Sampaloc Lake: 2012

Lawa ng Sampalok by Paul Jensen Lara

Sampaloc Lake Photos by Paul Jensen Lara

Sampaloc Lake Photos by Gerard Morales Tolentino

Sampaloc Lake Photos by Gerard Morales Tolentino

San Pablo City Trivia

San Pablo was formerly called Sampaloc and San Pablo de los Montes
It was founded by Fr. Hernando Cabrera in 1678.
San Pablo was annexed to Batangas in 1756 by Gov. de Aranda
It was returned to Laguna in 1848.
San Pablo was declared a city on May 7, 1940 by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 520.
San Pablo City is situated on a plateau 485 ft. above sea level on the lower slopes of Mt. Marayap
The Cathedral of St. Paul the Hermit was first built with light materials by Fr. Mateo Mendoza in 1586. The second church, made of brick and stone, was built in 1629 by Father Hernando Cabrera. The present building was built in 1714 by Fr. Francisco Eloriaga on a foundation laid down by Fr. Juan Labao in 1680.
The Franklin Baker Dessicated Coconut Factory is the world's largest.
Lake Pandin and Lake Yambo are called twin lakes because they are about the same size and share a common ridge on one side
Villa Escudero, located 10 kms. south of San Pablo City, is an 800-hectare coconut plantation purchased by Placido Escudero and wife Claudia Marasigan in the late 18th century.
The AERA Memorial Museum, at Villa Escudero, houses the collections (began on June 29, 1923) of Arsenio and Rosario (nee Adap) Escudero and run by the AERA (acronym of the founders’ names) Memorial Foundation. It is housed in an exact replica of the beautiful San Francisco Church in Intramuros (destroyed during the liberation of Manila and now occupied by Mapua Institute of Technology).

You can burn 145-765 calories in 30 minutes of biking.It depends on how much you weigh and how fast your bike is. But Biking in Sampaloc Lake would definitely give another dimension in burning calories. The scenic charm are worth seeing while you pedal and burn those fat.

Professional bikers can finish the entire lap for only 15 minutes by biking around the lake. For Beginners, they can finish the entire route for 1 hour.

Tips when biking at Sampaloc Lake

You could warm up by walking up and down on the 89-step concrete stairway for 15 minutes.
If you don't have a bike, you could rent a bike for only Php50 per hour.
It's more fun to bike with a buddy or group of friends.
Best time to bike is between 6:00 to 8:00 am
Buko Juice are available or food stall around the lake are selling bottled water.

How to make a Pancit Buko

Ingredients

3-4 cups grated buco

1 large chicken breast (cooked, flaked)

1 large onion sliced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 carrot, thin strips

10 pcs stringbeans sliced diagonally, 1′ long

1 cup shreaded cabbage

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

2 tbsp patis

salt to taste

2 tbsp chopped kintsay

2 tbsp cooking oil

Instructions

Saute garlic in hot oil. Add onion. Then, stir in pork, shrimps, chicken. Season with patis. Cook for another 3 minutes, then, pour in chicken broth. Simmer for 10 minutes and add vegetables.

When vegetables are almost done, set aside 1 cup for toppings. Add grated buco in pan. Stir and cook for 5 minutes.

Arrange pancit-buco on a plate and spread the remaining sauteed mixture on top.

SAMPALOC LAKE - MAY 06 2012

Sampaloc Lake, San Pablo City - May 06 2012

Tahanan ni Aling Meding Hotel

Tahanan ni Aling Meding Hotel is a tribute to the Borja sibling's parents, especially their mother (Aling Meding), who kept hearth and home warm. The Hotel is in fact their very own mansion for relaxation and family reunions and other events when they fly in from the States. But now when you are in San Pablo City, it is your second home. With gracious hospitality and courteous service from Tahanan's staff, your stay in San Pablo's secret hide-away will surely be an experience to savor and remember.

Only an hour and half drive away from Manila Tahanan ni Aling Meding hotel offers you the warm comforts and luxuries of home.

For your business meetings, programs, weddings, reunions, parties, or event, Tahanan ni Aling Meding offers different settings that will make your event more memorable.
With breathtaking view of Sampaloc Lake, and Mount Banahaw.

Phone 495625855
Mobile 9175922830
Address 084 Dagatan Blvd, Sampaloc Lake, 4000 San Pablo City, Philippines
Website http://www.tahananhotel.com
Email tahananhotel@facebook.com and tahananhotel@yahoo.com
Facebook http://facebook.com/tahananhotel

Legend of Sampaloc Lake

Once upon a time there lived in the northern side of San Pablo, a well-to-do but childless couple. They had a large garden of tamarind trees that bore the sweetest fruit in all the land. Many people from far and wide heard of the tamarind trees. And many of them wanted to taste the sweet tamarind fruit.

The couple felt very proud of their rich possession. They built a fence around their yard so that no stranger can pick any of the tamarind fruit. Just to make sure that no one could enter their yard, they had a big watchdog to guard the yard.

God wanted to test the hospitality of the couple. And so, one day a fairy, disguised as an old beggar bent and wrinkled with age, approached the couple's garden and begged for some fruit.

"Please give me some tamarind fruit. I am hungry," the old woman pleaded.

The old couple did not even look at the old woman.

"Begone! We don't want to give any of our tamarind fruit away!" replied the couple angrily.

"Please, I am so hungry, and a fruit or two will satisfy me," the old beggar pleaded. "I know your tamarind trees are laden with the most delicious fruit."

Then, without any further ado, the old woman came near one of the large trees. She stretched out her wrinkled, skinny hand to pluck a curly thick pod hanging from one of the lower branches.

Upon seeing what the old beggar had done, the couple grew angry. They became so angry that they hurried back to their house, let their big dog loose, and set it on the poor woman. Alas, the poor woman was badly bitten.

Patiently, the old beggar bore her pains. But before turning away from that inhospitable spot, she touched the tamarind tree and, looking at the couple, said, "You shall be punished for your selfishness." Then she went slowly on her way.

Even before the old woman was out of sight, the sky became overcast. In a short while a terrible storm broke out, and heavy rain fell through the night.

The following morning all was peaceful. The man and his wife went out for their daily round as usual. They had hardly taken a few steps when, to their surprise, instead of the tall and green tamarind trees, there stretched before their unbelieving eyes a vast expanse of water shining in the morning sun.

Still unconvinced about what had happened, the couple went forward up to the bank of what now appeared to be a natural lake. And, wonder of wonders, they saw through the transparent water the dark mass of tamarind trees still rooted to the sunken ground!

From that day on, the place became known as "Sampaloc Lake" -- "sampaloc" being the Tagalog word for "tamarind".