Pagsanjan (Laguna)

I have been to several places in the Province of Laguna, which boasts of a lot of great tourist spots. Funny thing about this was that, it was only last March 1, 2014 that I finally explored the tourist capital of Laguna, which was the municipality of Pagsanjan. 

Since Pagsanjan has been famous for its Pagsanjan Falls, me and my friends obviously decided to finally visit this town and experience why a lot of people have gone gaga over the so-called “Shooting the rapids” towards the falls. 

To make this trip more comfortable with less hassles, instead of a road trip, we opted to enlist the services of a vendor, TRIPinas Travel and Tour Ventures, which has been my chosen vendor in my past trips to Taal Volcano Island and Mount Pinatubo. 

We first assembled at the McDonald’s branch at the corner EDSA and Buendia at 7:00 AM, and after a brief orientation with the TRIPinas coordinator as well as signing waivers and paying our balances, we then rode a rented van towards our destination. We were told not to give in to requests for tips from certain boatmen since they would be paid a substantial amount from your tour package payment. 

Arriving at the Pagsanjan Falls Lodge and Summer Resort, located in Barangay Pinagsanjan, at 10:00 AM, we then posed for arrival pics and proceeded to the reception area to get our keys for our rented lockers in order to place our things, which we would not need during the trip to the Falls. Make sure to waterproof all the things you would be bringing at this point because you will be 100% soaking wet. 

Arrival at Pagsanjan Falls Lodge

Before we started with our “Rapids experience”, we were all required to wear safety gear, and off we went towards our destination via Bumbungan River, riding on dugout canoes. These are boats made from a hollowed tree trunk, which could accommodate up to three passengers, excluding the two boatmen. 

Dugout Canoes

As the boat initially plied an area called Sitio Cubao, you could see several communities happily indulging in various activities such as swimming, cooking, doing laundry stuff, and other forms of merry-making, even to the extent of greeting visitors from the shore. 

Laundry Time

This was the time wherein I realized that wearing pants was a must due to the heat of the sun burning my legs. I was wearing trek shorts then grrrrrrr. 

Toasted Legs!

Anyway, before entering the Canyon, called the Pagsanjan Gorge Tourist Zone (PGTZ), all boats would make a short stopover at an Entrance Tollgate "Balsa". Yes, they have a tollgate on water.

Entrance Tollgate "Balsa"

Apart from rowing against the current, the boatmen would sometimes literally carry the boat once it passes by protruding rocky areas or narrow pathways with the help of fitted pipes inserted among the rocks. 

Boatmen Guiding the Canoe

 

Reaching the halfway mark at 11:00 AM, we stopped by at an area for picture taking near a store and beside the Talahib Falls, which was the first waterfall encountered by boat riders heading to Pagsanjan Falls.

Talahib Falls

When we reached the so-called Banca Garage, we alighted our canoes and trudged a rocky path towards the Natural Pool, wherein there were balsas waiting to be utilized in order for the tourists to experience crossing a huge waterfall curtain towards the Devil’s Cave.

Before riding the Balsa

 
As we hopped on the balsa, loads of excitement and tension filled us up as we slowly closed in on the Devil’s Cave…What would be the feeling of being “massaged” by cascading water?..Can our waterproof equipment, containing our wallets and cellphones, withstand the might of nature? 

Nearing the Falls

As expected, a myriad of screams enveloped as we entered the curtain…very cold indeed! 

Once inside the Devil’s Cave at 11:30 AM, we all took a dip, but taking good photos in this area was very difficult due to mist coming from the Falls. Utilize only a waterproof camera on a Pagsanjan Falls trip!

Inside the Devil's Cave

Enjoying the experience!

Departure from Devil's Cave

When we went back at the Banca Garage after being completely doused with water, we posed for a farewell shot near the most popular tourist spot in Pagsanjan, and at 12:40 PM, we disembarked our boats back at the Lodge. 

Farewell to the Falls

Mission Accomplished!

Back at the Lodge

With hunger creeping in, we sped off to eat lunch at the Calle Arco Restaurant along Rizal Street. It is one of the most famous restaurants in Pagsanjan serving Filipino dishes. Calle is Spanish for street and Arco means arch. Calle Arco is located along the street where you can find the town’s arch — Puerta Real.  

Calle Arco Restaurant

Great nostalgic ambience! 

Paco Salad with Kesong Puti

Pork Binagoongan

Enjoying late lunch

Ronaldo Cabrega, the owner, said that this was their ancestral house they converted into a restaurant and bed and breakfast. 

We ordered their specialties such as the Sinigang na Baka and Langka, Pork Binagoongan, Paco Salad with Kesong Puti, and many more. 

Famous for its majestic falls, Pagsanjan is also home to the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The image was brought to the Philippines in the 17th century by a Mexican missionary and was later on enshrined at the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Church in 1687. 

Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Church

The original church was built in 1668 made of of nipa and bamboo and eventually rebuilt using tiles by Chinese Miguel Guan Co and the chief Alguacil Alferez Alonzo Garcia in 1690. 

We then visited Pagsanjan’s famous Halo-Halo joint. The “Aling Taleng's Halo-Halo” has been in the business since 1933 in Pagsanjan, Laguna. Their Signature Halo-Halo was worth Php 75.00. Sarap indeed!

Aling Taleng's Halo-Halo

 

Halo-Halo Experience!

Last but not the least, a Pagsanjan trip would definitely not be complete without a photo right next to the Puerta Real (Town Gate).

Puerta Real

 
This structure is the most strategic and historical landmark of Pagsanjan. This 124 year old town gate was constructed in 1878-1880. It was inaugurated in 1884 by Don Pedro A. Paterno, and was restored in 1975 by then Mayor Gregorio F. Zaide, an internationally known historian. 

This stone gate recalls the legendary miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the town's beloved Patroness. In December 8, 1877, terroristic bandits led by Tankad came to loot and plunder the town, it is said that here they were stopped by a luminous apparition of a beautiful lady holding aloft a shining sword. To express their gratitude, the Pagsanjeños erected the ornate stone gate on the very line drawn by her sword. 

Laguna has always astounded me with its beauty and splendor in various aspects such as nature, its culture, and its people, so if you have not been to the tourist capital of Laguna, you are missing a lot! 

Explore Pinas!