To cap off National Arts Month, we found ourselves joining the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to venture out to Los Baños, Laguna. What we encountered was a province that welcomes creative minds freely, as well as places worth visiting, all within walking distance.

Our journey began at the Los St. Pedro Bautista Municipal Hall. Even in the early hours of the morning, the building finds itself busy with its daily operations. It served as ground zero for our heritage tour. Our first stop was just across the street, a marker for the University of the Philippines Los Baños’ (UPLB) College of Agriculture Foundation Site. UPLB was initially founded in 1909 to promote agricultural education and research in our country. A tent on the marker is used to symbolize how tents served as the venue for the first classes of UPLB, taught by Dean Edwin Copeland and other Thomasite Americans stationed in the area.

Our next stop was the Los Baños Station, also referred to as College Station, one of the stops of the Philippine National Railways (PNR). Despite its dilapidated appearance, the station still operates on a daily basis, with daily trips connecting Calamba and Lucena at certain times. Given the limited train runs, it makes for a good photo opportunity when the tracks are clear.

We then made our way to a semi-abandoned hot springs hotel, the Lake View Hotel. One of its caretakers, a former employee who worked for the hotel for over 30 years, showed us around. Its old buildings and structures had a retro-futuristic appeal to them, with the abandoned aesthetic making it feel like a “Fallout” location. Standing close to the water, you could still feel the heat and see the steam emanating from the natural hot spring. An old statue of St. Pedro Bautista, a Spanish missionary who claimed the hot springs at the base of Mt. Makiling had healing properties, can also be spotted. It shares a brief history of his time in the Philippines before being martyred in Nagasaki, Japan.

Afterwards, our trail led us to the Immaculate Conception Parish. It is considered the oldest church in Los Baños, having been founded as far back as 1613. Further down the road, we found ourselves looking at the Old Spanish Pier. During the Spanish era, it was used as a docking area for steamboats passing through Laguna Lake. It was later used for seaplane mooring during the US colonial era. Fishermen frequent the area to make their catch. We walked further on to visit the Batong Malake Public Market to have some snacks. The market has served residents since 1921.

Our final stop was the home of General Paciano Rizal, the older brother of Dr. José Rizal. Gen. Paciano’s home used to be a nipa hut until a typhoon destroyed it in 1926. A new home was built the next year by Andres Luna de San Pedro, son of the painter Juan Luna. There are some memorabilia present in the house, such as Gen. Paciano’s original binoculars and shoes. To wrap up the day, we recommend enjoying the sunset view at Gen. Paciano Rizal Park.