□ Spanish Colonial Period Churches (Pakil and Paete, Laguna)
□ Wood Carving (Paete, Laguna)
□ Pila, Laguna
II. Lunch Place
Exotic Restaurant
III. Brief Description of Sites
□ Rizal Province
Angono Artists’ “Village”. The town of Angono is known for the Higantes Festival and for its admirable artworks of extraordinarily talented artists. It is the home town of the two great National Artists of the Philippines, Carlos "Botong" Francisco for visual arts and Maestro and Lucio San Pedro for music, who have inspired generations of artists to create numerous works in varied styles of artistic expressions.
There are a number of art galleries and studios within the town which makes Angono the Art Capital of the Philippines. These are the Blanco Family Museum, Nemiranda Arthouse & Gallery, Tiamson Art Gallery, Ang Nuno Artists Foundation Gallery, Village Artists Gallery, Juban Studios, Vicente Reyes Art Studio, the Second Gallery and the Angono Ateliers Gallery.
□ Laguna Province
□ Pakil Church (St. Peter de Alcantara Church).
San Pedro Bautista is the founder of first Pakil community in 1588-1602. Pakil was then attached to parish of Paete as a visita in 1676. Franciscan missionary Fr. Francisco Barajas reached Pakil and permanently established his mission here. Through his zeal and industry he was able to separate Pakil from Paete on May 12,1676. He became first parish priest and St. Peter of Alcantara became the patron saint of Pakil. The church has attracted much interest from pilgrims, artists, architects and the cultural community for its unique features and high state of preservation.
Paete Church
Like many churches in Laguna, Paete Catholic Church was built during the early Spanish period. The novelty of this church is that it is a rich repository of religious statuaries; the altar and backdrop were carved and painted by the residents of Paete who are known to be master carvers and prominent sculptors. The intricate baroque altar is a testimony to the artistry of Paete’s famed woodcarvers. The walls of the church are adorned with large murals done by Jose Dans (19th Century), a son of Paete who used color pigments mixed with pulverized volcanic ash and brushes fashioned from cat’s hair. Although the church has been recently restored, the original design features have been conserved.
Woodcarving Shops
Paete is a lakeside town located at the northeastern part of Laguna, along the shores of picturesque Laguna de Bay. It was founded in 1580 by the Spanish Friars’ Juan de Placencia and Diego de Oropesa, both of the Franciscan Order. The early inhabitants were of Malay lineage, coming all the way from Borneo in their swift and sturdy boats called Balangay made famous by the skilled craftsmen in wood carving. The Paesteños to this day continue with their tradition in carving and painting. In 2004, the town of Paete was declared by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the Carving Capital of the Philippines.
Embroidery Shops
Lumban, which got its name from Lumban tree, is one of the oldest towns of the province of Laguna. The main production of the town is embroidery on fabrics made from banana (jusi) and pineapple (piña) fibers that was introduced during the middle part of the Spanish colonial period. The craft has been the main activity of the town for over 2 centuries. The province’s capital town, Sta. Cruz, as well as Cavinti and Pagsanjan, were once part of Lumban. The town is known as the Embroidery Capital of the Philippines.
Local Shopping in Liliw
Nestled in one of the foothills of Mt. Banahaw in the Province of Laguna, the town is quaint, dotted with well-preserved homes and well-ordered communities that reflect the spirit of Liliweños, who have adapted to the changing needs of times. Traditionally a rich agricultural area, the townsfolk have added improved ways in livelihood with the opening of boutiques and stores specializing in modern-day footwear, handbags, accessories and food stalls selling delicacies that Laguna is famous for. The town’s main street of Gat Tayaw is dotted with fascinating outlets for ladies and children’s accessories.
Pila, Laguna
The town is an extant example of Spanish colonial town planning. There are a number of well-preserved houses around the church – town plaza – municipal hall cluster with various architectural interpretations and styles reflecting the early years of the 20th century.
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