Laguna is a province famous for its delicacies and delicious food products.

Almost every town has its special product with its distinct taste and flavor, owing to the crop or livestock that is particularly raised in the town. Santa Cruz, Laguna is known for its white cheese or kesong puti; Los Baos, Laguna is famous for its buko pie, while Victoria, Laguna is known for its "kinulob na itik" and salted eggs. How about the other towns? What are their specialty food products? Here is a list of the delicacies to look for when you happen to pass by or visit Laguna. Buko Pie Buko pie is a famous delicacy of Los Baos town in Laguna province. Buko pie is a pastry filled with young coconuts and pudding, much similar to a coconut cream pie, but has no whipped cream topping. Bibingka There are are many versions of bibingka in the Philippines but when you are in Laguna, the bibingka of Pagsanjan is the must-try delicacy. Mer-Nels Cake Mer-Nel's chocolate cake is the favorite cake in Los Baos, Laguna. The cake is moist and light, while the icing is sweet chocolate with a hint of milk. Bibingka de Macapuno Bibingka de Macapuno is similar to the regular bibingka or rice cake but instead, it has macapuno as its filling. Kesong Puti (White Cheese) Kesong puti or white cheese is widely produced in Santa Cruz, Laguna, the town of its origin. "Kesong puti is fresh, non-aged, white, soft cheese made from the milk of carabaos or water buffalos." Monay Monay is a slightly sweet and dense bread that has a hard outer shell. Monay is widely available in many local bakeries but the monay in Bay, Laguna is deliciously different. Espasol Espasol (rice pudding) is a native Filipino sweet treat made from rice flour and coconut strips cooked in coconut milk. The cooked pudding is shaped into cylinders and then rolled into toasted rice flour. It is believed that espasol originated from Laguna, Philippines. Salted egg Puto Bian Uraro(Arrowroot cookies) Uraro or arrowroot cookies are popular in Laguna province. These cookies are delicate and powdery, and feel dry on the mouth like puto seko (although puto seko is much drier). Usually, uraro is shaped into flowers and wrapped in a thin paper called "papel de hapon." Dairy products (pastillas, yogurt, fresh milk) Ube Cassava cake Kinulob na itik Lambanog (coconut wine) Coconut vinegar

Ana Kalang Festival - Nagcarlan, Laguna, Philippines Nagcarlan, Laguna, located 105 kms. South of Manila, supposedly got its name from the legendary head of the tribe before Christianity was brought to the Philippines- Ana Kalang. This beautiful and capable leader, allegedly saw the Virgin Sta. Ana, who took the poison out of the lanzones fruit so that it can be edible, thus, the name Ana kalang Festival, in honor of the fruit which is one of the towns main agricultural product. Coconut Festival - San Pablo City, Laguna Coconut is one of the main products of the city. To make the most of the Tree of Life, and to show the world the talents and ingenuity of the local townsfolk, the Coconut Festival came into existence. Now on its 10th year, having its maiden year on January, 1996, the coco fest is held during the celebration of the citys patron saint, St. Paul the First Hermit, which falls every 15th of January. Feast of the Risen Christ - San Pablo City, Laguna An age-old tradition for the San Pableos is the observance of the Holy Week wherein a procession of life-sized images in huge carozas (floats) depicting the passion of Christ is done. Held every Holy Wednesday and Good Friday, a religious holiday, people from near and far were free to troop to this place to witness this event. Mayflower Festival - San Pablo City, Laguna Another age-old tradition that the San Pableos celebrate is the Flores de Maria sometimes also called as Santacruzan held on the month of May, one of the summer months in the Philippines. The Flores de Maria is offering of flowers to the Blessed Virgin Mary done by small girls to teen-aged ones donned in gowns. Before the offering of the flowers, these lovely ladies parade in streets at night. Santacruzan, on the other hand, is a reenactment of the finding of the Holy Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. Festivals of Lights - San Pablo City, Laguna In the celebration of Christmas during December, the people of San Pablo have always made it their tradition to adorn the front of their houses, especially their windows, the trees or plants on their front yard or even their gates, with strings of colorful lights as a symbol of welcoming the birth of Christ. With this, the tourism Council of San Pablo thought that it will be best to make this tradition a more festive occasion, thus, the birth of the Festival of Lights which had its maiden year in December, 2004. October festival (Market by the lake) - San Pablo City, Laguna To boost the trade and commerce in San Pablo, the San Pablo City Chamber of Commerce and the San Pablo City Tourism Council came up with the October Festival. First conducted in October, 2004, the festival was a raging success. A Trade Fair and Exhibit was held on the banks of Sampaloc Lake.

Bangkero Festival - Pagsanjan, Laguna the Bangkero Festival was launched in May, 1999 as a showcase for the bravery of its boatmen (bangkeros). The Bangkero Festival was conceptualized in honor of the people who has worked hard to present the world their hometowns natural wonder. Not minding the strong river current, these boatmen carry people to the site of the famous waterfall. It is just apt that the city government gives tribute to them through the Bangkero Festival. The 5-day festival opens with Best Bangka Presentation, Best Float and Street Dancing. This activity is a contest for decorated boats and floats being paraded

through the towns main thoroughfare while the street dancing is a parade of students from different schools donned in colorful and attractive costumes swaying to the beat of upbeat music. Tsinelas Festival - Liliw, Laguna This little town is actually the Footwear Capital of Laguna, being the source of quality footwear, most notably tsinelas (slippers). No wonder not only residents of neighboring towns patronize their products but balikbayans as well. Because of the thriving footwear industry, the local government, through the encouragement of the Southern Tagalog Tourism Council whose main concern is to develop tourism in Region IV through the implementation of FESTIVALS, conceptualize the Gat Tayaw Tsinelas Festival. The festival is dubbed as such in honor of the towns founder-Gat Tayaw- and its major industry-tsinelas. First held in April 5-7, 2002, the Gat Tayaw Tsinelas Festival was a raging success with no less than Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the guest of honor. Pinya Festival - Calauan, Laguna Calauan, Laguna, located 74 kilometers south of Manila is known for its prime agricultural product- pinya (pineapple). Claiming their local product is the sweetest in the Philippines, the town is trooped by people from near or far alike. It is just natural that their local officials create a festival using their most treasured possession. The Pinya Festival started in May, 2003 as the highlight in the celebration of the towns fiesta, the feast of San Isidro Labrador. The festivities include Trade Fair Exhibit, Nightly Cultural Presentations, Culinary Contest, Search for Binibining Calauan, Grand Float Parade and Mardigras Street Dancing. Itik Festival - Victoria, Laguna Itik ( Anas Plathrhynchos Linn ) a breed of duck, is the main product of the town of Victoria in Laguna. This small, bustling town is the center of the duck industry in the province. In this regard, on the occasion of its 52nd year as a municipality, the local government launched the Itik Festival on November, 2002.

Turumba Festival - Pakil, Laguna One of the most celebrated religious festivals in the country is the Turumba festival in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows Nuestra Seora de los Dolores de Turumba. Based on research the original framed Image of the Virgin is the picture of the Virgin of Sorrows with the name Virgin de Las Antiguas. This is now the Image placed in a special nook at the Church Altar, the same image exulted in the Turumba festival during the Lupi Season in the months of March and April. Keso Festival - Sta. Cruz, Laguna Sta. Cruz, Laguna, located 96 kms south of Manila, the provinces capital is developed as the administrative, commercial and service center of the province. But aside from this, Sta Cruz has still a lot more to offer- it is the site of the famous Keso Festival. In celebration of the towns quadricentennial as a municipality in April, 2002, the Keso Festival came into existence. Kesong Puti is an authentic Filipino cheese which originated from Laguna. It is made from the freshest carabaos milk and is made hard using a coagulating agent- either vinegar or rennet (part of the cows stomach). A small amount of salt is added to give it added flavor. It is said that kesong puti originated from Sta. Cruz, the reason why the municipal officials put up a festival in its honor.

Laguna Climate Laguna Islands Philippines

Laguna Island Philippines is relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year for a small portion near the southern boundary. The other parts, west of Santa Cruz municipality, experience a dry season from November to April and rainy season during the rest of the year. The eastern and southern most portions do not have distinct season, with rainfall more evenly distributed throughout the year.

Mount Makiling, Los Baos

Mt. Makiling is an inactive volcano, rising to about 1,109 meter above sea level. The vegetation consists of approximately 2,048 different species of plants. According to legends, the slopes of Mt. Makiling are shaped like that of a woman reclining down. Some say that it is the profile of the sleeping Mariang Makiling, a legendary goddess. Still others say that Mariang Makiling dwells in this mountain and protects it from harm.

Pagsanjan Falls, Cavinti

The name of the falls is Magdapio Falls, located the next town, Cavinti. However, the falls has been popularly known as Pagsanjan Falls because the trip to the falls, referred to as shooting the rapids, starts from Pagsanjan.

Crocodile Lake, Los Baos

Crocodile Lake is a small crater lake situated on the edge of Laguna de Bay, shaped like a crocodile.

Buruwisan Falls, Siniloan

Buruwisan Falls is one of the five falls found in the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges, the others being Guiling-Guiling Falls, Lanzones Falls, Binaytuan Falls, and Sebakon Falls. Most of these falls are still unexplored. Buruwisan Falls is the most popular because it is the most accessible. Buruwisan Falls has a more or less 50-meter drop.

Dalatiwan River, Botocan, Majayjay

The terrain is rugged as mountain lands go, and the cool waters of the river gush through the rocks and boulders along the watercourse in sweeping currents. Better brace yourself for the trip to the Dalitiwan River.

Seven Lakes, San Pablo City

Seven lakes is nestled in a depression created long ago by volcanic activity. The seven lakes are: Sampaloc, Mojicap, Palakpakin, Calibato, Pandin, Yambo and the Bunot Lakes. Sampaloc Lake, the biggest of the seven lakes, is dotted fishpens where tilapia, a local freshwater carp species is breed.

Hidden Valley Springs, Calauan Eight Mountains, Nagcarlan

It includes Mt. Atimla, Mt. Mabilog, Mt. Nagcarlan, Mt. Malauban, Mt. Lansay, Mt. Bayaquitos, Mt. Cristobal and Mt. Banahaw.