Recycled work. HAHA! (It's been a while since a set foot on my hometown, so why not publish this article I made for our class. )
About 87 kilometers away from the thud, trash and traffic of Metro Manila, a home, known for its breath taking seven lakes and scrumptious buko pies, proudly greets its visitors with a warm smile. Welcome to San Pablo City, Laguna!
San Pablo is located at the southern tip of Laguna, north of which is Rizal province, and on its left is Batangas City, while Quezon province rests on the south.
The city, known to many as “The City of Seven Lakes” and “Home of Buko Pies” claims a rich history.
The metropolis started as a small barrio formerly known as “Sampaloc.” Because of the arrival of the Spanish colonizers, the area was Christianized in 1586. Furthermore, the locale turned in to a parish and was renamed as San Pablo de los Montes, in honor of Saint Paul, the first Hermit. In time, the “de los Montes” was dropped for convenience. In addition, the town became a municipal in 1647, when a public hall was built in the town proper. As the province prospered and proliferated, it was officially confirmed a city on March 30, 1940 thus, becoming one of the oldest cities in the country.
THE CITY OF SEVEN LAKES
Despite the modernization of the times, the people were able to take care of their wildlife. The city displays beauty that emanates from their famous tourist spots- their seven lakes, hence the moniker “City of Seven Lakes.”
The seven attractions namely Sampaloc, Mohicap, Palakpakin, Calibato, Bunot, and the twin lakes Pandin and Yambo, are within the outskirts of the town. Each possesses distinct beauty and legends.
The largest among lakes is Sampaloc. According to legend, the area where a Sampaloc tree grows, was once a property of hardhearted couple. A man once asked for a fruit however the pair refused, little did they know that the beggar was really a fairy. Soon there were thunder, storm, and earthquake, and the spot was immediately filled with water. Sightseers will appreciate Sampaloc’s beauty and cool ambiance. It is also the most commercialized spot.
Mohicap and Palakpakin lakes both cultured tilapias and deliver them to the neighboring provinces. According to myth, Mohicap was about an industrious girl, named Monica. However, the girl died and soon a lagoon was formed. To honor the girl, the area was named Mohicap—Monica, and “mahikap,” a dialect meaning hard working. Palakpakin, like the legend of Sampaloc, was an area where a tree called “Palakpak” grows where eventually a lake was formed.
The deepest lake on the other hand is Calibato. It got its name from Spanish word “calle,” meaning street, and “bato” or stone. According to hearsays, Calibato was once a domain of a fairy that got angry when people made stoned pathways ruining her abode. She caused an earthquake and soon a pond was materialized.
Lake Bunot, 4.5km away from the town proper, offers a great setting for picnic and relaxation. Once, Spanish soldiers were asking the name of the unidentified lagoon, a man holding a bunot, or coco-husk thought that the foreigners were asking what he was holding.
Lastly, the twin lakes Pandin and Yambo according to folklore is where lovers named Pandin and Yambo were buried. Among the lakes, the matching destinations are the most pristine and house the most number of varied plants and fishes.
Myth telling is a unique trait of every culture, however no matter how lunatic or believable the legends are, according to experts, the seven lakes are craters of ancient volcanoes. Nevertheless, to miss visiting one of the lakes, or even worse, all the seven attractions is curtailed and a blunder. However, aside from the natural beauty the city is known for, one’s stopover is incomplete if he overlooks the sweet treats San Pablo offers.
Buko proud-ucts!
The title, “Home of Buko Pies” may be a borderline brand, for its neighbor, Los Baños, offers the same delicacy. In fact, it is actually where the pastry originally came from. However, San Pablo, as a major center of coconut (buko) products, is a more ideal location for venturing pies shop.
Aside from the said sweet treat, other coco-based products are proudly produced from ‘Pablo-- buko juice, macapuno preserves, lumber and coconut oil to name a few.
To commemorate the prosper of coconut production, San Pablenos celebrate Coco- festival weeklong every 15th of January. The affair starts with a parade, and ends with a bang—a mardi gras dance where “bukos” hit the mainstream. In between the celebration, the townsmen showcase their ingenuity by creating novel goods out of the raw material.
San Pablo City not only offers sweet satisfactions and scenic spots, there is more the city can offer depending on one’s spectacles, so sightseers are in for a surprise. However, one thing’s for sure, vacationers will not leave the city empty handed, one will surely win a thing or two.
Sources: http://www.sanpablocity.net/2008/06/23/legend-of-the-seven-lakes/ http://www.world66.com/asia/southeastasia/philippines/sanpablocity, and Google for the photos
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