DIY Trip: St. James the Apostle Church of Paete

by lakwatserong tatay

Hello there, it's been a busy year for me and i'm having a hard time to share my stories...sorry for that...^_^. Hope you would still love to visit and share your random comments...be entice with my stories and adventures...even though i have tons of draft posts on my bucket, i will definitely do all of that, share it one by one in an ample time....all itineraries, trip summary & details, tips and of course, the places to be visited....

So here's another church that is been part of draft posts on one my daytrips in Tanay and Paete. It was quite late when we got back in town due to a quikie hike to "Mt. Humarap" locally known as "Tatlong Krus" and a sidetrip in a named as "Matabungka Falls". I did not have the luxury to take lots of shots that time because of an ongoing mass that time. Even the chance to get up on its belfry, we missed it out also, i promised to myself i'll definitely go back to this church and hope to get to its old belfry.

Paete Church: St. James the Apostle Church

Being a traveler, visited different places, towns and tourist spots. Church is one of the most important place for me, where i'm offering a prayer for our safe trip on the places we've been, the activities will be indulging and one of the most important....i really love seeing old structures.....old churches, old houses, buildings or antiques and even museums. It makes me feel i'm back in old days, where you will see how the changes began, from old structures of brick, now most of the buildings and houses are made of steel beams....Thinking how this structures been tested through the years.....

on going mass that day...

So...the church is built in 1646, gone through different reconstructions because of calamities, as of now this church is part of historical churches in Laguna that is granted by Philippines Historical Committee. I wish to have a lots of photo but as i've said there is on going mass that time when we visited....so i together with my cotrippers just roamed around. The church altar was surrounded with different statues of saints.

Paete Church is known to its distinct arts and murals inside on its walls, displayed on its both sides. A reason why this church makes kind a creepy one because of this large art paintings and murals that been also part of time, created by a Paete-born artist.

So instead of waiting to end the mass that day to have time to take pictures of those large paintings. I've choose to go outside and taken lot of photos of its courtyard. Seeing all of those sculptures into adobe makes me wonder how artistic they are.

I had the chance to chat with a local within the vicinity, that we could go up to the belfry and had the chance to see the town of Paete, nearly Laguna Lake and the glimpse of Mt. Humarap. But sad to say we did not find the caretaker that would allow us to go up in narrow staircase that we will have the chance to see church's structure inside and the said wooden stairs and flooring to go up to its roof deck. However it was great to hear all of that, i felt i was also there...but doesn't have a photo souvenirs....^_^

Me @ Paete Church

To end the adventure, we also walk thru its street where wood sculptures are available, one unique product of Paete. Maybe that's the reason why this town called as "Paete".

Tropang Tits & Pips @ Paete.....

Wow.....at last i was able to finish this story behind this one day of activity......3 Waterfalls....Daranak Falls, Batlag Falls, Matabungka Falls......2 Churches....Church of Tanay and Church of Paete.....and 1 Mountain...Mt. Humarap.....^_^

Next stop:  Mt. Talamitam of Nasugbu, Batangas and Old Heritage Houses of Taal, Batangas and Biggest Catholic Church in Asia known as Taal Basilica of Taal, Batangas.

DIY Trip: Simply Matabungka Falls

by lakwatserong tatay

Trekking on the same path going to Mt. Humarap aka Tatlong Krus. This waterfalls make your trek a very inviting sidetrip. Sad to say to our group due to time constraint, we just able to take some shots of its cascading and cold waters.....

Mt. Humarap

Coming from the peak we walk downwards again up to the junction below where a waiting shed is located. If you your going up the falls is straight ahead and going to this cemented stairs is to Mt. Humarap. However on our case this shot is going downwards which is the trail going to Matabungka falls is on the left.

the trail leading to Matabungka Falls

We just have a quick stop on this junction and their is actually a very cold stream where climbers and locals alike could drink a very fresh and nature water....^_^

After few minutes, we headed to view and be mesmerize with this simple waterfalls. The falls really looks amazing and its so high but the water coming from its drop is just shallow. However if your tired and really want to revive and relieve your tiring body, i may suggest you may swim on its cold waters....

We just took some photos and mesmerize for a while, admire its beauty and thinking we should go back and try to swim underneath its water drops......

The Trippers

After staying for a while we said goodbye and hurriedly go back to town to have one last stop. We have to catch up the last trip of jeepney going to Tanay.......^_^

Me @ Matabungka Falls

**** next stop: Church of Paete ****

DIY Trip: Trek to Mt. Humarap - Tatlong Krus

by lakwatserong tatay

After a quick trip in chasing waterfalls of Tanay and Church of Tanay. Our next destination was the town of Paete. We had a quite long ride from town of Tanay, bypassing the towns of Siniloan and few towns of Laguna to get off in Brgy. Ilaya of Paete. Although we've been rewarded with such views and landscape of nature through our jeepney rides.

With pack of excitement we hurriedly ask directions how to go to Mt. Humarap, most of the locals around the area doesn't know "Mt. Humarap", however thanks to my co-tripper upon saying "Tatlong Krus", they definitely knew where are we going. Aside from that we also ask how to get to "Matabungka Falls", however they just replied as "ah yun talon...dun lang din yun bago kayo umakyat patatlong krus, pakaliwa yun paakyat sa tatlong krus yun talon dun malapit sa may inuman ng tubig"......^_^...So after asking for some directions we're off. We choose to walk from the highway instead of riding a tricycle up to actual jumpoff. All in all we had the treak for almost 1 hours from the highway traversing to town proper, passed by the Church of Paete and of course the stores of woodcraft, which Paete is famous of. And then at last we will start the uphill walk to cemented ground of residential area. Here are some of my pictures from its trail and it surroundings....^_^

After walking through cemented path of residential area, the trail become a usual trail when you climbing a mountain, most of the path are shaded by trees so don't be afraid to get sunburned.....^_^. There where some streams and bamboo resting area that maybe used by locals who logged for their wood works and also maybe farming because as we ascend this hill we encountered some locals carrying big sacks and some logs also.

So after almost an hour of walking upwards, me together with tropang tits and pips reach the peak of the hill. The peaks has some huts and comfort room area, great used for picnics and Tatlong Krus is a place used as a pilgrimage for Holy Week.

picnic huts...

comfort room area

Tatlong Krus aka Mt. Huamrap

The three crosses signifies your own the peak of its hill. This crosses faces the town of Paete beneath. Other signifant mountains that are visible within Mt. Humarap are Mt. Sembrano and Mt. Tagapo and of course Laguna de Bay.

Tropang Tits and Pips @ Mt. Humarap

Aside from the trek we had, we had a few minutes stop on its falls known as "Matabungka Falls", by locals it just called as "Talon", and we had also a quick stop by Wood Crafts stores and of course offered a prayer in one of historical churches of our country known as St. James the Apostle Church of Paete.

Lakwatserong Tatay @ Mt. Humarap

How to get to Mt. Humarap aka Tatlong Krus:

From EDSA Crossing:

Coming from EDSA/Crossing, take a jeepney bound to Tanay(php53) or GTExpress vans (Starmall)  bound  to Tanay(php70), alight at Tanay Market, ride a jeepney going to Siniloan(php43) and upon reaching the market of Siniloan look for bound Paete(php20) and ask the driver to drop off to town proper of Paete (Gitnang Bayan). You have two options to walk or take a tricycle up to start of jumpoff which is a residential area of Brgy. Ilaya Norte.

From Buendia/Gil Puyat Bus Stations:

Take a bus bound to Sta. Cruz (php140), alight in Sta. Cruz, take another jeepney ride bound for Siniloan/Paete(php27) and ask the driver to drop you off to town proper of Paete (Gitnang Bayan). You have two options to walk or take a tricycle from highway up to jumpoff which is a residential area of Brgy. Ilaya Norte.

****next stop: Matabungka Falls....^_^

DIY Trip: Tanay and Paete: Three Waterfalls, Two Churches and One Mountain

by lakwatserong tatay

Here's another set of my DIY's trip, one day of full packed adventures. Two provinces visited "Rizal and Laguna", two towns were visited "Tanay and Paete", seen three waterfalls, visited two churches and one quick hike in a mountain. Been living in Antipolo for more than three years and i had never chance to visit again Tanay which is really near to my place, an hour ride of Tanay bound jeepney is needed to reach this city. So, i say to my self i have to go back to see Daranak and Batlag Falls, where i last visited wayback college years. So i set a day trip together with my Tropang Tits & Pips. I've made an itinerary which supposed to visit 4 waterfalls, 3 churches and 1 mountain to be trekked. But due to time constrained and enjoying each of the sceneries we've visited that time. The trip i called 4W3C1M was changed to 3W2C1M...it was really an awesome adventure backpack trip....and here it is...^_^

road going to Tanay

It was just a usual Saturday morning, most of the trippers meet at McDo EDSA Crossing, and yours truly join them when they reach Antipolo (syempre sayang sa pamasahe...^_^). They meet around 4am and less than hour they reach Antipolo and add another hour....whala.....we're on our 1st stop....one of the municipalities of Rizal province. Tanay, a town that offers wide range of outdoor adventures like caving, waterfalls and river exploration. For this trip, our first plan was to visit Tanay Church also known as San Ildefonso Church is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines, second oldest church in the Rizal province and founded by the franciscans....read more here about Tanay Church....

it's me @ San Ildefonso Church

Done with 1st church "San Ildefonso Church of Tanay", next stops are two waterfalls of Daranak Falls and Batlag Falls. Both falls are located in Brgy. Plaza Aldea. After a rented tricycle ride uphill to entrance of the falls and few minutes of walk, we reach one of the majestic falls that is hidden in Tanay, known as Daranak falls, cames from words "Dadanak ang Dugo (Spilling of Blood)", maybe due to Time of Katipunero's where most of the resistance during Japanese occupation happened in Rizal area.....read more here about Daranak Falls.....

The pristine falls, Daranak Falls

So after few shots and a self portrait photo with Daranak falls, we had to take a break because one of my co-trippers feels dizzy and almost fainted. Together with the two other girls, they take a break and rest for a while near the store which is the entrance to our next stop, Batlag Falls, is more peaceful that Daranak falls, with its three cascading waterfalls make it different, aside from it lush greenery surrounding and few basins of water make it more comfortable or i may say it much more nicer to stay on Batlag Falls. Although this place is now privately owned and had a separate entrance of php50 while Daranak Falls (php20). Both falls are known to be used in movie and commercial shootings, pre-nuptial wedding photos and many more. I just hope that the city government and private owner of one of the falls will maintain its pristine conditions, for my kids to see this place in time...read more here about Batlag Falls...

The simple, Batlag Falls

Back at the city proper of Tanay, done with one church and two waterfalls, 3 more activities is remaining. Next stop is Paete, Laguna. It was about lunch time so we filled our empty stomachs that time...thanks to carinderia inside Tanay Public Market.

Tanay Public Market

We stayed around for more than an hour, with energy got back and filled stomachs, were up to our next stop and rode a jeepney bound Siniloan, where we have to transfer and ride again a Sta. Cruz bound jeepney that would passed by the town of Paete.

our jeepney ride....^_^

First stop in the town of Paete, one of the towns in Laguna that is famous in wooden crafts and sculptures. The hike up to a mountain locally known as Tatlong Krus, a religious pilgrimage during Holy Week, which is also known as Mt. Humarap, located in Brgy. Ilaya Norte is part of our itinerary for that day. This was actually a surprise trip and trek for them because they just think that this would take a simple walk in the park, but it took us hour and a half to reach this three crosses....^_^..read more here about Mt. Humarap (Tatlong Krus)...

Lakwatserong Tatay at Mt. Humarap (Tatlong Krus)

A great sidetrip when hiking this mountain is a visit and swim at Matabungka Falls, a steep cascading of waters, and a small catch basin perfect for small group to swim. Sad to say on our part, we just have to take some photo opps because the time is not on our side. We have to go back to city proper before the sunset...but we promise to ourselves, we'll be back to this place and enjoy its clear water....read more here about Matabungka Falls...

Matabungka Falls...

It was almost sunset when we reach the town proper and had a quick stop for blessing in the Church of Paete, known as St. James the Apostle, one of the oldest churches again in our country, built in 1646 and went to different reconstructions due to several earthquakes. We did not have the luxury to take many shots because of the mass held that time.....read more here about St. James the Apostle Church....

St. James the Apostle Church, Paete

So after all of the photo souvenirs we had and success 3W2C1M challenge, we ate heartily at a local restaurant known as Benga's, but sad to say all of us forgot to take souvenir pictures at the place, even the big servings of food we had that time maybe because were so tired and hungry. Add to that, were in hurry to catch the last trip going back to Siniloan to Tanay....here's one last photo opps we have before riding a jeepney bound to Siniloan...^_^

The Tropang Tits and Pips...^_^

So to wrap it up, it was a fun, sunny day trip and a very exhausting adventure to all of us. But it is all worth it, we manage to visit two provinces and three towns and finish our desired goals of three waterfalls (Daranak, Batlag and Matabungka Falls), two churches (Tanay Church and Paete Church) and a mountain (Mt. Humarap "Tatlong Krus").

So check out the other links for additional information, photos and adventures we had in those places.
Next stop of Tropang Tits and Pips are Mt. Talamitam, Nasugbu, Batangas and Taal Basilica, Taal, Batangas.