Makiling Botanic Garden

If you are a nature lover and currently around the province of Laguna, The Makiling Botanic Garden is a must see destination. It is a part of the Makiling Forest Reserve and is located at the lower elevations of the Molawin-Dampalit watershed. It is home to many species of tropical rain forest trees, palms, bamboos, plants and flowers. It serves as a research site on the preservation, conservation and development of forest and natural resources as well as recreational and tourism for the general public.

On our visit, a large concrete sign on the right side of the road informed us that we have reached the place. Vehicles are not allowed inside the garden. There is a space provided near the concrete sign to park the vehicles.

Once inside, the first thing we see is the recreational area. It has a pavilion, fountains and picnic areas. Though there is an abandoned swimming pool at the back of one of the picnic areas. It seems the administration has chosen not to maintain it.

The recreational area has a wide space and the trees around it provides shade, making the area perfect for picnics and for children to play and run around.

Walking ahead, we noticed a stair going down the Molawin creek. We went down carefully for some parts of the stairs are slippery.

We come across a tourist on the creek taking pictures of us and we took pictures of them in return. They are really friendly. The water on the creek is clean but has a grayish color, maybe it's because of the minerals for Mount Makiling is a dormant volcano.

We found concrete trails on different parts of the garden where we really enjoy nature while keeping in mind our safety and being alert for falling branches.

At the middle elevation of the botanic garden, two things are noticeable. The abandoned comport room filled with vines and a tree with fruits that smells like bananas.

Roaming around the garden, we have seen a lot of flowers and butterflies. And as we are about to leave, we have been lucky to see a group of birds called Tarictic Hornbill. These species of birds is one of the many birds of Mount Makiling.

We are tired of walking up and down the slopes but are satisfied with our experience.The Makiling Botanic Garden makes its visitors remember and realize the importance of preserving our environment and natural resources.

Makiling Botanic Garden also accepts school educational tours. For field trip bookings, guided walk arrandements and use of facilities, you can contact through telefax: (049) 536- 2637 or email: makiling.bg@gmail.com.

The Makiling Botanic Garden is open daily except holidays from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Entrance fee: P 20.00 per person.

How to get to there:
By Public Transport:
1. Board a bus ( BLTB Bus, Green Star Bus, JAM or JAC Liner) at the terminal in Cubao or Taft Avenue bound for Sta. Cruz Laguna.
2. Get off at Los Baños Junction.
3. Ride a jeepney to UPLB College of Forestry and tell the driver to drop you at Makiling Botanic Garden.
Tip: Raise your index finger (aka pointer finger) as a sign for jeepney drivers that you will go up along the College of Forestry.

By Private Transport:
1. From Manila drive to South Luzon Express Way (SLEX) and take the Calamba Exit.
2. Take the National Highway to Lopez Avenue in Los Baños.
3. Turn right onto Lopez Avenue.
4. Continue onto Jose R. Velasco Avenue.
5. Turn Left onto Narra.
6. Continue onto bridge.
7. Continue onto Domingo lantican Avenue.
8. Turn left onto Makiling
9. You will see the sign "Makiling Botanic Gardens" at your right side.

For more information, you can contact:
Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems
College of Forestry and Natural Resources
University of the Philippines Los Baños
College, Laguna, Philippines
Telefax: +63 49 536 3572
Email: mountmakiling.cfnruplb@yahoo.com

Walking along the wood carvers road

As I step foot on Paete, stores filled with wooden and resin sculptures has received my eyes. I’m at the town’s center where roads crossed paths.  As I am not yet familiar to the streets, I looked around and see the town’s church and decided to start from there.

On the road to the church, I gaze and took photos upon the shops display. I even saw a porch with carved wooden furniture’s on one of the houses. I guess having wooden carved furniture is a common thing here for the town is known as the wood carving capital of the Philippines.

I passed an alley going to the church’s side door which as luck would have it, was opened that time. The church of Saint James the Apostle seemed reasonably old. I was surprised to see so many religious sculptures inside lined on both sides at the entire length of the wall. It’s not a matter of numbers but the spacing of the images is somewhat short compared to the other churches I’ve visit. It’s like having a parade of images inside.

From there, I asked a few local town people for directions going to the shop owned by Justino Cagayat Jr ., also known as Mang Paloy. I’ve known him because he was featured several times on the national news two years ago as the man behind the official wooden statue of Pedro Calungsod. Pedro Calungsod is the second Filipino Saint canonized in Rome on October of 2012.

His shop is far so I have to ride the jeep. Unfortunately, the shop was closed when I got there. I ended up having a chat with the owner of the shop beside it. Danny informed me how to find Luisito Ac-Ac, another famous sculptor of Paete.

Store of Danny Austria

So, I ride a tricycle going to Mr. Ac-Ac’s place only to find out that his shop is only a stone’s throw away from the town church. I regret that I have not learned it sooner because his shop is just along the road where I first walked and could have saved time.

Carving of Luis Ac-Ac, #28 J. V. Quesada St., Paete, Laguna, Philippines

Feeling a bit tired, I thought of having a drink first at a nearby store before meeting Mr. Ac-Ac and request for an interview. Not anticipating the arrival of a group of students on their educational field trip with a plan to take photos of Mr. Ac-Ac and his artworks. They beat me to him. Luckily the teachers called them to hurry up on taking pictures for the bus will be leaving soon.

When the students were gone, I approach Mr. Ac-Ac feeling nervous for I will be requesting for an unscheduled interview. But as soon as I introduced myself that uneasy feeling disappeared. I realized that he is a very welcoming and responsive person. He asked me how I found his place. I told him that I asked people for where would I find the most experienced and talented sculptor in town, and they lead me here. He joked on the most experienced as the oldest sculptor in town.

He allowed me to take photos inside his small gallery. His unique sculptures have made a fan out of me. Here, I picked-up information about him on paper cut-outs of publications that featured him in the past. “Luisito Ac-Ac is a multi-awarded sculptor who has done over a thousand pieces and are collected by art enthusiasts even from the US and Europe. He was labeled as Sculptor Par Excellence. He is the artist who sculpted the Jubilee Cross for the World Youth Day in 1995. Some of his prominent artworks are exhibited at the Philippine consulate in San Francisco, USA.”

After taking photos of his latest work, we resumed our talk about his most recent exhibit at PHACCI and Pinto Art Museum. Sadly I’ve never been to those places before so I could not relate that much. Aside from wood carving, Mr. Ac-Ac can also make sculptures of ice which he said is a lot easier for it does not need a lot of details. At present, Mr. Ac-Ac is at the age of 62 years and still active in wood carving. I see him as a man of humility and he’s passion as a sculptor will never fade. I am very pleased that I met him.

As I was about to leave town, I passed by another interesting store. It sells wooden pigs and sculptures of children playing a native Filipino game. In my youth days we called it luksong baka.

The tour around Paete is really special. It gives life to Filipino culture and arts. It can help children to dream and to desire to become great artists someday.

The town of Paete is located at the northeastern part of Laguna Province. Along the shores of scenic Laguna de Bay. About 2 to 3 hours of travel from Metro Manila.

For inquiries on Luisito Ac-Ac’s unique items, portrait and religious items, call or send a message at +63906-340-0390 or email to marygrace_acac@yahoo.com


Have you ever been in a place whose residents’ are artists? Please tell us your experience.

Casa de Segunda: An ancestral home of a hero's first love

Everyone falls in love, even heroes. Everyone has a unique love story, but only few gets documented such as the love of the Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal. Have you ever wonder where his first love, Segunda has lived or what is the condition of her house now? Are you curious about what happened to Segunda when she got married? Well that's what we're gonna find out on our travel to Casa de Segunda.

It was almost twelve noon when we prepared to travel to Casa de Segunda and decided to have lunch along the way. There was eagerness on our part for this much awaited travel.When we got there, we noticed a bell on the right side of the gate that has to be rung for us to get inside. My daughter smiled while pulling the string. Inside, we were approached by the secretary of Mrs. Lilet Malabanan who will give us a tour inside the house. Mrs. Lilet Malabanan, is a great granddaughter of Segunda Katigbak. 

Casa de Segunda was named after Segunda Solis Katigbak, who was considered Jose Rizal's first love. Segunda married Manuel Luz, a member of one of Lipa's prominent families in 1886, and the house was blessed with nine equally bright and gifted children.

Casa de Segunda is Spanish in architecture, yet essentially a tropical house. Here, their children and grandchildren were trained in music, as it is common then to play the piano and sing songs after dinner.

The ground floor of the house was used to park the carriage and as storage for the produce. It is now a lobby with reading materials and a logbook for visitors. The portrait of Segunda Katigbak and her family are also on display.

Segunda Katigbak

At the left side of the lobby is the dining area that shows the original dining table and hat rack. The long table suggests that families during that time has many children and the hat rack or bastonero is a sign of prestige.

The living room is on the second floor. Our host shows us the original chess table where Jose Rizal and Manuel Luz has played chess. Jose lost that game. Jose Rizal was quoted in saying that he lost to Manuel twice. The first was on Segunda and the second was on chess. I wonder how Segunda has felt during that time when Jose and Manuel were playing. It must have been really awkward.

Paintings of Segunda's Grandchildren are displayed on the entire house. It significantly describes the Luz-Katigbak clan as a family of artists.

Then we were led to the bedrooms. The masters bedroom still has the original bed of Segunda. The other bedrooms also has their original beds but mattress were placed on top because relatives choose to sleep here when they are on vacation.

The azotea or balcony has a wide space and the tree besides it gives the balcony a relaxing shade and breeze. From there, we have a nice view of the ground.

The tour ends at the fountain at the center of the garden. Here, we took a souvenir photo with Mrs. Lilet Malabanan.

And certainly, the turtle living in the fountain can't escape our souvenir shot. We also took notice of the Alagao tree near the gate. We learned that this tree was personally planted by Segunda herself. This is also the tree were Jose ties his horse when he visited the Katigbak Mansion.

My family are thankful to Mrs. Lilet Malabanan for accommodating us and to her secretary for doing the tour. Casa de Segunda is located at 198 Rizal Street, Lipa City, Batangas.