Travelling Overload

This travel is all about my 2 day’s tour experience in San Pablo City, Laguna to Lucban, Quezon.

  1. San Pablo City, Laguna – is a 1st class city in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 266, 068 people. It is located in the Southern portion of Laguna province, it is one of the oldest cities in the Philippines. By land area, it is the largest in the province of Laguna. Its population ranks sixth within the province after the cities of Calamba, Santa Rosa, Binan, San Pedro, and Cabuyao. The city is more popularly known as the “City of Seven Lakes” referring to the Seven Lakes of San Pablo: Lake Sampalok, Lake Palakpakin, Lake Bunot, Lake Pandin and Yambo, Lake Muhikap and Lake Calibato. San Pablo was part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lipa since 1910. On November 28, 1967, it became an independent diocese and became the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo.
  2. San Pablo, Lake Sampaloc – some small stores, or sari-sari stores, have bikes available for rent. You can rent a bike for 20 PHP (0.40 USD), which is cheap to rent, but with priceless returns. You can also just enjoy some barbecue with a pleasant view of the lake. Or perhaps, just bring your favorite board games and simply enjoy the moment like all the other locals or tourists around.
  3. San Pablo Cathedral – this is a Holy Door of Mercy for Pilgrims in this Year of Mercy for Catholics. The church was full on a Friday in the afternoon for the Holy Hour attesting to the local people’s religious devotion. The church has a romanesque architecture and was restored after the damage of World War II. In, 2015 the facade of the Cathedral was restored to its original design without the concrete crown added in the American Period. San Pablo City is also known for its lakes so after visiting the church, one can visit the many lakes in the area. One is located near the City Hall.
  4. Casa San Pablo – casa san pablo is a bed & breakfast at the heart of San Pablo City, Laguna. It is run by innkeepers devoted to making you experience the hospitality, warmth, and creativity of their hometown.
  5. Quezon Province – the province formerly known as Tayabas, was explored by the Spaniards in 1571 and 1572 when Juan de Salcedo visited and explored upon the order of the first Spanish Governor General of the Philippines, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. They passed through the central portion of Tayabas in his march across Laguna Province to Paracale. The following years, Salcedo led his famous expeditions around the northern coast of Luzon. He visited the “CONTRACOSTA” towns of Casiguran, Baler and Infanta. In 1574, Father Diego de Oropesa, who found a group of native barangays with their own culture and government, founded the municipality of Gumaca, then called Bumaka. The territory which now constitutes the province of Tayabas was at one time under the jurisdiction of various provinces. The southern and central portions, for example, were in 1585 under the jurisdiction of the province of Bonbon, sometimes called Balayan (now Batangas). the northern portion was divided between Laguna and Nueva Ecija, while the other portion was divided into the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque and Camarines. In 1591, Tayabas was created into a province under the name of Kalilayan. Its capital was the ancient town of Tayabas, now a barrio in the town of Unisan where ancient tombs and artifacts can be found. However, by the middle of the 18th century the provincial capital was moved to what is now the municipality of Tayabas. The year 1595 marked the spiritual birth of Quezon Province with its incorporation into the Diocess of Nueva Caceres. The first Catholic Bishop of the province was Fray Francisco Ortiga, an Agustinian Friar, while its first Alcalde Mayor was Don Simeon Alvarez, who served from 1625 to 1655. In September 7, 1946, President Manuel A. Roxas, by virtue of Republic Act No. 14 renamed the province to Quezon, in honor of the late President Manuel L. Quezon, the most illustrious son of Baler, formerly part of Quezon.