The Enchanting Beauty of Pandin Lake

One of the most mystically serene place i've been is the Pandin Lake in San Pablo Laguna. Here are the top ten things i love about that place.

1. It is practically 300 pesos away from Manila. Of course people have been to this place spending much more so the "barat" blood in you has to be really strong. I tell you, the beauty of this place is priceless. 

JAC Liner (with Wifi) to San Pablo - PhP120

Jeep - Medical to San Pablo Proper - Php8

Jeep - San Pablo to Ilog - PhP8

The bus ride will roughly be 1hr and a half making San Pablo one of my top favorite day trip destinations.

2. The locals are  fantastic. I've been to this place quite a few times because of my friends who live in San Pablo. With their love and hospitality, i can say i am an adopted son of Laguna.

3. This is one of those really photogenic places. Walang pinipiling anggulo. Every corner of this place is made for PhotoOp. 

4. Hikers can take this ridge as a jump-off to Mt. Mabilog, crossing Lake Pandin and Lake Yambo. Once in the summit, you can take the Sta.Catalina or the Nagcarlan traverse. Check out Pinoy Mountaineer fro more info about this minor climb.

5. One thing that makes this tourist spot unique is the Lady Paddler's Club. The local's organization of women who paddle the rafts for a tour around the Lake. One can take the raft for PhP180/head. That includes life vests but not the food. 

6. Lake Stories. San Pablo City is known to be the City of Seven Lakes. They say the depth of the Lakes has not been measured. They say the Lakes are connected by a tunnel with suctions underneath all Lakes. I've heard of a story about a drowned man in Pandin and the  body was found in the other Lake, 5 km away from Pandin. There's a thin line between truth and folklore in the provinces and the mysteries of these Lakes are captivating.

7. Food. Aside from paddling, the Women of Pandin also offers lunch when you rent their raft. They offer a variety of cuisines of tilapiya and native cakes. 

8. Unlike  the other Lakes in San Pablo, Pandin's water is clean for dipping. If you opted not to rent the raft, you can rent a life vest for PhP20 and swim. The vest had been mandated by the local officials following a drowning incident years ago. Given the Lake's folklore, i did not dare argue with that rule. 

9. The raft will take you to the other end of the Lake where the grotto is located. The water from the rock springs is just refreshing.

10. Side trips. San Pablo and Laguna in general had been my favorite place because it offers a lot of nice places to go to. Few steps away from Pandin is a view of the Yambo Lake. You can always check out falls, brooks and Mountains of  neighboring towns of Rizal, Nagcarlan and Liliw. Tiaong, Lucban and Majayjay are also possibilities. 

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