Thank God, the rain rapidly weakened after just a few minutes.
With only 3 lakes to go to complete our “quest”, we hired tricycles anew to take us to the remaining lakes to be discovered.
When we arrived at the bridge connecting Barangay San Lorenzo and Barangay San Buenaventura, we alighted our vehicles and took photos of Lake Palapakin.
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| Lake # 5: Lake Palakpakin |
Residents around the lake rely on income from fishpens and fishcages that grow cultured tilapia and silver carps. It is the shallowest among the seven lakes and utilized as a communal fishing ground.
Sometimes you could see kids diving all the way from the bridge into the lake.
We then zipped our way towards the next lake, which was Lake Muhikap.
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| Lake # 6: Lake Muhikap |
It is one of the main suppliers of water resources in the city. Its waters provide a generous source of tilapia for Metro Manila and the suburbs.
Before arriving at our last lake, we paid the tricycle driver Php 300.00, and we were dropped at the Doña Leonila Park, which provided the best viewpoint of the Sampaloc Lake.
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| Lake # 7: Sampaloc Lake |
Considered one of the prime tourist spots in the city. This lake is dotted with floating restaurants along its shoreline that serves Filipino and Chinese cuisines. It abounds with tilapia, bangus, carp, and several species of shrimps. It is presently lined with fishpens and small cottages built on bamboo stilts.
Since one of the main sources of livelihood in San Pablo City is Tilapia Breeding, an iconic statue of the said fish can be seen at the Park.
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| Tilapia Statue |
The Tilapia statue was constructed in honor of Mr. & Mrs. Jose C. Agahan, donor of the first Tilapia fingerlings on Sampaloc and Palakpakin Lakes (April 16, 1955).
At this point in time, which was around past 3:00 PM, since we have already visited all the seven lakes, we decided to have a sidetrip to the famous Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery, located in Nagcarlan, Laguna. The place closes at 4:00 PM, that was why, we believed that we could still go to that venue.
From the Park, we climbed the Sampaloc Lake concrete stairs, which was rehabilitated and improved under the administration of President Diosdado Macapagal and City Mayor Zacarias A. Ticzon in 1965.
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| Sampaloc Lake Concrete Stairs |
Arriving at the top, we rode tricycles (Php 10.00 per head) and went straight to a jeepney stop area near the San Pablo Cathedral to catch a ride going to Nagcarlan, wherein the rate was Php 25.00 a head.
Reaching our bonus destination, with only several minutes to spare before closing time, we hurriedly entered the chapel and registered in the visitor registration book owned by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
The Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery is the only one of its kind in the Philippines - a burial site located inside, or more accurately, beneath a chapel. This chapel is rich in history - it was built and designed for funeral masses in 1845 by the Franciscan priest Fr. Vicente Velloc. He also directed the construction of an underground graveyard 15 feet below the chapel in 1851.
The Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery is the only one of its kind in the Philippines - a burial site located inside, or more accurately, beneath a chapel. This chapel is rich in history - it was built and designed for funeral masses in 1845 by the Franciscan priest Fr. Vicente Velloc. He also directed the construction of an underground graveyard 15 feet below the chapel in 1851.
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| Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery (Main Entrance) |
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| Facade of the Chapel |
During those times, only the rich and influential people were allowed to be buried inside, but after the Spanish regime, the government opened the cemetery to the locals and nearby towns.
By the way, the chapel served as the last station of the funeral rites before entombment. The priest gave his last blessing in this area.
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| Inside the Chapel |
Turning right, we went down the granite steps and saw the crypt.
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| Left Side of the Crypt |
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| Right Side of the Crypt |
The crypt also played an important role in our history. Throughout the Revolution of 1896 and the Filipino-American War, our fighting patriots used the crypt as a secret hideout, gathering here to plan their moves or to seek shelter. Similarly, it became a safehouse for guerillas during the World War II.
Anyway, due to the poor lighting below, coming from small yellow light bulbs and a small amount of sunlight emanating from a closed wooden window, it was really hard to read what was written in the epitaphs.
Heading back towards San Pablo City via a jeepney ride anew, with stomachs grumbling for a whole lot more contents, we rode tricycles and arrived at the site of our supposed dinner place, located in Barangay Del Remedio at the Cocoland Compound.
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| Entrance Gate to Sulyap Compound |
Before we saw the dinner place, as we entered the gate, on the right side you could see the Sulyap Casa De Obando Bed & Breakfast Boutique Hotel.
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| Sulyap Casa De Obando Bed & Breakfast Boutique Hotel |
Turning left, you could now view the Sulyap Casa de Alitagtag Bed & Breakfast Boutique Hotel, and as you walk a few steps from that place, you could now marvel staring at the Sulyap 1907 Casa De Cabay Gallery Cafe and Restaurant.
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| Sulyap Casa de Alitagtag Bed & Breakfast Boutique Hotel |
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| Sulyap 1907 Casa De Cabay Gallery Cafe & Restaurant |
This is a restaurant and gallery cafe that features a theme of the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines. The restaurant offers a variety of traditional Filipino dishes and a gallery filled with a large collection of antiques that date back to 1800s.
Our dinner:
1.) Kulawong Puso ng Saging (Php 310.00 x 2)
An original recipe of San Pablo City, served with Banana heart in smoked flavor coconut milk, cooked in fire brick stove. Topped with grilled pork.
2.) Boneless Bangus Belly (Php 340.00 x 2)
A prime choice cut of milk fish , sautéed in minced garlic. Served with sliced grilled tomatoes.
3.) Ginataang Pusit (Php 360.00 x 2)
A traditionally cooked squid in seasoned coconut milk.
4.) Bistek Tagalog (Php 375.00 x 1)
Beef Steak cooked in soy sauce & caramelized sliced onions. Cooked in fire brick stove.
5.) Ensaladang Pako (Php 175.00 x 2)
Fiddlehead Fern Salad in vinaigrette salad dressing.
I forgot what beverages we ordered.
Total bill was Php 3,767.50.
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| Superb Pinoy Dining Ambience! |
After the sumptuous dinner, the old Filipino way, we then departed this unique place via tricycles and arrived at the San Pablo City Medical Bus Station, wherein we rode a Cubao-bound bus at around 7:00 PM and arrived at 10:00 PM in Cubao. For me, even though I did not fully enjoyed most of the seven lakes we visited; it was the splendor of the adventure, hopping from one lake to another lake on a day-long road trip, which gives this type of trek a thumbs-up.
