Not Your Ordinary Los Baños…
Some of the places worth visiting when in Los Baños.
I consider Laguna my home province and this is the first time I will be writing about Los Baños. (Minsan kasi you tend to overlook the place where you grew up and ‘tourist spots’ just becomes an ordinary thing that you don’t care to write about it na) So I’m hoping that I would do justice in promoting what I consider my home town- Los Baños.
Los Baños is from a Spanish word “baño” used with “los” means many bathtubs (mga banyo in Tagalog). Los Baños is known even of old for its rejuvenating hot springs. But Los Baños is not only about hot springs. Read on to know more about ELBI.
When I think of Los Baños, I think of 5 things:
1. UPLB. Although I’m not a graduate of this University, people always talk about this when they learn that I’m from ELBI. They would talk of the nice and cold weather and the many trees in the campus. Among the many things you can find in UPLB, what makes this school special is the active lifestyle of the people. This has become my training ground for running.
The iconic Baker Hall at the heart University of the Philippines- Los Baños
2. Mt. Makiling. Only a few know that this mountain when seen from Calamba looks like a reclining sexy maiden. Her head, breasts and legs are so obvious but you need perfect timing and good weather to see those as most of the time its covered with clouds. Next time you are in Calamba or driving towards SLEX, take a peek of the mountain and you might be lucky enough to the majestic beauty of Mt.Makiling. Better yet, experience the thrill of the forest by having a short trek to Flat Rocks or Mudspring. For serious hikers, you can also try the 4-hour major climb to Peak 2.
The lake on the bay of Mayondon with Mt. Makiling on the background.
3. Laguna de Bay. “Laguna” is a Spanish word for lake and “Bay” (a town of Laguna province pronounced as Ba’i) is actually the original capital of the province, so calling it Laguna Lake is redundant. Laguna de Bay is the largest lake in the Philippines, the 3rd in Southeast Asia. An important mode of transportation during the Spanish and American Period. As of this writing I’m the only one who offers a “tour” that gives one an experience of riding a local fisherman’s banca.
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This serves as my entry for the May edition of PTB Blog Carnival with the theme: “MY HOMETOWN.” Mhe-Ann of My Comings and Goings hosts this months blog carnival. For previous Blog Carnival topics, do click the Blog Carnival Logo on the right side of the post.
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4. Buko Pie. Every weekend, The Original’s and Lety’s Buko Pie are always jam-packed with customers who like to buy some “pasalubongs” back home. Have a taste of ELBI, buy from Lety’s as its more creamy but I suggest you buy the Pineapple pie (so you taste Calauan too). Price: Buko Pie- Php150; Pineapple Pie- Php145
5. Hot Springs. As if the town of Los Baños is synonymous with the swimming pools abounding in every corner, originally called “Mainit” (Tagalog word for “hot”) because of the natural hot springs. These hot springs were actually used by the Franciscan priests when healing their parishioners. Want to visit the original spot were the Spanish friars build the hot bath tubs? Go to Bambang’s “Agua Santa Resort” and see the ruins.
The original site of the Spanish healing baths that started in the 17th century.
Don’t be contented with just reading this post. You can book a day tour for only Php300 (all-in- transpo within ELBI, food and entrance fees) where you can visit all of these and more. For more info visit the ELBI Tour Page.
Some of the places that you will see when you book the tour:
Old port used by Yangco Steamboat Company. Laguna de Bay was used go from Manila to Los Baños
Gen. Paciano Rizal’s ancestral house. In front of this house also lies his remains.
Immaculate Concepcion Church. Originally built in 1671 but burned down by fire in 1727. It was rebuilt in 1851.
Fertility tree with the Carillon Tower at the back.
International Rice Research Institute.
What are you waiting for, tell your friends and visit Los Baños now!
I’m offering a free tour!
INQUIRE or BOOK a tour now!
Wow James, free tour! You can also include a visit to the Museum of Natural History in addition to Mud Spring and Flat Rocks at Mt. Makiling.
yes, count me in.
Hi James, me and my family just went to ELBI dis weekend. And we saw the Crocodile Crater, I am interested to know more about it, do you have any info? Thanks 🙂
that’s in tadlac. its swimmable and they say that it was a product of a volcanic activity hundreds of years ago. they named it that way bec locals say they saw a crocodile before pero wala naman crocodile dun. others caled it alligator lake din pala. that’s everything i know.
Uy free tour! Kelan ba yan? =]
anyday basta may 4 na tao, go tayo! just contact me ahead of time
thank you again for the 500 day elbi challenge. It was worth the trip kahit inulan tayo…
I first visited Elbi back in 2008 and I came back last year in August . I will never forget Aug 18 2010. There was a storm back then.I had to meet a friend and I met someone so nice and beautiful…Thats when I fell in love with Elbi.. Knowing Elbi is such a fantastic experience. And that is somethng I really miss until now…. (big time)
chinchan, glad you were with the group of testers that eventful saturday. hahaha
kapag pumupunta ka ng elbi palaging may ulan.. bkit kaya?
It’s nice to take pictures in IRRI. Ganda ng green fields dun ano. Yung sa mga palay nila.
yes yes yes aleah! very serene at relaxing yung breeze ng air. sarap tumambay lang lalo na sa hapon.
Are you from elbi? 🙂 Dito ako ngcollege.
yes, i am. nice to know, i bet you are missing elbi, the fresh air and siomai haha
Ay free tour! dapat yata mag-organize ang PTB ng tour sa LB. Been to LB several times, it’s a good day trip from manila, pero ni minsan di pa ako nakapunta ng house ni paciano rizal.
hi kuya james!. I’m doing my report about Los Banos and your blog helps me a lot. Thank you!. 🙂
hi nicole! glad that it was of help. dont forget to credit the blog ha. regards to your parents, dianne and jonathan!
comment lang po sir. yung agua santa po, sa may brgy. bambang po yun. hindi sa mayondon. correction lang po. thanks 😀
yes, you’re right. i already edited the post. thanks sir don for the correction!
I’ve always wanted to tour UPLB…I have this flair for exploring UP campuses (out of frustration since I’ve always wanted to study in UP!)…Maybe this year when i get to go back in Manila i’ll drop by laguna too. Is the free tour offer still on? hehe. I hope so. I’ve been to Laguna, tried one of the hotsprings and ate the buko pie too. But the rest of your lists seems interesting. Why not coconut!!!
chanced upon your blog while looking for things to do in laguna. my family’s going there this weekend. would have liked to avail of your free tour (not only because it’s free but because it’s always interesting to have someone knowledgeable share a town’s history and culture, one learns a lot through that), but seeing that you’re on the road yourself at the moment… next time, maybe.
congratulations to your nearly finished 100 days of backpacking.
hats off to you too for promoting affordable travels. will be doing that soon too.
sorry about that, let me know still. i will be in elbi this weekend.
thanks alot belle!
Hi!
My bestfriend and I are planning to visit Los Baños on November 20. But we are not sure what place to visit first. Hope you could help us! Thanks a lot 🙂
Des
Hi James,
Good morning! My club members -Olderhood International Club( OIC), would love to visit Los Banos for a week-end Get-away this February 21-22, 2015.
We surely want to visit more interesting places to see apart from the hot spring and those you mentioned here in your blog.Any new or recently developed tourist attractions you can inform us? Are you still available to do tours?
I would certainly appreciate your kind response soon.
Sincerely yours,
Rose Arguil
Head- OICPHIL.
i’ve heard of the better-than-sex cake is a must try.. hehehe sana nga ma-try ko..
Immaculate conception parish alao known as Nuestra Senora de agua santas..was d hospital chapel dedicated to our lady…come and visit d parish soon to be Diocesan Shrine of Oura Lady Of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Waters..