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If you’re from laguna and someone said “Calauan” the first thing that would come into your mind is pineapple right? But if you’re from manila or other part of the country, you might misheard “calauan” to kalawang which is “rust”.  You might actually find it funny but that is actually where this town’s name was derived, because folklore has it that the town got its name when the Spanish started construction of the Municipal Church and water seeped in from the holes dug into the ground for the Church's foundation. The water was colored brown and rusty in character hence the name Calauan (Kalawang).

 So why pineapple is the first word that would come to your mind if the word “Calauan”? It’s actually because Calauan, Laguna is known for it’s Pineapple Festival, which is celebrated every 15 May. Also, when you visit this town’s plaza or the Bayan you’ll see a massive size of Pineapple in the center of of it because pineapple is the famous delicacy here is Pineapple in honor of the farmers here in calauan and also for the patron saint of Calauan which is Isidore the Laborer, the patron of farmers.

 Calauan's population is expected rise as the town is being used as resettlement of informal settlers in Metro Manila through the Bayan ni Juan and the Kapit-Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig project of the ABS-CBN Foundation.

 Popular destinations in the area include the Field of Faith situated in Brgy. Lamot 2 and the Isdaan Floating Restaurant located along the National Highway going to Victoria Laguna:

The best part of the garden is the rosary path where you could see inspiring quotes on the concrete road, find a comforting meditation spot, reflect on the joyful mysteries in resin and metal, meditate on the sorrowful mysteries depicted in wood carvings, or pray in the cement and glass cross on top of the hill.

A restaurant taking your dining experience to a whole new level. This place will bring you a vibe of being in another country and yet still serve an authentic Filipino food. Definitely not your typical restaurant! Isdaan Floating Restaurant has two major locations. One in Calauan, Laguna and the other is in Gerona, Tarlac. Proximity in consideration, we decided to visit the one in Laguna. The restaurant creates an ambiance that will make you feel you are dining in Thailand. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed with big Thai inspired mermaid statues while you are being greeted by the usherette with a necklace made out of a garland of Hawaiian flowers. You can choose to stay in a floating nipa hut or stay in the reception hall that’s near the stage where cultural and acrobat performances are being held. We decided to stay in the reception hall which is just right after the bamboo pathways near the entrance.

 To be real, as an ex-informal settler in manila, this town made me who i was today. This town gave me future that i couldn’t or would never find Metro Manila. I LOVE CALAUAN, LAGUNA!!!!

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Lipa City: What You Should know

 Lipa City, Batangas I know Ate Vi will come to mind once who hear this City, why not? Lipa City is known as the “City of All Seasons” as Vilma Santos was a long termed Mayor of the city.

 Getting Around

 The two main roads that provide access to Batangas from Metro Manila are the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). Visitors can commute via bus lines DLTBCo, ALPS, SUPREME Bus Lines, Dela Rosa Transit, JAC Liner and Batangas Starepress.

 Jeepney as the primary ode of transportation, other common means of transportation around lipa are buses, vans, tricycles and multi cabs. Lipa’s central transport terminal is located beside SM City Lipa.

 One of the coolest city in the Philippines

 Lipa City is famous for it’s cool weather, churches, heritage sites, kapeng barako and Lomi. Among the many things that this first-class city is known for it’s cool climate the surprises visitors and newcomers. Lipa City has an elevation of 1,025 ft above sea level and is situated between Mount Malarayat and Mount Makulot, both serve as wind breakers against strong typhoons, also making it the 3rd coolest city in the Philippines next to Tagaytay.

    Culture and Traditions

 Lipa City is rich in culture and festivals as well. It celebrates the Coffee Festival, Walistik Festival and Lomi festival. Every month of January, people of Lipa gears up for the Lipa City Fiesta Celebration, which is held primarily in honor of Lipa’s patron saint, San Sebastian and culminates on January 20. Lipa is the only place celebrating “Buling Buling” or splashing of water during Sunday before Ash Wednesday. A tradition but not regulated by church or government.

 LIpa is also known as the “Little Rome of the Philippnes” as it is home quite a number of churches, convents, retreat facilities and seminaries. Lipa’s top Tourism destinations are the century old San Sebastian Cathedral and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Redemtorist Lipa and Parish of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace.

  Lipa Food

 Locals and visitors alike can enjoy the city’s signature delicacies: the Batangas Lomi at Lomi King, Goto at Gotohan sa Barangay and the famous Kapeng Barako at Café De Lipa.

Lifestyle

 Because of it’s geographical location and proximity to Metro Manila, people who live In Lipa are slosly welcoming to the idea of enjoying the comforts of city life in their generally suburban neighborhood.

 The locals of lipa are always known to be cheerful, strong-willed, generous and religious. We never fail to celebrate life and living through the good and the bad.

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When talking about Calamba, there are two things that immediately come to mind: SM Calamba and Rizal. There are 3 major landmarks in Calamba that can be found in Calamba bayan: the largest claypot which is the namesake of Calamba, Rizal shrine which is the replica of our national hero's childhood home and the Calamba church where Jose Rizal was baptized when he was a baby. When going to crossing Calamba, the biggest landmark there would of course be the two malls, SM Calamba and Walter Mart. Calamba city is known as the richest city in CALABARZON so it's no surprise that there are many who go to SM to shop and just generally spend time there.

Calamba has become a mix of the old and the new as well as the relatively poor and rich. On one side, there are the historical places still preserved to this day amidst the industrialization of Calamba and on the other side, SM Calamba, Walter Mart, and all the other commercialized establishments that has been popping up in the recent years. There are those who exclusively shops in malls, others who would go to the wet market to get a better and cheaper deal, and there are those that live in the streets. It can be said that Calamba is like a miniature version of the Philippines as a whole, though globalization has started to bring in the new, there is still a part of the past that still persist and the divide of the urban and rural population can still be seen in Calamba as is with the entire Philippines.

One can encounter so many different kinds of people in Calamba and an example can easily be made using the tricycle drivers. There are those who take advantage of people by asking for more money than what is the actual fare and there are those that, even after being hassled, would only take the exact fare. I remembered the time when there was a misunderstanding between me and the driver, where I wanted to go was SM Calamba and i was coming from Calamba bayan but what the driver thought was that I wanted to go to the city hall so in the end we had to go the long way round from Calamba bayan to city hall then to SM Calamba. Normally the fare for that kind of trip, especially since it was special, would be around P80-P100 but the driver only asked for P40 even though I was insisting that he takes the P50 I'm giving him.

All in all, Calamba is a place where many personalities meet and intermingle and is also a place one can see the past as well as the industrialized future.