Siete Lagos FUNLakwatsa

The Seven Lakes is located in San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines. The city is famous for them for it attracts a lot of tourists. I have heard of them a long time ago and some people say there are only five and the other two doesn't exists. So WAFP agreed to go for an adventurous trip in search of the seven lakes. We gathered a lot of information on how to locate these lakes before going because there are lakes which are accessible while some of them are far-off that it needs some time to be reached which made the trip more interesting!

These lakes are said to be "maars".  So what is "maars"? Maars are low-profile volcano craters and among the 200 small monogenetic volcanoes found along a rift zone between  Mt. Makiling and Mt. Banahaw. Whew!  Did you get that? That is hard to understand! Well in short they are craters of an ancient volcanoes. These lakes has legends which the locals believed to be its origin. Well, wherever and however they come to existence, I cannot deny the fact the these bodies of water has become the favorite subject of adventurers!

Our quest started at  Calibato Lake.  Calibato is the farthest among the seven lakes from the city proper. It is located in Barangay Sto. Angel and it is said that Calibato is the youngest and the deepest among the seven lakes. Trekking is required before we reached the lake, but I have to remind you that the trail is rocky and slippery, I guess that is where its name was derived. "Calle" the spanish word for street and the tagalog word "bato". Anyway, there are residents within the shore of the lake, and fishing is their main source of income. There are also fish pens which grows "tilapia". From the shore a waterfalls on the other side of the lake is visible, they call it "Nagalagas Falls".

After a lot picture taking we went off to the next lake, Lake Pandin I consider this lake as the most charming of them all. You only need to hike for 10-15 minutes from the main road before you could reach this lake unlike with Sampalok Lake which can easily be reached. What is good with this place is that you can stay and enjoy the light breeze cooled by the lake while cruising and eating lunch in the middle of it! This place is highly recommendable for family quick weekend getaways and also for friends and relatives or even company outings. The association of women in Pandin Lake are the ones in charge of preserving the lake, they keep the area maintained for its protection.

They also serve lunch of grilled tilapia and pork belly, shrimp cooked in coconut milk, "pako" salad and rice for only 400 pesos (raft ride included) to tourists.

Lying near Pandin Lake is Yambo Lake, they say they're twin craters! The lake is accessible by a 5-minute trek on a rough trail from Pandin Lake and then you can get the view of the lake from a narrow strip of land at the end of it. The raft paddlers in Pandin usually takes tourists to the path going to Yambo Lake. Like the Pandin Lake, Yambo provides fishermen with a good catch of "tilapia" and small shrimps for their living.

After a heartful lunch at Pandin Lake, we continued our quest for the fourth lake, the Mojicap Lake. You can get this view of the lake by descending on a concrete steep stair, only you have to be very careful because some steps are already weak. The viewpoint is just a narrow path where some residents are staying. Taking turns for photo opportunity is recommended so as to avoid pile-up in the area. Locals offers raft rides on the lake for a minimal fee, they mentioned that a cave exists in the area where tourists can go spelunking, but I am not so sure what to see in that cave because we haven't gone there. We took some pictures of the lake and its beautiful reflections and headed to the next lake which is just a few kilometers away from Mojicap Lake.

Fifth lake and just a few kilometers away from Mojicap Lake is the picturesque Palakpakin Lake.
This lake is located Barangay San Buenaventura, you need to take a tricycle from the main road for it is the only transportation available if you don't have a private vehicle. Just tell the driver to take you to the lake and they will guide you to where the lake is best viewed. This photo was taken from Palakpakin bridge, a better location than the first one we had been earlier. And from there, we had a very spectacular image of the blue lake adorned with coconut trees and the overlapping backdrop of Mt. Banahaw and Mt. Cristobal. Isn't that very rewarding? Fish cages on the lakes grows "tilapia" and silver carps which is the source of livelihood of the residents of Palakpakin.

Fasten your seat belts for we our heading to the sixth lake to visit, the Bunot Lake. 
Lake Bunot can be reached by taking a jeepney from the main avenue just ask the driver to stop by Carmelite Road in Barangay Concepcion, it is just a few kilometers away from the city proper if you don't have a private vehicle. This view was taken from the residential houses along the shore, some places with a good view of the lake has been fenced and we can't just get through it. The lake is known for cultured tilapia and its fingerlings.

The temperature on that day was severely hot! We have to take a break and get something to cool down and that happened on our next stop. The last but not the least lake to visit...Sampalok Lake!

This lake is the biggest among the other lakes and the most accessible, being just around the vicinity of City Hall. It has also become the prime tourist destination for its shoreline has been developed into parks where people can stay, relax and watch the splendid view of nature around the lake. There are also food stalls and restaurants selling snacks sold in affordable prices so tourists can enjoy their stay along the lake. You can also come early and catch the sunrise or stay until the end of the day to watch the sunset. Try it!

Oh well our mission has been accomplished and the curiosity about the seven lakes is finished! I know these lakes just looks similar with each other, they are all bodies of water and I know some people would find it boring but the thrill of this adventurous expedition with friends is something that is highly memorable and you must go for it! IT IS A WAFPER'S DELIGHT!!

How to get there? If you are taking a public transport, take a bus going to Lucena, get off at San Pablo City. Hire a tricycle and ask the driver to take you to the lakes, there are drivers who can do lake tour for a negotiated fare. I suggest Roldan with mobile no. 09214230596, he do lake tours just advise him before going.

If you like to have lunch in Pandin Lake you can contact Mam Tina at mobile no. 09079952983 and make arrangements with her.

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Cagbalete Island

A perfect place for a summer get away, a paradise waiting to be discovered. Located in the Lamon Bay fronting the Pacific Ocean in Mauban Quezon, with a total of  3 hours travel time from Manila to Mauban Quezon and another 45 minutes boat ride to the island.Mauban is a tranquil little town, where people live in peaceful simplicity. An island inhabited by peaceful and friendly people.The place is so relaxing, so peaceful, not crowded and not commercialized. Staying on the island for a few days is enough to get rest and recharged. There are six resorts in Cagbalete Island, Villa Cleofas, MVT Sto Nino, Pensacola Beach Resort, Dona Choleng Camping Resort, Joven Blue Sea Beach Resort & Villa Noe Beach Resort.The Sabang port is the main port where you can catch the boat or walk 0 mins to one of the chosen accommodation like Villa Cleofas. The cottages are so simple and the amenities are basic. There are no TV, just a few electric fans and beddings but don't worry you still have a very good night sleep. You have the option of bringing your own food to BBQ or ordering specific food for a minimal fee. There are two comfort rooms at the back of every cottage, for shower and toilet. By the way there is no electricity from 5am to 6pm. So recharge your gadgets during night time .Some of the activities that the island offer are camping, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, horseback riding, bird watching and fishing or you can just lay on the hammock to watch the sun rise and set on the horizon or sit in the sand and feel the beauty of the nature.
The highlights of the trip ….*Bonsai Island, only few steps from Cleofas Resort, is an islet that only shows up during low tide and disappears when high tide. It has small trees, rock formations and some white birds. Photo by Desiree Panganiban

*During low tide, the water recedes up to 1 km from the shore, exposing 3.6 km stretch of amazing white sand ripples.Photo by Say “Lakwatchera” Bernardo

*Experiencing Cagbalete’s dramatic sunset with Mt. Banahaw in the picturePhoto by Say “Lakwatchera” Bernardo *Villa Cleofas has the best view of the sunrise that will greet you beautifully in the morning. Photo by Say “Lakwatchera” Bernardo
*Exploring the river that connects to the sea - a brackish water w/c is a combination of fresh and sea water.*Cagbalete is home to several species of birds and even just in our resort we would see dozens of sand pipers, a few bright blue-colored kingfishers and the occasional migratory egret.*For divers and snorkeling fanatics, underwater exploration is a treat for it’s diverse and colorful marine life. What I love about this island is the calmness and serenity of the place. Cagbalete Island is nature at it’s purest form ….Another wonderful experience to cherish for a long time.Photo by Melvin Pulayan 
Article written by Say “Lakwatchera” Bernardo, photo hobbyist, choir president, coop chairman ap/ar controller - angel city logistics and an active WAFP and FUNLakwatsa member.This Article was published in HKNews June 2014 IssueFor more photos, follow this link FUNLakwatsa Cagbalete Island - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.604659426278955&type=1