PAGSANJAN, LAGUNA

The town of Pagsanjan is blessed with natural wonders – the awe-inspiring gorges, the roaring rapids, and the Pagsanjan Falls, a plus factor that made Pagsanjan one of the premiere tourist attractions of the country. The gorges teem with wild orchids, ferns, and vines, and in early morning, chattering monkeys and beautiful sunrays and peaceful water. Inside, multi-colored birds flirt in the bushes. The thrill of shooting the rapids here is an experience of a lifetime, starting with boarding a banca paddled by two expert Pagsanjeño boatmen. The only way to the falls is through the Bumbungan River of Pagsanjan. The upstream trip, three miles from outside town on the rugged Cavinti highlands, is relatively slow as the boatmen paddle and drag the banca against the currents. But the half-hour trip back provides an unforgettable experience in shooting the 14 rapids.The rainy season is the best time to view the series of mini-falls, over 19 in all, first of which is the Talahib Falls. Farther on are the Kalukuy Falls and the misty Bridal Veil Falls. Some of these mini-falls are unnamed and rarely seen in the summer. Huge stones called Pusong Bato lay at the center of the river.Pagsanjan is further known for beautiful and quality shoes and locally made slippers. The shoe store located at Gen. Taiño Street is a tourist favorite.