Pagsanjan day tour, delicious halo halo!

More than two hours away from RP's infamous capital metro manila, is an oasis of nature, culture and old world charm. . . . Pagsanjan is a small Laguna rural town influenced heavily by the spaniards, where you can still see quite a few remnants of their presence from the very old houses to the big giant arch marker at the entrance to the town. And though Pagsanjan is known for its waterfalls, "shooting the rapids" attraction, the famous waterfalls is not within the bounderies of Pagsanjan but is actually located in Cavinti, the town north of it. During the spanish period it became a major commercial trading hub of the province, making it a capital of the province from 1688 to 1858. Anyway there are gazillion blogs about Pagsanjan and "cavinti falls" so lets not further rob Cavinti of its rightful ownership of the falls and focus on the other attractions to this town. BTW if youre still interested of trying the canoe ride to the falls, it now costs P1250 inclusive of everything and you only need tips if youre generous to locals hehe afterall you would really feel sorry for those two men manuevering your canoe upstream past all those slippery boulders and strong currents.

I was fortunate enough to visit the town recently on an unplanned trip with relatives and enjoy the hospitality and charm of the locals. In a small town like Pagsanjan, prominent families know what goes on around the place and you can easily get valuable tips when you talk with just about anybody who has lived all their lives in the town.

Though the town is no Vigan or Taal replicate. LGUs can do better than organizing bangkeros systematic collections of boat rides by providing better comforts and attractions to the place by posting more sign posts of tourist attractions the town has to offer. Im dismayed that the abundance of tourists heading for the falls has not made the local govt more tourist friendly. There are enough resorts, inns, restaurants for this place to get going. Not sure why its not maximizing its potential as a tourist destination.

I really wish when i come back for a short stay the Pagsanjan LGU would have a centralized tourist center so visitors can get all the infos they need for them to stay longer and look beyond the lure of the pagsanjan falls. I was particularly charmed by this one street, P Caballes. It has century old houses, a weaver's factory for barong cloth, and the impressive Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish church. You can do a leisurely walk on this street and relieve an era of old spanish colonial times. There is also a small pier where visitors can see the Bumbungan River which leads to the falls.

Exit to your left along General Taino street, cross the bridge and you have a beautiful view of the Balanac River.

And after that short crossing, on your right is Pagsanjan's halo halo pride...ALING TALENG. In my book its arguably one of the best halo halo i have ever tasted hehe I maybe biased but hey this pagsanjan concoction puts Razon halo halo into a spinning runnerup recognition. Pagsanjan has won me over their dessert. HELL IM COMING BACK!

Now how do you get to pagsanjan? Easy have your own private vehicle and google the route hehe But if youre like me who wants to take it rough sometimes, there are many buses from NCR that goes to town...

Commuting Routes: From NCR: Go to one of the bus terminals below: Go to the HM Transport Bus Terminal on EDSA corner New York Street, Cubao. Go to the Green Star Bus Terminal on Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia) corner Taft Avenue. Go to the HM Liner Bus Terminal in Manuela Metropolis Alabang (Metropolis Mall). Ride an HM Transport/Green Star bus to Sta. Cruz, and get off at Pagsanjan/Jam bus terminal in Barangay Pagsawitan, Pagsanjan, Laguna. The ride takes about 2.5 hours. Go to Pagsanjan, Lumban, Paete, Siniloan, or Caliraya, you can either: Ride a jeep to Pagsanjan, Lumban, Paete, Siniloan, or Caliraya, and get off at your destination. The ride takes about 20-30 minutes. Ride a tricycle to your destination.