Naturales. Key points in our history saw the building’s occupation: first by the Filipino revolutionists in 1898 (Philippine Revolution of 1896), then by the American Forces in 1903 (Filipino-American War). The first public high school in Laguna was founded there in Pagsanjan and it served as its building from 1903-1907. It was most likely under the influence or administration of the Americans (or American educators for that matter). Then it also housed the town’s elementary school until 1911. Later, it became the office of the municipal government. The tumultuous times of World War II resulted in its destruction on March 20, 1945. The building’s reconstruction spanned four years: from 1951 to 1955.

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Again, what remains to be seen in this town is the Pagsanjan Falls.