We were out of the country only a week ago and I didn’t expect that we’d have plans for the Holy Week.  I was really thinking of staying in but was pleasantly surprised that Bubba had something up his sleeve for me.

Although it’s been on my Things to Do/Visit list for quite some time, it was Bubba who managed to pull off the Ugu Bigyan-Tahanan ni Aling Meding-Lake Pandin trip.  It was probably the best local trip he ever planned!

Casa San Pablo was Bubba’s first choice to reminisce our first trip together to San Pablo Laguna in early 2008.  However, I opened the idea of trying a new place –my choice in mind, Tahanan ni Aling Meding.

Wake up to the soothing view of Sampaloc Lake from the balcony of your room and relish the feeling of living at a mansion.  This house was built initially to be the rest/vacation house of the Borja family, whose whole family (11 siblings) is already based in the States.  The hotel serves as their own mansion for relaxation and family reunions and other events when they fly to the Philippines.

Tahanan ni Aling Meding opens up their big gates for folks who are visiting San Pablo City, it’s your secret hide-away residence in Laguna.

Type of Rooms:

1 Family Room PHP 5,500

(5 beds for 6 persons)

1 Honeymoon Room PHP 3,500

(1 queen-size bed)

This is the room Bubba got.

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Closet

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There’s computer desk for your laptops.

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2 Superior Rooms PHP 3,500

(2 beds)

4 Executive Rooms PHP 3,000

(2 beds)

2 De Luxe Rooms PHP 2,500

(2 beds)

Amenities:

*Wi-fi Zone

*Aircon

*Cable TV

*Swimming Pool (7am-10pm only)

*Hot and Cold shower

*Refrigerator

*Telephone

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At breakfast the next day, we noticed a table of foreign guests and a lot of families staying in Tahanan ni Aling Meding.  Two families enjoyed swimming at Tahanan’s pool.  We had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Wilson Borja and sharing a breakfast conversation with him –reminiscing how the whole Mansion started.

Tahanan ni Aling Meding

Dagatan Blvd., Sampaloc Lake,

San Pablo City, Laguna

Manila Line: (632) 520 6089

Laguna Line: (049) 562 5951/ (049) 562 5855

Email: admin@tahanan.info

How to Get There:

(From Tahanan ni Aling Meding Brochure)

Coming from Manila, after San Pablo border, stay on the Maharlika Highway.  You will see a Caltex station to the left, immediately before a fork in the highway.  The right side of the fork leads straight to Lucena, the left leads to San Pablo City Proper.  Take the left road.  At the junction to Calauan, take the main avenue to your right.  This is Rizal Ave.  Turn left at the corner of San Pablo Central School.  Follow the road beyond the City Hall.  As soon as you see the lake, turn left on the perimeter road (actually more of a sharp U-turn).  Tahanan will be to your left.

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Reminiscent: Jay’s Kinabuhayan.  Elusive: Kusina Salud.  Revisit: Palmera’s.

During this trip, we fought the urge to drop by at Jay’s Kinabuhayan Café to just say hello.  We remembered our fantastic time at Jay’s eating that delicious spiced chicken and greens/flower salad of his.  After that lunch in 2008, we also had some bonding time with Jay and his trustee aide and friend and some of his pet animals over some smooth lambanog –yes we were drinking at 3 in the afternoon!  After which, we had a short trip at Kubli Springs and took an energizing dip while playing some guitar music.  Good times, yeah.

We missed to try Kusina Salud last time we were in town.  Bubba has been trying to contact Kusina Salud since Tuesday that week to no avail.  Nobody seems to answer the phone or maybe we have the wrong or an old number.    It was included in the plans to have dinner there that evening.  Unfortunately, since we weren’t able to place our reservations, we hesitated to walk-in. 

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Palmera’s restaurant was again recommended to us.  When it was being described, I felt that I knew the place.  And I was right.  We dined there in 2008.  We were supposed to go to Jay’s Kinabuhayan Café for dinner that day but ended up going to Palmera’s instead because of fear of getting lost and rebel attack (?).

Bubba couldn’t remember that we ate there until we walked inside the place.  Palmeras’ has its own appeal as a grill-resto-bar that offers live music on certain nights.  Bubba ordered Crispy Tilapia slightly recalling that he liked it the first time we were there.  My order was grilled liempo and hot calamansi juice.

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Before Shot

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He massacred the tilapia

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A sweet smug smile.

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Whatta really large snake!!!

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He in fact did like it and finished the three tilapias.  We drove back to Tahanan ni Aling Meding to retire for the night.  Bubba’s plan didn’t end there.  The next day after checking out, we headed straight to this “secret” place Bubba has been keeping under wraps.

I was very much in the know about the Ugu Bigyan and Tahanan ni Aling Meding plans but he cooked up something special for me –a simple outdoor lunch at Lake Pandin.

Lake Pandin

Lake Pandin is one of the seven lakes, called Pitong Lawa, in San Pablo, Laguna.  We reached the gateway point and parked our car.  Aling Siona, the wife of Mang Tano, who Bubba corresponded with regarding our reservation that day, welcomed us and guided us in the trail. 

It was a 10-15 minute trail walk to Lake Pandin.  Bubba asked me if the trek feels like the Kabigan Falls trek we did in Ilocos Norte.  I said it was a bit the same but there were more scenery in the previous trek I think.  He knows I have my qualms on trekking but I like it better than hiking.  I’ve never hiked in my entire life.

Mang Tano and wife are part of the group (“samahan” in Filipino) who escorts the visitors –they are the same group that live nearby the lake and make a living out of fishing and the Pandin Lake tours.  Nowadays, it’s all ladies who paddle the raft because the “men” felt a bit awkward in the past when foreign guests wear only their skimpiest.

The idea is they serve your lunch on the bamboo raft and the lady paddlers will take you across the lake at a quiet corner with shade.  Enjoy nature’s breeze in Pandin Lake while eating your lunch made by the locals. 

I was taken by the calming beauty of Pandin Lake.  The sun was out but we didn’t feel the heat –just the cool wind whispering softly in our ears.  We had the view of the lush greens at every corner. 

Lunch was simple but tastes good.  We loved the little shrimps in coconut milk (gata).  And despite having tilapia the night before, Bubba was able to finish the 3 tilapias on the table again -this time grilled instead of deep fried. 🙂

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After lunch, Bubba and I relished the calmness of the scenery and stillness of time.  We look out at the “docking port” where we came from and felt so on our own.  Our minds were very relaxed… while my body was such in a tranquil moment. 

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Our Fun Rapid Shots (Neoprint style photo sesh haha)

*WARNING*

Might be too cheesy for those with strong gag reflexes.

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Our “Pose Ode” to Madz *salute*

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More Photos:

In his own time.

Bubba with the pink paddle.

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Thought-bubble: “This is just so nice.”

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Yea, I have a tummy. 

I tried to exercise but with my eating habits…

there will always be a happy bump there in the mid-section.

Sexy ain’t in my dictionary.

Never mind, I’m happy.

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The lady paddlers resting as we were resting.

A coconut suddenly fell, almost on the head of Marlyn.  We all laughed.

Out of relief.

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Bubba and Boozie-la

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At peace with nature.

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Back to the roots.

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“Initiation?”

“Baptism of Fire?”

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Oh no!

I wasn’t trained for this. 😀

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After a couple of hours in this peaceful setting, we decided to head back.  If only I didn’t promise “Moms” that I’d be in Manila for dinner-out, we’d be staying until past 5PM.  Bubba helped in paddling back to shore. 

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The Baranggay Tanod who makes us feel safe.

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It was a short 20-minute paddle, where we bonded with our raft paddlers, Marlyn, Malou and Nik. 

Ate Marlyn, Ate Malou and Nik

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The Other Lady Paddlers

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The Baranggay Tanod who protectively watched us from afar and helped us trek back to the parking lot.

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You can opt to take the ride at PHP 180 and with lunch, an additional PHP 180.  We enjoyed the afternoon so much that Bubba gave PHP 500 as extra.  If you plan to visit and you enjoy it tremendously, please feel free to leave an extra for the community locals.  They earn here through integrity and hard work that it’s so easy to give from the heart.

The Afternoon at Lake Pandin

It’s one of those afternoons I will long remember.  Tranquil.  Serene.  Rural.  This was the part where we most felt recluse from the world.

Bubba and I shared varying moments here.  There were moments we talked.  Moments we took photos.  Moments we look out to the world… …even moments where we each had our own thoughts, devoid of the other’s presence. 

Being enclosed in the rural surroundings is a humble reminder that life started out simple.  And in simplicity, we are in touch more with our inner selves.

Lake Pandin

Baranggay Santo Angel

San Pablo, Laguna

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