TAAL LAKE & VOLCANO, TALISAY, BATANGAS, PHILIPPINES
Philippines
The divine flame of thought is inextinguishable in the Filipino people, and somehow or other it will shine forth and compel recognition. It is impossible to brutalize the inhabitants of the Philippines!
_ Jose Rizal
Cities, Towns & Provinces
Philippines, named in honor of King Philip II of Spain, is an island nation located at the eastern edge of Asia, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east and the South China Sea to the west. The country, consisting of over seven thousand islands - some are too small to be inhabited or even named - is divided into three island groups: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. There are about 80 dialects with Tagalog as the national language and English as second.
The country was a Spanish colony from 1565 to 1898, followed by American colonization between 1898 to 1946. There are over a hundred different cultural groups in the Philippines with rich diversity in customs and traditions, as well as food influenced by eastern and western cultures.
Lakes
Philippines has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, with coral reefs to explore, sail and surf. Some of the best diving and snorkeling is to be found in Palawan - a large island group not directly part of the other three groups. The country is also home to a diverse range of landscapes – volcanoes, rivers and lakes, mountains, forests and plains.
Most of the lakes in the Philippines are closely related to volcanic and tectonic activities. There are three popular large lakes known in the country: Laguna de Bay located in Luzon, the largest lake in the Philippines, Lake Lanai in Mindanao, the second largest and third is Taal Lake in Luzon.
Laguna de Bay, Santa Cruz, Laguna
Other Attractions in the Philippines
Philippine Tarsier
Taal Volcano
Villa Escudero
Underground Cemetery
Caliraya Lake, Santa Cruz, Laguna
Taal Lake, Talisay, Batangas
Seven Lakes of San Pablo
The city of San Pablo is known as the "City of Seven Lakes". When you are in the area and you have the time, it is worth trying to see all seven of them, as we did. Sampaloc Lake is the largest and is located just at the edge of the town. The view across the lake toward the southeast with Mount Banahao dominating the view is quite stunning. It is a pleasant walk around the lake, its shores mostly dominated by residences and, closer to town, hotels and restaurants. Most of the lakes have fish farms, while two of them, Pandin and Yambo, offer recreation. There are hiking trails that connect all seven of the lakes.