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Municipality in Laguna, Philippines
Photo: Judgefloro, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Los Baños is a resort and university town in Laguna, located south of Metro Manila across the country's largest lake, Laguna de Bay. Commonly called LB or Elbi, it is from Manila and is a popular weekend destination for residents. It is largely a satellite community of adjacent Calamba.
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UPLB, Elbi
Primarily a university of agriculture. There are some places of interest within its administered area:.
Little streams and rivulets cut through the demonstration garden.
Biological & zoological exhibits. Hopefully it won't be a field trip day for all the Metro Manila schools.
ACB
IRRI
On a large (252 hectares, 620 acres) experimental farm. In the 1960s and 1970s, the facility pioneered the development of fast-growing and large-yielding "miracle rice" varieties, along with controversial genetically-modified produced.
Formerly a national park, now a reserve administered by the university's forestry department. It is adjacent to the campus and, like the campus, includes some sites of interest.
A school for young artists managed by the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Perhaps what stands out most though are the truly exceptional views of Lake Laguna.
A campsite at the foot of Mount Makiling
Jose Rizal's older brother, Paciano, became a general in the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War. When peace came, Paciano moved to Los Baños and bought a plot of land from which he built a house in 1927 and did farming. The private residence is still owned by Rizal's heirs and is open only by prior arrangement, but contains a museum dedicated to Paciano's life complete with personal effects.
The main Roman Catholic church in Los Baños, dating from the 17th century, although its appearance has been significantly altered by modern cement renovations.
Small waterfall
Yamashita Shrine
In 1946, General Tomoyuki Yamashita, the "Tiger of Malaya", was executed by hanging at this site following his conviction for war crimes committed by Japanese forces during World War II, including the conversion of UPLB into a concentration camp. A small shed housing a simple tombstone with Japanese inscription now stands at the site. A few meters to the back is a similar shrine to General Masaharu Homma, who was hanged after being held responsible for Japanese atrocities during the Bataan Death March in 1942.
An elevated site where an optical illusion makes it appear that cars move on their own or in the opposite direction.
Fine hiking destination, not only to the peak but also en route through the UPLB-owned Mount Makiling Forest Reserve. Birding and sightseeing opportunities avail (as in big views of surrounding territory). But take ample water, watch out for leeches, and be prepared to come back sticky and withered after completing the 3200 ft (Peak 2 being the highest point) ascent and back. Takes about 4–5 hours each way, so plan to make it a full day outing. Some sites associated with the trek are Flatrocks (river cascade), Mudspring (often mistaken as volcanic crater of Mt. Makiling)
Good for if you need a Korean fix.
Good Mexican food plus a few Filipino dishes, pizza, donuts, & expensive steaks. No guacamole or margueritas.
Homemade cakes, pastries, and specialty coffee.
Pool with slides and lazy river, spa, gym.
Pool, waterslide.
Casa Florentina 1, 2, 3 for groups
Japanese style resort with onsen (hot spring) where you can even put on a yakuta (kimono).
More pool/spa bliss, with a restaurant.
A nearer public market to UPLB.
By bus
Los Baños is served by frequent bus service from Manila to Santa Cruz or Pagsanjan.
By car
You may take the South Luzon Expressway southeast from Manila, then exit at Calamba to follow the national roads.
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Manila (Pasay) · International · MNL
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