San Pablo's Seven Lakes: Sampaloc Lake

Poblocion, San Pablo City, Laguna
by lakwatserong tatay

The last of the seven lakes, "The Sampaloc Lake". This lake is one of the most common and commercialize lake among this seven lakes. It can be easily accessed by visitors like us. It has a nature park included for the locals and visitors to stay with. While viewing the majestic mountain of Mt. Banahaw. You could have also the chance to eat and experience lakeside foodtrip and buy some pasalubong items and native delicasies along its lakeside shops.

Sampaloc Lake

This is the city's biggest and premier lake that could be found within the city proper. It has an area of 104 hectares with a maximum depth of 27 meters. Approximately 85% of its volume is of uniform depth. Sampaloc Lake is sunk in a shallow depression, revealing its volcanic origin.

Sampaloc Lake is considered to be one of the prime tourist spots in San Pablo. This place is dotted with floating restaurants along its lakeside shorelines that serves delectable Filipino and Chinese cuisines. It abounds with tilapia, bangus, carp and several species of shrimps. Its also lined with fishpens and small cottages build on bamboo stilts.

Other side of Sampaloc Lake

A myth story about this lake:

Based from sevenlakes.org....website....It used to be an extensive fruit orchard lorder by a huge tamarind (sampalok) tree situated at the backyard of the land-owner, aselfish stingy old woman. One day a hungry-looking old man came and begged for a few tamarind fruit to serve as cure for his ailing grandson. But instead of yielding to his appeal for help, the stingy selfish old woman had him driven away from the fruit orchardby her ferocious dogs. The old man was badly hurt. Hardly an hour after the old man left, there was a thundering noise followed by cracking of the earth. The next instant the entire orchard sank into a colossal pit which was eventually fille with water. Henceforth, the villagers called it Lake Sampaloc.

The Biggest Tilapia i've ever seen...hehehehe...

At last, after few hours of walking, trekking and under the heat of the sun, we finished our task, to visit all of the Seven Lakes of San Pablo, including our sidetrip, the Town of Nagcarlan.

Lakwatserong Tatay @ Sampaloc Lake

Watch for the last 3 entries, about underground cemetery, nagcarlan church and bunga falls.......

San Pablo's Seven Lakes: Lake Mohicap

Brgy. Sta. Catalina, San Pablo City, Laguna
by lakwatserong tatay

Lake Mohicap, the sixth of the seven lakes that we visited in a day. This lake is not quite far from Lake Palakpakin. Upon seeing this lake i really don't recommend to swim on its lake. Because it was really crowded of big and small pens of the residents along this lake. Lake Mohicap also is not as big as other lakes of San Pablo.

Lake Mohicap

Located in Brgy. Sta. Catalina, Lake Mohicap is a 14.5 hectare lake. It is one of the main suppliers of water resources in the city. Its waters provide a generous source of tilapia for Metro Manila and suburbs.

The cemented stairs going down to Lake Mohicap

A myth story about this lake:

Based from sevenlakes.org....website....The story of Lake Mohicap is just the same as the Lake Pandin and Lake Yambo. It tells about the couple who had a very sickly daughter named Munica. The couple were both very religious and they kept praying to God for the good health of their only child. They made a promise to do anything if God would answer their prayer. God granted their prayer on condition that Munica must not set her foot on mother earth. One day, while Munica was sewing her dress, the ball of thread she was using fell to the ground. Her parents were not around that time to retrieve the fallen ball of thread, so what Munica did was to personally recover the said ball of thread. While doing so, she fainted and immediately fell into the ground. She suddenly sank with the entire neighborhood, and lagoon was formed. This body of water was later called Munikap in honor of the unfortunate but very industrious girl. The name of the lake was taken from Munika, the girl's name and Mahikap, means industrious.

Some of my shots around Lake Mohicap

This is 2nd to the last lake that we conquered in a day. It was really getting dark that day, so we got hurried to take some nice pics around Lake Sampaloc, but sad to say due to our transportation, we wasn't able to catch up for beautiful pictures along Sampaloc Lake....huhuhuhu....there will a next time for sure...hehehehe...

Xplorerboyz @ Lake Mohicap

At last, one more lake to go.....

Lakwatserong Tatay @ Lake Mohicap

San Pablo's Seven Lakes: Lake Palakpakin

Brgy. San Buenaventura, San Pablo City, Laguna
by lakwatserong tatay

This is the fifth of the seven lakes that we visited...Lake Palakpakin, This lake is not as usual as other lakes it is not really noticeable. Im not really sure if there are other ways to see this beautiful lake, aside from a small bridge that you car or tricycle could park and take a souvenir picture of this lake.

Lake Palakpakin

But upon asking from some of the locals around the area, this lake is also could be a picnic ground of your family, if you knew someone else around this lake that has a property infronting this lake. Im not really sure if you could swim on this lake but upon seeing it, i think people can swim on this lake, because it is not as crowded as Bunot Lake and Lake Mohicap, were they are many big and small pens/cages that cultured fishes like tilapia and silver carps.

Other side of Lake Palakpakin

Lake Palakpakin is can be found in Brgy. Buenaventura, this lake is similar to Sampaloc Lake, with an area of 43 hectares, and a maximum depth of 7.5 meters. Residents around the lake rely on income from their fishpens and fishcages that grow cultured tilapia and silver carps.

A landscape view of Mt. Banahaw

A myth story about this lake:

Based from sevenlakes.org....website....A few kilometers north of the city proper was a village which had become known then for its ancient tree which had a hollow trunk. The villagers had it that on moonlight nights, they could see a beautiful, red-haired lady washing her long hair with they hallow trunk serving as her wash basin. The tree was called Palakpak, there was also a river nearby where a big fish appeared each night that the beautifu lady was around. The villagers woud not dare to catch it, believing that it must be her pet. One day a stranger came to the village. He tried to solve the mystery about the red-haired lady and the big fish, and so one moonlight night he waited for her appearance. Seeing the lady in her pristine glory, he approached her. All of a sudden there was thunder and lightning. The earth quaked with terrible intensity, while the river swelled alarmingly into a lake.

Xplorerboyz @ Lake Palakpakin

Watch out for the Last Two Lakes and City of Nagcarlan's tourist spots.

Lakwatserong Tatay @ Lake Palakpakin

San Pablo's Seven Lakes: Twin Lakes (Lake Yambo) and Hike to Mt. Malauban

Short Trek to Mt. Malauban
Brgy. San Lorenzo, San Pablo City, Laguna
by lakwatserong tatay

This is the fourth of the seven lakes that we visited that day, and also one of the twin lakes of San Pablo. Lake Yambo. This lake is can reachable with the same access of Lake Pandin, were you will trek for almost 20-30 minutes to reach Lake Pandin. But the difference between this 2 lakes, is you must have to rent the bamboo rafts and trek the hill called as Mt. Malauban located in Lake Pandin before you could see the scenic view of Lake Yambo. Mt. Malauban peak's serves as the barrier between this beautiful and scenic lakes.

Lake Yambo

Lake Yambo is although accessable on the town of Nagcarlan, but our group did not try that route. On that route, you will not have to use or rent a bamboo raft to reach Lake Yambo, just inquire to some of the locals of Nagcarlan, they could easily guide you to see the other side of Lake Yambo (Nagcarlan side).

Lake Yambo Marker

Lake Yambo is also located in Brgy. San Lorenzo, San Pablo, Laguna. Lake Yambo has an area of 28.5 hectares 8 hectares bigger than Lake Pandin. Like Lake Pandin, this lake is considered to be oligotropic, and is suitable for swimming, outings and picnics.

Jump off point to Mt. Malauban before you will see Lake Yambo

Here are some of the photos that we taken while doing mini trekking to Mt. Malauban and viewing the Lake Yambo.

Xplorerboyz @ Trekking to Mt. Malauban

A myth story about this twin lake:

Based from sevenlakes.org....website....A very rich couple lived in a beautiful house surrounded by a entensive fuit orchard and flower garden. They had and could have anything that money could buy. However, despite the rich, comfort and convinience of life that they have, the couple were still lonely. They prayed continuingly that if they would be favored with a child, they would do anything that they might be asked to do. After twnety years of married life, their prayers was answered. A fairy lady showed up to inform them that their prayers would be granted provided, however, that the lady baby to be born should not be allowed to set foot on mother earth; otherwise, something terrible would be fall the family.

A daughter was born to the rejoicing couple, and the girl grew up to be a beautiful woman. All these years she had never set foot on mother earth. Then a young man invited her to come down the house and promenade with him about the green orchard, but the girl demurred. Suddenly the young man grabbed the ball of thread and threw it out of the window, and would not listen to the pleadings of the girl to retrive the ball for she could not get if herself. Angrily, the girl forgot her parents's instructions and got out of the house to get back her ball of thread. She has hardly stepped on mother earth when a terrible noise followed by the cracking grumble of the earth and the heavy downpour eventually converted the orchard into a twin lagunes separated from each other by a bare strip of land. Learning about the story, fate of the two lovers, the peole of the nearby villages named one lagune after the girl who was Pandin, and the other after the boy's name Yambo.

Below is the scenic view of Lake Yambo from Mt. Malauban. We did not have the chance to swim on this lake because of the availability of rafts. But i think if you are in the other side of this lake, you could have the chance to swim on this lake. Just like what we do in Lake Pandin.

Lake Yambo

Given the chance to choose between those lakes that we visited, i personally considered and recomment to visit and stay for a while on this lakes, Lake Pandin and Lake Yambo, because of some reasons, 1st, is the people are friendly and very accomodating. 2nd, seeing such lakes like this and with the feeling of breeze of its air within those two lakes shows how the place is so safe to stay, and last one, i suggest you may stay for some moments up in the hill that separates this two lakes called as Mt. Malauban. I think that place is one of the exact location where you could relax for a while. Like what we just did.

Lake Yambo is been Xplored......

Of course, i will not miss this opportunity...photo opps @ Mt. Malauban & with view of Lake Yambo..this is my fourth lake......three to go....

Lakwatserong Tatay @ Top of Mt. Malauban & view of Lake Yambo

Watch out for the last 3 lakes, and the places that we visited at Nagcarlan, Laguna......

San Pablo's Seven Lakes: Twin Lakes (Lake Pandin)

Brgy. San Lorenzo, San Pablo City, Laguna
by lakwatserong tatay

One of the twin lakes of San Pablo, known as Lake Pandin. This is also, our third stop for reaching the seven lakes of San Pablo. There are no guides to reach this lake, although the locals of Pandin/Yambo area offer to guide visitors. They also offer to rent bamboo rafts (P180/per person) and a large floating raft where you can have a picnic or lunch (P180/ per person) that will take you across Lake Pandin to get a closer access to Lake Yambo, with a little bit hike to Mt. Malauban (318MASl), a hill that separates twin lakes and back.

Lake Pandin

Lake Pandin is located in Brgy. San Lorenzo, San  Pablo Laguna. Lake Pandin has an area of 20.5 hectares with a maximum depth of 63 meters. It has a calculated volume of 6,600 cubic meters of water in storage. This lake also considered oligotrophic because of the abundant plant and fish life.

Welcome Marker of Lake Pandin

The Third Lake "Lake Pandin"

To reach this lake you must trek for almost 20-30 minutes, depending on your group facing towards to reach the lake. It may cause your group some time if the sun is really up. But what i can really say is, if you do reach the lake you will be rewarded with a beautiful and scenic view of its lake and have the chance to swim also on this lake. Below are some of the photos taken while were going to Lake Pandin.

The trail up to Lake Pandin

The Last Marker when you reach Lake Pandin

We choose to spent some time in here, because of the suggestion of some of the locals that we meet at Nagcarlan, that it is the best lake, where you will have the chance see the twin lakes, the chance to ride a large bamboo craft, that reminds me of River Cruising of Bohol and the chance to swim also on this lake.

Xplorerboys @ Lake Pandin

Some The Children of Lake Pandin

A myth story about this twin lake:

Based from sevenlakes.org....website....A very rich couple lived in a beautiful house surrounded by a entensive fuit orchard and flower garden. They had and could have anything that money could buy. However, despite the rich, comfort and convinience of life that they have, the couple were still lonely. They prayed continuingly that if they would be favored with a child, they would do anything that they might be asked to do. After twnety years of married life, their prayers was answered. A fairy lady showed up to inform them that their prayers would be granted provided, however, that the lady baby to be born should not be allowed to set foot on mother earth; otherwise, something terrible would be fall the family.

A daughter was born to the rejoicing couple, and the girl grew up to be a beautiful woman. All these years she had never set foot on mother earth. Then a young man invited her to come down the house and promenade with him about the green orchard, but the girl demurred. Suddenly the young man grabbed the ball of thread and threw it out of the window, and would not listen to the pleadings of the girl to retrive the ball for she could not get if herself. Angrily, the girl forgot her parents's instructions and got out of the house to get back her ball of thread. She has hardly stepped on mother earth when a terrible noise followed by the cracking grumble of the earth and the heavy downpour eventually converted the orchard into a twin lagunes separated from each other by a bare strip of land. Learning about the story, fate of the two lovers, the peole of the nearby villages named one lagune after the girl who was Pandin, and the other after the boy's name Yambo.

Below are some of the pictures taken while we were on the lake having fun, we did some minor trekking to reach the Lake Yambo, visit their man-made grotto and of course swimming sessions...hehehehe...

The Large Bamboo Rafts

Xplorerboys @ the Large Bamboo Rafts

Lakwatserong Tatay in rowing position...hehehe...

There are some other groups also in some of the large bamboo rafts when we cruise the lake.

There man-made grotto is also the place where do they get their fresh and nature made water. It is really refreshing and you could also drink on this fresh water. But be aware if you a person that is not really quite drinking original nature water. Please do not try it.

Mama Mary's Grotto on Lake Pandin

Photo opps with other Visitors of this lake

Xplorerboys in swiiming action

We had a great time on this two lakes: Lake Pandin and Lake Yambo. I could really recommend all of the trippers out there to try this lake, to have you lunch and do some picnic and swimming and hiking activities. But always be aware that always take care of our environment.

This lakes is been Xplored..............

Watch out for my next entries....four of the last seven lakes of San Pablo....