#mabitac

Laguna: VJP’s Easter Sunday Visita Iglesia 2011 24 Apr 2011

After accomplishing the Rizal Visita Iglesia last year, we’ve come up an itinerary for Laguna after reading traveler on foot’s Grand Laguna tour blog. Full blog at its best! Thanks to TRAVELLER ON FOOT, they’re the best!

We secured Laguna map first, inspect each location via wikimapia and be able to compose the route.

[6am] From Angono, we traveled to Tanay for us to be able to get to Laguna, particularly in Siniloan (Sinilóan is also a center of education, commerce and transportation, serving towns in eastern Laguna and some towns from the provinces of Quezon and Rizal. ~wikipedia).

From Tanay to Mabitac, Mabitac to Siniloan, Siniloan to Lumban, to Longos, to Paete, to Pakil and to Pangil.  We agree to what Traveller on Foot's blog, the journey going there via a winding path carved out from the slopes of the Sierra Madre was the greatest experience from this trip. Travel to and from Laguna on Easter Sunday became more favorable for us, there’s the regular transportation access available than doing it on traditional Maundy Thursday. We’re very fascinated by Laguna’s old churches, rich in history and culture.

We also jot down our expenses during the trip which includes fare expenses on public transportation and food. It only cost us less than a thousand pesos with  an extra expense to Tanay’s lighthouse after the Laguna trip.

Took us 2 jeepney rides from Angono. Kokonti lang ang byaheng Tanay na dumadaan via Double Highway-Angono-Binangonan. Mas accessible ang way to Tanay through Antipolo road. Sumakay kami ng Morong mula Angono at mula sa Angono patungong Tanay (It contains portions of the Sierra Madre Mountains and is bordered by Antipolo City in the northeast, Baras, Morong and Teresa in the west, General Nakar (Quezon Province) in the east, and Pililla, Santa Maria (Laguna province) as well as the lake Laguna de Bay in the south.).

P23 each - Angono to Morong P13 each – Morong to Tanay

[7:30am] Sa palengke ng Tanay makikita ang pila ng mga jeep papuntang Siniloan na accessible papuntang Laguna.

P41 each – Tanay to Mabitac

Jeepneys coming from the terminal in Tanay Rizal passed by Mabitac to unload passengers in the next town -Siniloan. From the jeepney terminal in Siniloan, travelers can take rides that would bring them to either Real in Quezon or to the rest of the lakeshore town up to the provincial capital in Sta. Cruz. – Traveller on foot

[8:20am] Arriving at Mabitac’s Our Lady of Candelaria parish was unbelievable. Napatalon ako sa tuwa! Sabi ko sa sarili ko, Welcome to Laguna! Malapit sa puso ko ang Mabitac dahil sa mga over-looking sights na gustong-gusto ko dahil parang sa Antipolo lang ito. Here’s a photo of Our Lady of Candelaria Parish na nadatnan naming may misa. Magaling ang batang kumanta ng salmo sa misang iyon. Maaliwas ang loob at labas ng simbahan, making me feel home.

Mabitac was an excellent hunting ground for wild game three centuries ago. Native hunters used numerous cave-ins or trap-ins called "bitag" in the local dialect. Hence, the place was referred to as "Mabitag" meaning, a place with plenty traps. -wikipedia

Our Lady of Candelaria Parish

Fronting Mabitac's Our Lady of Candelaria Parish; 126 steps entitles them to receive more blessings from their patroness -the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria (traveller on foot).

View from the stairs of Mabitac's church

Belfry

Backside of the church

[8:56am] From Mabitac, riding a jeep to Siniloan will cost around 8 pesos only. But we rode a tricycle instead, inihatid kami sa mismong simbahan which cost us P30. Not practical at all. There’s also an Easter mass celebration in Siniloan’s St. Peter & Paul Parish upon our arrival. It’s a huge local church community full of devotees.

Sinilóan lies between the plains of Sierra Madre Mountain and the Laguna de Bay, it is about 84 kilometres from Manila, passing Manila East Road or Marcos Highway, and about 113 kilometres via the South Luzon Expressway passing the town of Santa Crúz, the capital of the province. -wikipedia

Siniloan’s St. Peter & Paul Parish

[9:20am] Mula sa Siniloan ay sumakay kami ng jeep papuntang Sta. Cruz. Good thing we were situated beside the driver kaya nakapagtanong-tanong pa kami kay Manong driver. He’s nice dahil para s'yang tour guide, nakakahiya lang magtanong pa ng magtanong dahil baka makagulo sa pamamasada nya.

[10:05am] Arrived at Lumban. Kailangan daw sumakay ng tricycle patungong simabahan, ‘yun ang bilin ni Manong driver.

P27 each – Siniloan to Lumban P40 – tricycle to & from  Lumban church

Lumban’s San Sebastian Parish was a bit huge with a wonderful river fronting it. Lumban is the home of Lake Caliraya, a man-made lake often visited by nature lovers and sports people. Lumban is also known as the "Embroidery Capital of the Philippines", fine Jusi and Piña cloth are embroidered by hand, the finished product is worn by males as Barong Tagalog and Saya (Filipiña) by females, it is also being exported  –wikipedia.

Lumban’s San Sebastian Parish

Lumban church landmark 

Before going to Longos, we savor ourselves with a tinapay merienda along the highway.

P10 each – Lumban to Longos

Hindi kami ganu’n kasigurado noon kung mararating namin ang simbahan ng Longos sa Kalayaan, Laguna. Ang alam ko lang, isa sa mga hi-rated old churches itong Longos Church. We just leave our destiny to Manong driver. Konting lakarin lang pala mula sa highway ang simbahan, tanaw mula sa pagbaba sa sasakyan. Landmark: Exotik Restaurant.

Kalayaan is rectangular in shape, with a hilly terrain on most of its eastern side, while relatively flat on its western side. Its highest elevations are from 400 to 418 meters. These are found in Sitio Santo Angel, Malaking Pulo, and Cabuhayan in Barangay San Juan, and Sitio Lamao in Barangay San Antonio. Approximately three fourths of the total land area are with terrain 300 meters above sea level. Its lowest points are from 5 to 20 meters along the western sections of Barangays San Juan and Longos towards Laguna de Bay –wikipedia.

[11:05] Sa unang tingin, ito na yata ang simbahang may pinakamagandang facade kumpara sa mga nauna. Dismayado kami nang kaunti dahil renovated na pala ang loob ng simbahan, sala na din ng katandaan. May mga steel braces na ito  na nagsisilbing suporta sa itaas na bahagi ng simbahan.

Longos Church

Inside Longos Church

Naging maganda ang pag-uumpisa ng aming Visita Iglesia. Sariwang hangin at magandang tanawin. Hindi ko makakalimutan ang nagkalat na VIVA NPA na bandalismo sa iba’t ibang parte ng Laguna. Magkagayon pa man, ramdam pa rin naming ang pananatili ng katahimikan at kaayusan  sa lugar. Sunod na destinasyon ay Paete kung san dun din naming planong kumain.

P8 each - Longos to Paete

[11:30am] Stayed a lot  longer in Paete because we attended mass and ate our lunch as well.  Paete, Laguna, a town famous for its skilled woodcarvers and woodcrafts.

In the past, all religious images inside the church were carved and painted by the local residents of Paete, showcasing their mastery and skill of woodcarving. But maybe due to several earthquakes in the past, these masterpieces were destroyed along with the church. Santiago or St. James the Apostle is the patron saint of Paete –Laguna Travel Guide.

Paete's St. James The Apostle's Parish

Side view of Paete Church

Paete Landmark

Stolen shot from the woodcarving store.

The Church Murals in Paete were pretty big and historical.

The large paintings inside the church were executed by another notable son of Paete, Luciano Dans—these are the Langit, Lupa, Impiyerno (Heaven, Earth, Hell), and the large murals of St. Christopher. The church with all its ornate designs and architecture was completed in 1840. It sustained major damages in the earthquakes of 1884 and 1937. The only recorded history during this time was written under the auspices of the Spanish Roman Catholic Church -wikipedia.

Had lunch at Capati Kainan. May woodcarving na muebles ang Capati Kainan na siyang kaaya-aya sa bukana ng mumunting dampang ito at syempre pa masarap ang pansit nila! They also offer rice meals at very affordable prices. A plate of pansit only cost us P80 good for 2 to 3 persons, at dahil dalawa lang kaming kumain ay mayroon pa kaming take-out! Kaya kinailangan ko pang bumili ng ecobag para madala ito.

Pansit Bihon, a cup of rice and a cup of tableya for Ver. Pansit Canton for me.

carved muebles

and wall decors

our enourmous pansit plate

tableya

P202 – lunch P 35 – Ecobag P8 each - Paete to Pakil

[1:50pm] Pakil, home of the Turumba. Pakil Church has its grand white and gold retablos. Turumba commemorates the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary with seven pistang lupi. - http://www.ivanhenares.com

Pakil’s Centuries-old Church of San Pedro de Alcantara or The church of Pakil is one of the best preserved in Laguna. Built in 1684, it stands as a fine example of colonial baroque architecture. The church’s curlicue stonework and cherubs on the facade is enough to fascinate us. But the wonderment continues inside the 324 year old structure and continues further in stories that were passed on through generations. –traveller on foot.

Pakil's St. Peter of Alcantara Parish

St. Peter of Alcantara Parish interiors

Every part of the St. Peter of Alcantara Parish is a tasteful piece of folk religious art, from the mural of heaven, purgatory and hell by Jose Dans to the exquisitely carved retablo and the church’s heavily decorated façade, to the holy water font resting on the devil’s head -traveller on foot.

Pakil church's landmark

The altar

P8 each – Pakil to Pangil

[2:30pm]  Wala kaming ibang nakita kundi ang harapan ng simbahan sa Pakil dahil kasalukuyan itong sarado dahil siguro wala namang misa. Ang misa ay tuwing 6am, 9am at 5pm. Kumain lang kami ng isaw sa harap ng simbahan matapos magdasal gaya ng kinagawian simula umpisa saka bumatse na pabalik ng Siniloan upang makasakay ng Tanay pabalik sa pinagmulan.

The town's name is believed to have come from three coincidental circumstances: One historical version was that it was named after the fang of a wild boar called "Pangil" in the vernacular; another version accounts to the first native inhabitants of the place called "Pangilagan"; and the third version relates about the place being once dominated by the first pre-Spanish chieftain named Gat Paguil -wikipedia.

Pangil's Our Lady's Nativity Church

We bought some delicious fruits before going home, Pinya (pineapple), Kaimito (star apple) and Singkamas (turnip), which added weight on our ecobag. 

We practiced landscape photography at Tanay’s lighthouse in Bgy. San Isidro after our completion of Visita Iglesia, just in time for the sunset. It was a joyride experience and we noticed more of the sunset than the lighthouse. Link to our LANDSCAPE ATTEMPTS.

Tanay sa dapit-hapon | Tanay, Rizal | 24 Apr 2011

It was an easter Sunday full of prayer and fun, making our Lenten season more meaningful.Mission accomplished, hellyeah!

VJP's Easter Sunday Visita Iglesia @ Laguna  Laguna | 24 Apr 2011