Memories of the Unsung Heroes

After experiencing nature at its best, at Villa Sylvia Mountain Resort, we decided to drop by The Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery. A good 5-minute jeepney ride from the resort.

This is a cemetery or a burial site as we call it under a church. This church used to be a secret meeting place of revolutionary leaders in 1896. It was built under the leadership of a  Franciscan missionary named Father Vicente Velloc.

Getting in...

Inside the church:

 It is more of a chapel than a church. It houses aside from the altar, 10 pews, 5 on each side which will accomodate roughly around 50-70 people at most.

The Crypt:

We were told that there are no famous hero buried here, but still, the main fact that they fought for independence and freedom, they're still heroes who remained to be nameless. 

Most of the time, aside from tourists, architectural students come here to visit to study its unique structure. 

Never leave Laguna without visiting this historical landmark, where first plans of battle were made in to place to enjoy our independence. 

Cold Summer Experience

The departure and the trip:
The 30ish plus degrees of the city would let you kick out a bit and find a place to dip, relax and enjoy. One of our friends was able to find a silent and hidden resort somewhere in one of the mountains of Laguna. We met and had lunch at KFC MRT Ayala station before hailing a cab on the way to Buendia bus station. We were planned to use DLTB Bus Co. but upon arriving, a trouper from JAC Liner informed us that they will be passing by San Pablo Laguna.
A more or less two hours trip we drop off at SPC Medical Hospital and from there, we took a tricycle to go to the city proper. Then another half an hour ride via Liliw/Nagcarlan jeepney took us to the resort.

The room:

An entrance fee of 80 pesos is not bad. On the way to our cabin, we noticed that there are no metal barriers. The fences are made of bamboo. Truly eco-friendly.

We booked a room good enough to accommodate us. We were asked to choose between an air-conditioned room or a non-air conditioned room, we choose the latter, that's 1000 pesos difference. The room has 4 bunk-beds, a comfort room, sink and an electric fan for the amount of Php1500... 

The food:

Grilling is the only way to prepare food, so it is advisable to bring cooked food. 

The pool:

The pools are located in the midst of the forest-like resort. There are 5 of them, 2 of which are kiddie pools, 1 is located near the villa for private reservations, the other is rectangular in shape for those who wants experience with the slide, and the other is a pool that goes up to 7 or  8 feet deep. 

Exploring the area

A chapel situated on top of the hill would remind Filipino's genuine spirituality.

Around the area:

The resort provided an ambiance of relaxation not too modern and offered a preserved sanctuary of nature.

Batis

Batis is a Filipino term for a brook. Behind the modern pools lies a brook where the water is so cold and too clear. It was arranged in three parts where one part tends to be deeper than the other. 

At the end of the brook is a small, man-made falls. 

And that wraps up our stay at Villa Sylvia Resort where fun and summer get-away does not need to be expensive. 

Our next stop is the Underground Cemetery of Nagcarlan Laguna before hitting the road.