San Pablo City: Stories in the City of Seven Lakes

June 8-9, 2013. This trip to the City of Seven Lakes is our plan B and it was worth it!

The aborted Mt. Cristobal climb led us to an equally exciting and inspiring adventure. I want to call it, Tricycle Diaries for the several trike ride we had to get to places we shouldn't and should be.

Our first trike ride was supposed to bring us to the jump-off. "Supposed to". That means, Manong Driver was not able to and we paid him P200 for not complying. I tried to keep my mouth shut and let Dex do all the talking but I still snapped. Oh that's so normal! I was really pissed-off that I did not bother to take a picture.

This was the tricycle that brought us back to San Pablo City from Dolores, Quezon. The driver was kind enough to drop us at a Lomihan in the City.

Trike number 2 :) Dolores-San Pablo

While we figure out what is Plan B, we had some lomi and puto.

Puto and Lomi. San Pablo's specialty!

As our tummies got full, we decided to just explore San Pablo, it being known as the City of Seven Lakes! We then grabbed some cash and looked for a place to stay. That means, another trike ride! :)

Tricycle number 3 :) Cute trike!

Blue Lemonade. Welcome Drinks at the Coco Palace Hotel

We stayed at the The Coco Palace Hotel. An affordable clean hotel that serves a refreshing blue lemonade as welcome drinks. Our overnight stay came with a complimentary breakfast.

Nightlife together after N years. For dinner, we strolled by Lake Sampaloc, the biggest and most popular of the 7 lakes. It was also recommended by the drivers citing the "night life" around it. We had isaw and bulaklak and a brief walk by the lake.

Tricycle number 4. Coco Palace to Sampaloc Lake

Barbeque Stalls

Isaw and bulaklak on sweet sauce

...and bottles of beer and pomelo flavored tanduay ice.

Stallion and Pomelo :)

...and grilled tilapia to match!

Scrumptious Tilapia

It is nice to again share a peaceful evening together over drinks after quite a long time. Quality time it is!

The following day, Sunday, we dropped by the Church before we hit Bunot Lake.

Tricycle number 6. Coco Palace to Cathedral

San Pablo City Church

Lake Hopping. We have decided to just see one lake and spend the whole afternoon there. The web suggested Bunot lake as a perfect site for picnic so we rode a jeepney bound for "Ilog". When we got-off, a resident told us that we should take Sabang Road in going to Bunot Lake.

Tricycle number 7. Somewhere to Sabang Road

We reached Bunot Lake at last! However, the picnic site was already closed. It has already become a residential area.

Bunot Lake

The residents near the lake suggested that we visit Lake Pandin instead. They assured us of its beauty and picnic area. They said it is where foreigners flock and celebrities shoot their films there.

Tricycle number 8. Bunot Lake to highway

We were advised to take a jeepney instead of a tricycle because of the distance. Lake Pandin is located at Brgy. Sto. Anghel, San Pablo City. It has a twin lake, Lake Yambo. These two lake are separated by a mountain, Mt. Mabilog.

The jump-off point is very visible. It has a signage at the left side of the road. There were children waiting for tourists by the entrance.

by the highway

We walked for approximately 10-15 minutes from the highway to Lake Pandin.

the way to Lake Pandin

Lake Pandin

Floating Cottages Rental is Php180 per person

No camping/ registration fee so pack-in, pack-out! :)

L-R: Nikka, Dexter, Jayjay. Smiles and chitchat over lunch :)

Lessons by the Lake. It seems that Dex and I are always blessed with kind and very interactive guides. These two kids, Nikka and Jayjay are inspirations to us. They live a simple and a bit hard life. Nikka, for instance is a very petite young girl. She has a hole in her heart. A condition that she has to deal with her entire life. She cannot get excited nor feel extremely happy. She will faint and that's critical for her. Nonetheless, she live her days with kindness and so much concern for her family. Her weekends are spent guiding tourists to Pandin Lake in exchange of anything their guests may give her.

Jayjay is a small boy with a big heart. I admire his brotherly concern for Nikka. "Wala po kasi sila nung ganto po.. nung bilog.. kaya po sinasama ko pag nag-gguide po ako dito."  Jayjay told us referring to Nikka's family's economic needs.

What I like most with these kids were their spontaneous remarks!

Kinsy: Bakit hindi kayo lumapit?
Jayjay and Nikka: Akala po kasi namin mag-i-english kami.

Jayjay to Dexter: Taga Pilipinas po ba kayo?

Dex: ("unintentionally" farts)
Nikka: (Laughing) Anlakas! Parang tambol!

Kinsy: (sneezing successively)
Nikka: (laughing) Ang cute. Parang boses daga.

These kids made our day!

Mangoes sprinkled with sugar and salt :)

We camped under a mango tree. That explains the above mouth-watering photo! Nikka and Jayjay got these for us.

At 4 o'clock pm, we packed and headed back to the highway, took a jeepney to San Pablo City and waited for a ride back to Manila in front of San Pablo Medical Center.

Itinerary/ Experience Cost:
Take Lucena bound bus at Buendia and get-off at SPMC (Medical) Php155
Tricycle to Cathedral (for the jeepney ride) Php25/ byahe
Jeep to Brgy. Sto. Anghel Php9
Floating Cottage Php180/ head
Guide fee is up to you :) The kids receive P20-P50 for a RT guideship