Research on your own area or municipality that best describe 5 A’s.

(Activity 1)

2.

Give a detailed explanation for this.

3.

What amenity that you wanted to experience there. (Activity 2)

1. Mount Makiling Los Banos

Makiling Mountain

The legendary, Mt. Makiling, is one of the most, if not the most famous, mountain in Luzon and has
inspired a number of poets, writers and lyricist for quite some time. It is a perfect hiking destination near
Manila especially for beginners as trails range from easy to moderate levels. The area has picnic grounds
and campsites available in the Makiling Rainforest Park, where you can enjoy the natural surroundings.
The park is perfect even for family members that are non-hikers as you can easily drive your vehicle to
the campsite and picnic areas.

Crocodile Lake

Crocodile Lake is a lake within a lake, located on the edge of Laguna de Bay. The lake is actually a crater
lake, and is one of the major vents of Mount Makiling. Its mouth leads into the Laguna de Bay. The lake
is reached by heading toward the City of Springs, and is visible from most elevated spots in Los Banos.

Mount Makiling, or Mount Maquiling, is a dormant volcano located on the border of Laguna province
and Batangas on the island of Luzon, Philippines. The mountain rises to an elevation of 1,090 m above
mean sea level and is the highest feature of the Laguna Volcanic Field. The volcano has no recorded
historic eruption but volcanism is still evident through geothermal features like mud spring and hot
springs.

The Makiling Botanic Gardens is situated at the lower elevations of the Molawin-Dampalit watershed.
The Maralas and Molawin creeks join within the park vicinities and is drained towards the UPLB campus
and finally to the Laguna Lake. MBG hosts several native, endemic, and exotic plants for the visitors to
experience
Flatrocks is on of the most frequented place in MFR by visitors. In this place, Molawin Creek flows on
large slabs of rocks with forming natural pools. The Flatrocks area is a few hundred meters walk from
Checkpoint # 1.

Mudsprings are formed due to Mount Makiling’s volcanic history. Within the boundaries of MMFR there
are occurences of mud pots, a type of hot spring where volcanic heat and sulphuric acid break down
surrounding rocks into clay. The Mudspring is located within the Molawin-Dampalit watershed, 6
kilometers along the Makiling trail from the first checkpoint.

Three Peaks crown the Mount Makiling, a dormant volcano. Seen from above, Mount Makiling has a
collaped caldera facing towards Batangas evident of its violent past. The rim of the broken caldera forms
the three peaks, Peak II being the most accessible and famous among the public.

The Mariang Makiling Trail is an 8-kilometer trek toward Mount Makiling’s Peak II. The trail officially
starts at Checkpoint # 1 near the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems office and ends at
Checkpoint # 30 at Peak II. The trail winds through the eastern slopes of Mount Makiling within the
Molawin-Dampalit Watershed Zone. As you trek the Makiling trail, you can observe that the vegetation
types change from tall and broad-leaved plants and trees to stunted and moss-covered plants and small
trees.

Pook ni Maria Makiling- an eco-tourism site adjacent to the Jamboree Site, National Arts Center and U.P.
Los Baños. Built and developed during the Marcos administration, Pook ni Maria Makiling is still the
place where people re-unite with nature because of the greenery and well preserve scenery. It is an eco-
tourism park built along the hills of Mt Makiling in Los Banos Laguna adjacent to the UP Los Banos,
Jamboree site, the Makiling National Scout Reservation which is a campsite at the foot of the mountain,
and the National Arts Center. The place is very enchanting and relaxing where you could contemplate
and put away the negative energy you got from your busy life in the city,

Here it looks like time have stopped spinning and all you wanted to do is to resemble, meditate, and
reunite with nature.

The park was surrounded by huge trees which is decades of years old which made me nostalgic.

The park is the best place for recollections, camping, honeymoon, seminar and summer outing because
of its peace and quiet surroundings. Additional amenities is its huge Olympic size swimming pool which
is the main attraction here.

Mount Makiling’s natural attractions include the mountain’s highest peak (Peak II), the Flat Rocks, and
the Mud Springs. Flat Rocks and Mud Springs are on a separate trail from the one going to Peak II.

Flat Rocks. This is a river with slabs of huge flat rocks. However, going into the river is not allowed
because there are plenty of leeches in the water.
Mud Springs. It is the so-called crater of Mount Makiling, where you can see pools of boiling mud. It is
also known as mud pot – a very hot, sulfuric, and acidic spring that breaks down the surrounding rocks
into clay. Don’t go too close because they can burn your skin. Also, beware of the strong sulfuric smell.

Peak II. It is the highest peak of Mount Makiling. The UPLB trails are relatively easier to traverse than the
other popular Sto. Tomas Trail, which starts at Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

There are also different designated campsites around the mountain to let overnighters stay. Dayhikers
can also stop and rest in these stations.

Makiling Botanical Gardens. This botanical facility was established by the UPLB College of Forestry and
Natural Resources in 1965. It houses a wide variety of plants and features plants species endemic to
Mount Makiling. You can go here for relaxation, research, and photography.

National Arts Center. This is a place for aspiring young artists. Its facilities include cottages which serve
as classrooms, dormitories, conference halls, and retreat houses, to name a few. There is also the
Bulwagang Sarimanok, a clubhouse used for weddings and seminars. The NAC Open Air Theater is used
for concerts and plays performed by students and other artists.

Boy Scouts of the Philippines and Jamboree Site - a campsite at the foot of Mount Makiling adjacent to
U.P. Los Baños, which is being managed by the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and the site of the 10th
World Scout Jamboree in 1959, the 1st and 12th Asia Pacific Jamboree in 1973 and 1991, and the 1st
ASEAN Jamboree in 1993.

National Arts Center - a patch of land at the foot of Mount Makiling adjacent to U.P. Los Baños,

which is being managed by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the site of the Philippine High
School for the Arts, a special school for young artist scholars. The National Arts Center is a sanctuary for
young and aspiring Filipino artists that is located in Mount Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna.

The Center was established in 1976 by then First Lady Imelda Marcos as a haven for talented, creative,
and extraordinary artists. Its various buildings and facilities are scattered over 13.5 hectares of the
Makiling Forest Reservation. The center also houses the Philippine High School for the Arts, a
government-run secondary educational institution for gifted young Filipino artists.

The National Arts Center is the show window of cultural development and performing arts education of
the country. It is an ideal vantage point for a panoramic view of Laguna de Bay, Talim Island, Crocodile
Lake, and the International Rice Research Institute. Managed by the Cultural Center of the Philippines,
the National Arts Center has 62 cottages, an auditorium, and seminar and convention facilities.
University of the Philippines Open University

International Rice Research Institute

Dairy Training & Research Institute

Philippine Carabao Center at UPLB (PCC at UPLB) - conducts R&D in water buffalo; implements other
programs related to water buffalo development; one of the 13 regional centers of PCC

Access

Ride an HM Transport bus bound to Sta. Cruz, Laguna. The station is along Mary Land Street in Cubao,
Quezon City. That is just along EDSA. There are hourly bus departures.

Don’t forget to tell the driver to drop you by Olivarez Mall/Plaza at Los Banos. Travel time from Cubao to
Los Banos takes two hours. But if you chance on heavy traffic, it would take four to five hours. Regular
fare is 117 pesos.

Upon dropping by Olivarez Mall, proceed to the other side of the street. There, wait for a jeep which
passes by the UPLB College of Forestry. Stop there and start hiking towards Mt Makiling gate. There, you
will have to register and pay the entrance fee of 20 pesos each. You can also ask for a guide here.

The PNR has now officially extended the southbound route of its trains—what previously reached only
Calamba in Laguna will now reach Los Baños as well. A total of five stations have been added past the
Calamba station, the last one situated near the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) just outside
the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) campus.

According to the agency, a trip from the IRRI station all the way to Tutuban takes a total of three hours.

The Makiling Traverse is the perfect outing for those looking for the rush of a challenging hike, but are
too busy for a two to three-day expedition. The traverse takes you through the rugged terrain and
untamed rainforests of the famous Maria Makiling, all within a day and in close proximity to Manila.

Makiling has plenty of surprises in store for hikers of every background. The trail goes through well-
preserved forests teeming with wildlife, including plenty of limatik (leeches) that make the hike
interesting. Parts of the trail are very narrow and can be described as “obstacle courses” that force you
to do a bit of stretching and contorting. The most challenging portion is the steep ascent up Melkas
Ridge that requires hikers to grab on to fixed ropes and loose branches in order to helpthemselves up.

After climbing Makiling’s twin peaks, the descent down the other side of the mountain provides a
glimpse of Los Banos and the nearby towns, as well as of Laguna Lake. Near the bottom is the Makiling
nursery where tired hikers can buy refreshments such as fresh buko juice. You can also relax at the
mudsprings heated by Makiling’s sulfuric vents.
The hotel offers guests a range of services and amenities designed to provide comfort and convenience.
All the necessary facilities, including meeting facilities, coffee shop, family room, laundry service, Wi-Fi in
public areas, are at hand. Each guestroom is elegantly furnished and equipped with handy amenities.
Recuperate from a full day of sightseeing in the comfort of your room or take advantage of the hotel\'s
recreational facilities, including hot tub, spa, games room, pool (kids), outdoor pool. Convenience and
comfort makes Splash Mountain Resort&Hotel the perfect choice for your stay in Los Baños.

Trace Suites, named as the Best Hotel in Laguna by the Laguna Tourism Council in 2010, is situated in the
outskirts of the majestic and cloud-clapped Mt. Maria Makiling. As a haven of comfort for nature lovers
who want to experience the town’s prestigious hot springs and trek the lush forest of Mt. Maria
Makiling, TRACE Suites is the perfect place to stay for those who desire a much needed break either
from work of from the stressful city life.

Centtro Residences is located in Los Baños and features a garden and a terrace. Featuring a fitness
centre, the 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The
accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk and room service for guests.

At the hotel, every room comes with a balcony. At Centtro Residences every room is equipped with a
wardrobe and a flat-screen TV.

A à la carte breakfast is available daily at the accommodation.

Makiling Onsen Hotel features a restaurant, fitness centre, a bar and garden in Los Baños. Featuring
family rooms, this property also provides guests with a terrace. The accommodation provides a 24-hour
front desk and room service for guests.

Guests at the hotel can enjoy a à la carte breakfast.

At Makiling Onsen Hotel guests are welcome to take advantage of a hot spring bath and a hot tub.

Makiling Onsen Hotel feels like a typical Japanese hotel from 30 years ago. You can find Japanese pieces
in the hotel rooms such as tatami mats combined with a lighting that gives off a very Japanese
ambience. Here, you can enjoy relaxing in a stone-designed hot spring as much as you can. It also offers
a three-hour hot spring bath for people who don’t plan to stay overnight for P 300.