Experiencing Laguna (Part 4): The Story of the Iconic Arch of Santa Rosa

“Bandits infested the roads and rivers, ravaged fields and farms, pillaged churches and set light to houses in an orgy of murder, robbery and rapine in which there was ‘hardly and evil deed that their rash boldness [did] not perform”

This was how the late 19th Century Philippines was described by many commentators and historians. Filipinos at that time lived in constant danger and with great fear against lawless elements that prowl the areas outside of the town centers. Aside from the threat of tulisanes or bandits, the Philippines was in turmoil that time due to the looming revolt of the Katipuneros. 

La Laguna is not exempted to that state of affairs since some of the villages around Laguna de Bay were considered as “ladrone towns” or villages inhabited by ladrones or tulisanes. The neighboring province of Cavite is known as a bandit refuge that’s why the colonial government established the Cuartel de Santo Domingo in the area that is now occupied by the training compound of the PNP Special Action Force. The cuartel served as the barracks of the guardia civil and forward base against the bandits from Cavite.

I’ve been harping on the lawlessness of 19th Century Philippines when I discovered that the Santa Rosa Arch is not just a simple welcome arch but was originally called as “Bantayang Bato”. It was a structure that was meant to protect Santa Rosa from lawless elements. 

The Arch of Santa Rosa City.

The Santa Rosa Arch is my favorite spot in the poblacion of Santa Rosa, Laguna. The arch gives the Parisian “Arc de Triomphe” vibe that are contrasted by Philippine jeepneys passing through it.

The arch is simply adorned with images of angels blowing their trumpets. At its base are lions, which announce Santa Rosa’s moniker as the “Lion City of the South”. The current form of the arch is a far cry from its old form as seen in old photos.

Evolution of Sta. Rosa Arch as displayed in the Sta. Rosa City Museum.

According to Arch. Mario C. Zavalla and Ms. Gemalin Batino-Diaz, the original structure of Bantayang Bato was built in 1817 or 5 years after the Santa Rosa de Lima Church was constructed. It was placed beside the river to serve as a lookout and a garita or checkpoint against tulisanes navigating through the Silang - Santa Rosa River. The Cavite town of Silang was a notorious haven of bandits during the Spanish Period. Bandits who wished to attack Santa Rosa possibly used the river to travel from Silang. This is the reason why Cuartel de Santo Domingo is at the Santa Rosa - Silang boundary and beside the Silang - Santa Rosa River. 

The arch was reconstructed in 1860 to make it wider for easy page. A "small treble bell" was placed in the next year to make it easier to raise alarm when tulisanes were sighted from the watch tower. The original arch was a simple one tier-masonry style, very much like the current form of Santa Rosa Arch.

The Santa Rosa Arch was refurbished in 1925. It was then dismantled and reconstructed on its current location in 1931 due to the increasing vehicular traffic. Yep, you read that right! A 71-year-old historical structure that protected the town from bandits were demolished and relocated just to make way for cars and jeeps. 

Good thing that the current Santa Rosa Arch was not demolished since it is in the way of vehicular traffic. The city government just made additional lanes around it. I guess they should have done that with Bantayang Bato.

The lion at the foot of Santa Rosa Arch.

I thought that Santa Rosa City just recently used the lion as its symbol. However, Zavalla and Batino-Diaz claimed that the lion as a symbol was already in use by Santa Rosa since the Spanish times. They said that the lion statues were already present at the foot of the Bantayang Bato. The lion statues were also displayed at government buildings such as the casa tribunal and the hacienda of the city mayor. Thus, the symbol of the lion is very apt for Santa Rosa City.

I will never see the Arch of Santa Rosa the same way again. Instead of being awed by it, the arch reminds of the destruction wrought in the name of progress. Laguna has plenty of historical sites and heritage buildings that were demolished for the sake of economy and business to the point that the towns of Laguna transformed into modern cities that lost their soul. By discarding their past, these Laguna towns just became poor copies of Makati CBD or BGC.

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Read my other blog posts for the Experiencing Laguna series:

Experiencing Laguna (Part 1): Rizal Monument and a Peek at the History of Biñan

Experiencing Laguna (Part 2): Our Overnight Stay in La Vista Pansol Resort

Experiencing Laguna (Part 3): A Healthy and Relaxing Dip in Laguna Hot Spring Resort (Pansol, Calamba)

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References:

1. "Ang Bantayan" and the Four Lions by Mario C. Zavalla and Gemalin Batino-Diaz in Santa Rosa Heritage magazine (January 202 edition) retrieved from Santa Rosa Memoirs FB Page

2. Gemalin Batino FB page

3. LaChambre's Preparation for the Silang Offensive from Cuartel de Santo Domingo during the 1897 Philippine Revolution by Shine Relle Nuñez retrieved from Research Gate

4. Bandits, Banditry and Landscapes of Crime in the Nineteenth-Century Philippines by Greg Bankoff retrieved from Cambridge University Press

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Experiencing Laguna (Part 3): A Healthy and Relaxing Dip in Laguna Hot Spring Resort (Pansol, Calamba)

One day, during one of her rare visits to our house, the Sister-in-Law said that we should go to a pool and swim. We accommodated her request, even though it was sudden and unplanned, by bringing her to Pansol, Calamba. We particularly brought her to Laguna Hot Spring Resort.

We chose Laguna Hot Spring Resort because they allowed guests to bring their own food. As a typical Filipino family, we brought our own rice and ulam, and also some snacks to the resort.

I was surprised the moment I saw the swimming pool of Laguna Hot Spring Resort. It was as dark as the polluted waters of Manila Bay.

The dark pool is not dark because of the water but because its bottom is natural soil with volcanic rocks. This is proof that their hot spring is all natural.

Unlike La Vista Pansol Resort, which is another hot spring resort nearby, Laguna Hot Spring Resort has only 1 swimming pool. It only has simple amenities and has no slides or other gimmicks. It is just a simple pool of warm water springing out of the soil underneath.

We actually enjoyed dipping in the warm waters of Laguna Hot Spring Resort. The kids loved floating in the pool in their floating rings. We, the adults, loved relaxing in the hot spring. The warm water eased the tensions of our muscles and reduced the stress in our body.

Additionally, the hot spring is inhabited by small fishes that nibble the dead skin off our feet. They cleaned our feet, which was a “tickling” experience. The fish gave me a jolt the first time they nibbled my foot.

All in all, our day tour in Laguna Hot Spring was an enjoyable experience. We relaxed and had good family bonding. The only negative comment is that the place can be crowded, especially during weekends and holidays.

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Read my other blog posts for the Experiencing Laguna series:

Experiencing Laguna (Part 1): Rizal Monument and a Peek at the History of Biñan

Experiencing Laguna (Part 2): Our Overnight Stay in La Vista Pansol Resort

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Summer is here! Are you looking for a place to swim? Read about my other blog posts about resorts and beaches that I visited previously:

1. Catadman Lodge in Danao City (Cebu)

2. San Francisco Bay Lodge in Camotes Islands (Cebu)

3. Camotes Islands beach resorts (Cebu)

4. Lake Danao in Camotes Islands (Cebu)

5. Honda Bay (Palawan) Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

6. Microtel Hotel in Puerto Princesa (Palawan)

7. Puerto Princesa Underground River (Palawan): Part 1 -  Part 2 - Part 3

8. Canyon Cove Resort in Nasugbu (Batangas)

9. Laiya Aplaya in San Juan (Batangas)

10. Splash Island in Biñan (Laguna)

11. Woodside Farm and Water Park in Cabuyao (Laguna)

12. Batis Aramin Hotel and Resort in Lucban (Quezon)

13. Punta de Fabian in Baras (Rizal)

14. By the Sea Resort (Olongapo City)

15. Sabang Beach Resort in Bulan (Sorsogon)

16. Bang Saen Beach (Thailand)

17. Koh Samet Island (Thailand) - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

18. La Vista Pansol Resort in Calamba, Laguna

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Experiencing Laguna (Part 2): Our Overnight Stay in La Vista Pansol Resort

Laguna is an unfortunate place for my kids who enjoy swimming. This landlocked province has no beach or access to the open sea. It only has access to Laguna de Bay, which is a terrible place to dip in. Fortunately, Laguna has another option and that is the hot springs of Calamba and Los Baños.

So last month, when the kids were clamoring for a swim, we brought them to Calamba and booked an overnight stay at La Vista Pansol.

It was not our first time swimming in the hot springs of Calamba since we already visited Laguna Hot Springs twice. What prompted me to choose La Vista Pansol this time is their swimming pool for kids.

Kiddie Pool of La Vista Pansol Resort

The children’s swimming pool has a “fort” in the center that has plenty of slides. My kids truly enjoyed it.

Aside from the kiddie slides, La Vista Pansol also has slides for adults. These slides reminded me of Woodside Farm and Water Park in Cabuyao.

Giant slides! Ang paboritong slide ni Panganay.

It was Friday when we had our overnight so there were very few guests during our stay. Add to the fact that the swimming pools are big then we did not feel crowded during our whole stay. Our photos clearly show na walang tao. I was able to take photos as if there are no guest in this resort.

The kids truly enjoyed the kiddie slides and pool but my eldest son, who is a daredevil, preferred the adult slide. I tried it twice and I might not try it again in the future since it made me nervous.

My kids usually have irritations and itchy skin after dipping into a swimming pool because of the high chlorine content of the water. It was not so in La Vista Pansol since the water is sourced directly from the hot spring. I actually saw pipes pouring hot water directly into the swimming pool. We even used the warm water to massage our backs.

My parents’ favorite area is the hot spring pool. They spent a long time relaxing their body in the warm waters of natural spring.

An Impromptu Visit to a Zoo

The one amenity that other resorts in Pansol don’t have is the Laguna Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center that hosts a variety of birds and other animals. And the good thing about it is that we didn't pay any additional fee to enter it.

My kids’ favorite is this parrot that talked back to them.

That parrot’s favorite word is “pangit” (ugly) and it shamelessly shouted it to us much to the laughter of our little ones. Nakakatuwa makitang tumawa ang mga bata and it is such a good time for us.

We also saw other birds, a giant tortoise, sheep, goats, snakes, and monkeys.

It was fun seeing the kids getting excited with the animals. The side trip to the Wildlife Rescue Center is definitely worth the time.

Some Negative Comments on La Vista Pansol Resort

I think that the current La Vista Pansol is but a shadow of its former glory. This resort is already run down due to lack of maintenance. The room that we had is “ok” but can be improved.

The gate of La Vista Pansol Resort with broken signage.

There were plenty of things that were lacking such as the water kettle. I even had to go back and forth between the room and resort lobby just to get hot water for our morning coffee.

Rooms in La Vista Pansol Resort

Another thing that was lacking was breakfast. They didn’t have complimentary breakfast nor did they sell any decent meal. What they only have are cup noodles and other sari-sari store items in their small store, which are pricier than normal.

La Vista Pansol’s store also has limited items for sale so we had to go out and walk a long distance to another store with touristy prices.

The resort is also far away from the highway and we had to hire a tricycle to bring us there. This is so unlike Laguna Hot Springs that is just walking distance from the highway.

How Much is Our La Vista Pansol Experience

Our group is composed of 7 persons, namely, me, My Beloved Wife, our 3 kids, and my parents.

The resort charged us a total of 4,160. However, due to the senior citizen discount and the Valentines Month promo for married couples, we only paid 3,320 pesos for the overnight stay. Our payment already covered our room and the swimming pools, excluding the wave pool.

I think that the amount that we paid is reasonable since our kids enjoyed their swim without the crowd. We are lucky that we went to La Vista Pansol during the weekday.

Room, cottage, and other rates can be viewed in the official FB page of La Vista Pansol Resort.

Our Overall Experience in La Vista Pansol

Despite the negative comments that I had with La Vista Pansol Resort, I still give this place a very good rating since our kids enjoy the pool because of their many slides and various amenities. I hope that they improve the place so that we can have a better experience when we visit next time.

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Read my other blog posts for the Experiencing Laguna series:

Experiencing Laguna (Part 1): Rizal Monument and a Peek at the History of Biñan

Experiencing Laguna (Part 3): A Healthy and Relaxing Dip in Laguna Hot Spring Resort (Pansol, Calamba)

- - -

Summer is here! Are you looking for a place to swim? Read about my other blog posts about resorts and beaches that I visited previously:

1. Catadman Lodge in Danao City (Cebu)

2. San Francisco Bay Lodge in Camotes Islands (Cebu)

3. Camotes Islands beach resorts (Cebu)

4. Lake Danao in Camotes Islands (Cebu)

5. Honda Bay (Palawan) Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

6. Microtel Hotel in Puerto Princesa (Palawan)

7. Puerto Princesa Underground River (Palawan): Part 1 -  Part 2 - Part 3

8. Canyon Cove Resort in Nasugbu (Batangas)

9. Laiya Aplaya in San Juan (Batangas)

10. Splash Island in Biñan (Laguna)

11. Woodside Farm and Water Park in Cabuyao (Laguna)

12. Batis Aramin Hotel and Resort in Lucban (Quezon)

13. Punta de Fabian in Baras (Rizal)

14. By the Sea Resort (Olongapo City)

15. Sabang Beach Resort in Bulan (Sorsogon)

16. Bang Saen Beach (Thailand)

17. Koh Samet Island (Thailand) - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

18. Laguna Hot Spring Resort in Pansol, Calamba

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Ano ang Kumpisal at Paano Magkumpisal?

Lahat ng Kristyano ay inaanyahan mg magsisi sa mga nagawang pagkakasala ngayong panahon ng kwaresma. Sa mga Katoliko, ag kaakibat ng pagsisisi ay ang Sakramento ng Kumpisal. Kaya nga sa panahon ng Kwaresma ay laging may kumpisalang bayan para magkaroon ang mga tao ng pagkakataon na magkumpisal ng kanilang mga kasalanan.

(Source: Catholic News World)

Ayon sa Katekismo, ang kumpisal ay ang sakramento na nag-aalis o nagpapatawad ng ating mga kasalanan pagkatapos tayong binyagan. Ang binyag ay kayang mag-alis ng mga salang orihinal at personal pero ito ay pwedeng gawin isang beses lang. Kaya naman ang Kumpisal ay para sa pagpapatawan ng mga personal na kasalanan na nagawa pagkatapos mabinyagan.

Ang kumpisal ay nagpapanumbalik ng kaisahan ng taong nagkasala sa grasya ng Diyos.

Ano ang Ginagawa sa Kumpisal

Ang kumpisal ay isinasagawa sa kumpisalan (confessional). Ang nangungumpisal ay babanggitin sa pari ang lahat ng nagawa nyang pagkakasala. Sa huli ang pari ay magbibigay ng absolution o pagpapatawad ng kasalanan at mga “acts of penance”.

Bago magkumpisal ay mabuting suriin ang iyong budhi o kalooban. Sa pagsusuri ay inaalala mo ang mga nagawa mong pagkakasala. Maarin mong gawing gabay ang Sampung Utos ng Diyos sa iyong pagsusuri ng budhi.

Narito ang pagkakasunod-sunod ng gawain sa Kumpisal:

1. Pumunta sa lugar kumpisalan o confessional, lumuhod at sabihin: “Sa ngalan ng Ama at ng Anak at ng Espiritu Santo. Amen. Basbasan mo po ako Padre (o Father) sapagkat ako ay nagkasala. Ang aking huling kumpisal ay: (sabihin kung kailan ka huling nagkumpisal). Ito po ang aking mga kasalanan: (sabihin ang lahat ng nagawang kasalanan mula noong iyong huling kumpisal)
2. Pagkatapos sabihin ang mga kasalanan banggitin: “Padre (o Father) ito po ang lahat ng nagawa kong kasalanan”
3. Pagkatapos nito ay magsasalita ang pari. Sa puntong ito ay pwedeng magbigay ng payo ang pari. Dito rin magbibigay ng penitensyang ang pari.
4. Dasalin ang panalangin ng pagsisisi.
5. Magpasalamat sa Diyos sa kapatawarang ibigay Niya sa iyo, lumabas ng lugar kumpisalan at iyong gawin ang ipinataw na penitensya.

Hindi mo kailangan banggitin ang ekstaktong araw kung kelan ka huling nagkumpisal. Halimbawa, pwede mong sabihin na ang iyong huling kumpisal ay isang buwan na ang nakalipas o isang taon na ang nakalipas. Pwedeng magbigay ng tantya.

Ang madalas na ibigay na penitensya ay ang pagdarasal ng Ama Namin o Aba Ginoong Maria. Maari ring penitensya na ipataw ng pari ay ang pagbabasa ng Biblia. Sunding mabuti ang ipapataw na penitensya sa iyo. 

Bakit Kailangan mong Magkumpisal Ngayon?

Ang kumpisal ay ang sakramento na nagpapatawad sa ating mga kasalanan at nag-aayos ng relasyon natin sa Diyos. Ang taong hindi nagkukumpisal ay hindi dapat tumanggap ng Kumunyon o Katawan ni Kristo (ostia) dahil ang kumunyon na walang kumpisal ay mas magdadala sa atin ng matinding kaparusahan. Nas ng Diyos na linisin muna natin ang ating sarili bago natin Siya papasukin sa ating mga puso. Nais ng Diyos na iwaksi natin ang pagkabulid natin sa kasalanan dahil hindi pwedeng dalawa ang panginoon natin. Hindi pwedeng pagsabayin ang “mammon” at si Kristo. Ang kumpisal ang magpapaalis ng mammon sa ating buhay.

Ngayon ay panahon kwaresma kaya naman inaanyayahan ko kayong mangumpisal, pagsisihan amg mga kasalanan, at magbalik loob sa Diyos bago pa man dumating ang mga Mahal na Araw.

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Basahin ang tungkol sa iba pang Sakramento:

1. Ano ang Ginagawa sa First Communion?

2. Ano ang Ginagawa sa Kumpil?

3. Ano ang Ginagawa sa Binyag?

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