Only 3 hours away, San Pablo is too close to Manila that I have never thought it to be naturesque. Boy, was I wrong.
Lake Pandin was everything I did not think it would be. It is calm, clean and peaceful- with forested hills surrounding the lake. And we did enjoy bamboo rafting. There is a bamboo table in the bamboo raft -for those who will have their meals during the tour. It was a shame we did not have our lunch there- it would have been more fun!
Lake Pandin is special - but what makes the place more special is the 22 or so families living by the lake. While tourism is their main source of livelihood, they know how to work together and make sure that the lake remains clean and pristine. Unlike the other tourist places in the Philippines where locals compete for business, the families in Pandin pool together their income from bamboo rafting and divide equally among each other at the end of each day- no matter how small it is. Both the males and the females work as "bangkero" or "bangkera". Part of the income goes to the regular clean up of the lake. They also abide by the regulation prohibiting the cutting of trees surrounding the lake. Pardon the use of development jargon--but it is community based resource management at work. The tourism department did its job well over there- and the people we talked to are giving them credit for organizing and training them and for linking them with the different hotels and establishments in San Pablo.
But then of course, like in many areas, they have their challenges. The road leading to the lake is privately owned. A small pathway leading to the lake was donated to the government to give the people "right of way". However, closer to the lake, the land owner is currently constructing a gate. The people were told the gate will remain open during day time to allow the residents and visitors to pass through- but it will be closed starting 10 at night. Now, what about the "right of way" of the residents after 10 PM? I hope the local government and the tourism department would help resolve this.
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| Pandin Lake from the top |
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| Bamboo rafting in the lake |
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| One of our bangkeros |
Lake Pandin is special - but what makes the place more special is the 22 or so families living by the lake. While tourism is their main source of livelihood, they know how to work together and make sure that the lake remains clean and pristine. Unlike the other tourist places in the Philippines where locals compete for business, the families in Pandin pool together their income from bamboo rafting and divide equally among each other at the end of each day- no matter how small it is. Both the males and the females work as "bangkero" or "bangkera". Part of the income goes to the regular clean up of the lake. They also abide by the regulation prohibiting the cutting of trees surrounding the lake. Pardon the use of development jargon--but it is community based resource management at work. The tourism department did its job well over there- and the people we talked to are giving them credit for organizing and training them and for linking them with the different hotels and establishments in San Pablo.
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| The other side of the lake. |
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| Bamboo rafts awaiting their guests |
But then of course, like in many areas, they have their challenges. The road leading to the lake is privately owned. A small pathway leading to the lake was donated to the government to give the people "right of way". However, closer to the lake, the land owner is currently constructing a gate. The people were told the gate will remain open during day time to allow the residents and visitors to pass through- but it will be closed starting 10 at night. Now, what about the "right of way" of the residents after 10 PM? I hope the local government and the tourism department would help resolve this.
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