We decided to visit the 7 lakes of San Pablo, Laguna, or at least whichever lakes we can visit in a day’s worth. It was farther than I expected, since Laguna doesn’t sound to me as far as Batangas or Quezon. But it was far and I was struggling to keep awake while behind the wheel because I hardly had any sleep for 2 days. But sheer perseverance kept us going, despite getting lost at one point, and we finally got to out first lake, Sampaloc lake. It was the biggest and most visited lake, since it was circumnavigated by a concrete road, so it was very accessible.
The pictures we took may look picturesque, but the reality of the lake is a bit more two-faced in quality. One one side of the road is the serene lake, on the other, crowded settlements, many of which are composed of squatters. But as always, the children were lovely.
After that, we got into Amazing Race mode and hired a tricycle driver as our guide to the lakes. Apparently, in the many years he’s been a driver, he said it was the first time he was hired to take tourists around. It seems no one really wants to see the 7 lakes, at least not in a tourist-y way. When we got to the second lake, Bunot, we had to scamper after 1 shot because the clouds started to threaten. So we left with literally one shot of the lake each.
We got tired and hungry quick, so we opted to have an early lunch at Kusina Salud. The buffet was DELICIOUS. My ultimate fave was the Paco salad. I swear, I must’ve had 3 platefuls of the green delight. There was also fresh lumpia, baka sa gata, and chicken binakol. I also loved the dessert, the scrumptious turon with latik. One of the best meals I’ve had. BUT. And it’s a big BUT. Food is one thing, service is whole new ballgame altogether. First, we found ants in 3 out of 4 pandan iced teas. So they replaced it. Then we found ants in the soup. When we told the waitress, April, she bluntly told Fritzie, “Ganyan talaga Ma’am, nasa gubat tayo eh!” then turned around and left. Flies must’ve had fun flying in and out of our gaping mouths. Unbelievable rudeness. Even if let’s say it were true, would it have hurt her to at least apologize? To say they’re trying their best but it just can’t be avoided? I’ve eaten in Sonya’s Garden, Antonio’s, The Farm, places also surrounded by plants and trees, but they never served ants with their food and expected their customers to take it because…”nasa gubat tayo, eh.” It just spoiled a perfectly lovely meal.
After the bittersweet meal at Kusina Salud, we proceeded to lake #3, Palacpaquin lake, where we didn’t even get a single shot in, except for Lennie who took ONE photo, before the rain poured in celestial buckets. It was raining so hard that we couldn’t even go back to the car. we had to take shelter in a graffiti-littered warehouse that probably stored darak because of the ripe aroma that pervaded it. We stayed there for what felt like hours. The downpour wouldn’t let up and I actually squeezed a nap in, laying my head on my camera bag.
Finally we decided that the trip was officially over. We accepted the bitter fact that the rain wouldn’t stop, that the lake would overflow, and that if we didn’t leave, we’d be tilapia food for the next week or so. We rushed to car, stuffed our gear, and started the car. The moment The car started…the rain stopped. Like a cruel cosmic joke. So like the deranged addicts that we were, we rushed back down to the lake, took as many photos as humanly possible, until the rain started pouring again.
After that, we went to Carlitos, where the artist demoed how to sculpt with brass, then after, a toe-curlingly yummy ginatan and suman with rice coffee merienda. We were stuffed. It was an exhausting and frustrating photo trip, but we never say never. We always think that we’re simply paying our dues, and honing our crafts, as often as we can. And of course, we’re constantly praying for that one photo, that money shot, that makes any photo trip worth all the tears and pain.
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