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| Rizal Shrine in Calamba |
First on our itinerary was
the visit to Rizal’s ancestral home in downtown Calamba, which was converted
into the Rizal Shrine by virtue of former President Elpidio Quirino’s order way
back in the 1950s. Destroyed during the last world war, the original house was
restored under the supervision of the late Juan Nakpil, National Artist for
Architecture.
Inside the ancestral house, we were amazed to see a number of vestiges from a bygone era—furniture and fixtures, books and photographs, utensils and artifacts used during Spanish times, to name a few. Strangely, it felt like we were back in the 1860s as we moved from one room to another. Truly, it was one unforgettable trip down memory lane for me and my friends. |
| The foothills of Mt. Makiling |
Built at the foothills of
legendary Mt. Makiling, the said hideaway has several outdoor pools which are
fed by warm waters coming from the bowels of the earth. Surrounded by a
well-maintained landscape and natural garden settings, it is the perfect getaway
from the hubbub of urban life. Despite the steep prices of the food and
accommodations, our group decided to have our lunch there. Mind you, the Korean
fare was superb!
Even so, I’d think twice
about promoting the said resort whose name I’d rather not mention lest I'd be
giving them free media mileage and publicity they don't deserve. Truth be told,
my colleagues and I have no plans of going back there. The owners may not be
aware about it but the attitude of some of their staff, particularly the
receptionist, sucks!
Before having our lunch, she
told us point-blank that diners aren’t allowed to linger in the resort’s
premises, much less roam around and take pictures. I found that a rather
strange imposition since other resorts would spend so much just to get
publicity through good customer feedback which they can use to their advantage.
Maybe the arrogant, pea-brain receptionist hasn’t heard about the wonders of
word-of-mouth advertising.
Fascinated by the resort’s
natural charms, we lost track of time as we explored the place while taking
snaps here, there and everywhere, forgetting what we had promised to the
receptionist. We were having the time of our lives when another front desk
staffer appeared, telling us that it was time to go since we earlier committed
to do so right after dining.
One of my friends, however,
requested her to spare us a few more minutes. Instead of accommodating us, she
threatened to charge us an additional fee if we stay a minute more. Feeling
humiliated and irked by the staff’s inconsiderate behavior, my colleagues and I
packed our stuff and left.
I wonder if the resort’s
management had given their staff the basics of customer service. Have they
forgotten that old cliché about the customer being always right? A few minutes of picture-taking won’t cost
them a thing. On the contrary, it would up their chances of getting more clients
since a good word or two from us could bring in new customers, in droves at
that.
Despite that unfortunate
incident, I’d still love to come back to Calamba to take a dip in one of its
numerous hot springs. But one thing is certain: stepping into that resort whose
name spells one helluva double-digit hellhole would certainly be not part of my
itinerary. LOL! 
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| The Oblation in UPLB |
As reflected in the annals
of history, the city has played an important role in the lives of at least two
of our heroes. Rizal mentioned the town in his book El Filibusterismo.
Meanwhile, Mabini was said to have stayed there to seek the cure to his
paralysis.
If there’s one thing I’d
love to do if I have more time in Los Baños, it would be to scale the heights
of mystical Mt. Makiling where many poets, writers and musicians have drawn
inspiration for their work. Probably the city’s foremost natural attraction,
the mountain offers numerous trails and destinations for hikers as well as camp
sites and picnic ground for campers and picnickers.
Faced by the inroads of
rapid urbanization, I can only wish that this “city in the mountain” would go
to great lengths to make sure that its environment, particularly the
biodiversity of its most famous natural attraction isn’t threatened by illegal
logging, wildlife poaching and encroachment of settlers.
That’s why this time, I
suggested to my hosts that we drop by Sta. Rosa and take a peek at the recent
wave of developments around the city, particularly the one they called
Nuvali. Imagine real estate leader Ayala
Land putting together everything under one roof—technology, education,
employment, food, arts and entertainment—within a sprawling area in Sta. Rosa.
The result? Nuvali, a 1,600-hectare massive complex that’s considered the
largest, master-planned boom town in the whole country.
En route to Tagaytay on a
cold Saturday morning, we sneaked into this state-of-the-art enclave—which
undoubtedly has placed the city of Sta. Rosa at the forefront of green
development with functional living. Brief as it was, the visit to Nuvali
boosted our spirits, turning us into nutty characters for a few hours. Ah, the
things that stormy weather and Nuvali can do to free spirits—they bring out the
nutty in you! LOL!
All told, Laguna amazed me
with its sought-after sights and perfectly planned progress. Why, it comes as
no surprise why many artists have drawn inspiration for their work from one of
the Philippines’ historical and natural hotspots. :D
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