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.......