Garden shows… graduation… enrollment… transcript of records…. Just some of the reasons why going back to UPLB is a must. For those coming for the first time or coming back for the first time in so many years, the UPLB website has instructions on how to go to UPLB. From driving or commuting to UPLB from Manila or driving or commuting from Quezon Province and Bicol Region to alternative routes, it’s all there.
Several years ago, Los Banos was declared a Nature and Science City and you can see a marker to commemorate this event just beside the municipal hall.
Whenever I think of Laguna de Bay, I think of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Or for that matter, some of the places in Calamba and Los Baños that have been mentioned in these novels. What I remember most from the Noli is the picnic in the lake with Ibarra, Maria Clara and their fiends, the fight between Elias and the crocodile as well as how Ibarra helped Elias kill the crocodile. In the Fili, the first chapter presents a boat called Tabo (and how it symbolizes the Philippines then, and perhaps till today) as it goes up from Pasig. Simoun was on the boat, the passengers were discussing an event several years beforehand, of an outlaw that drowned on the lake, and suddenly Simoun turned white pretending to be sick (I know I’m not doing justice to the Noli and the Fili with my summary). There is Dampalit Falls, Susong Dalaga (this is not female snails but “suso ng dalaga) as well as Talim Island. What brought about my reminiscence of the Noli and the Fili? I was in PCARRD last week and got a view of Laguna de Bay. It’s quite amusing really, how we know that Los Baños is just beside Laguna de Bay but we never seem to see it from campus. Either you have to go up Makiling or go to Bayan to see it. Incidentally, you might want to brush up on the Noli and the Fili again. You could buy a hardcopy or you can volunteer at Project Gutenberg’s Distributed Proofreaders . All public domain books such as the Noli and the Fili are converted to ebooks and distributed freely. Both books are in the proofreading stages. And if a lot of us volunteer, then they can be placed in Project Gutenberg faster and distributed to the world. I have volunteered already and it would be great to see more Filipino books in ebook format.
A view of Laguna de BayThink early 90s. Think of Raymundo past 8pm. It’s too dark. Best not to pass through that place alone. Few stalls. It’s an area where you would mostly like be robbed. You’d never be there late at night for fear of getting accosted. Where frat rumbles are most like to occur. Fast forward, present. Raymundo Gate has a life of its own. At the entrance lies a small wet market where you can get the freshest vegetables and good quality seafoods. It has a few food shops as well and that ubiquitous cell phone store for your e-load needs. A new stall has opened that offers brewed Barako coffee though I have yet to try it. If you are into salads, this is the way to go. You can find different kinds of lettuce, cucumber, mushrooms, spinach, basil, dill, parsley – things you would seldom find at the market in Crossing or Bayan. There are several dorms and apartment buildings just after the gate. Plenty of fastfood stores as well so you have a lot of choices. Prices are student friendly, too. For 30 pesos, I get a good meal already. Carinderia-style stores are aplenty and serve a variety of dishes from breakfast till dinner. There even used to be a Japanese cuisine restaurant early this year but they closed shop already. I do wish they’d open up again for where do you get salmon sashimi for only 90 pesos? Or bento meals at 60 pesos? Further along the gate is Ellen’s Fried Chicken. Though it 2 or 3 branches already, I think this branch serves the original fried chicken as we know it. And the other dishes haven’t changed at all after all these years. You will still see the familiar mongo, afritada, chopsuey and macaroni salad. They don’t have the chicharon though. For your dose of isaw and other grilled foods, you can also find them there. Raymundo Gate connects Ruby St (of Umali Subd) to UP. At the intersection of Ruby St and F. O. Santos St you can find Ihaw Express which offers a variety of grilled items. The sisig is a must try. Some of you may remember College Variety Shop in Grove. They are now in Raymundo Gate but they don’t sell those cute pasalubong items and handicrafts. They are now a grocery store. There are also shops that offer school supplies, photocopying and computer rental. Opposite the market is a dorm and a music shool. This is the Raymundo Gate now. Far from what I think of when I walked along the streets of UPLB. It is busy with students and the community and serves as a route for those who want to avoid traffic build up along Lopez Ave. Saturdays and Tuesdays are market days for the fresh supplies are brought to the market. For those in a hurry, you can get your meal from there. If you need some school supplies, it is just a few minutes away. Raymundo Gate has come to life.
Many shops and apartments surround Raymundo Gate 
Most of the buildings offer commercial spaces on the first floor and apartments on the second floor. Most of the shops sell meals. On the left is Village Breadhouse, with delicious breads more sosyal than Jericho’s.
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Would you consider a sales career?
I came across this article from http://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/ written by an American who married a Los Baños-born lady. A few snippets below:
Of family, he writes:
“When I think of the Philippines, I see large extended families that live happily together in small places. I think of large families that remain not only physically close, but emotionally close as well.”
Of food:
“I think of the smell of fried garlic, fried fish, and fried daing (small dried fish) wafting from the kitchen. I think of the smell of fried garlic, fried fish, and fried daing (small dried fish) wafting from the neighbor’s kitchen. (Both because of the close proximity of the homes and because of the hospitality where one is welcomed and expected in the neighbor’s home.)”
Of Los Baños:
“I think of the warm smiles, courtesy, cheerful bantering, and “Hey Joe!s” of children and locals as I walk through Los Baños.”
- Excerpts from “The Hidden Face of the Philippines” by Bob Kemerait.
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Tip: Don’t forget your passport when you travel out of the country!
