Cavinti, Laguna: A Sweet Retreat

Circa 2010 & 2011

During my Nursing School days, we had this so-called COPAR (Community Organizing Participatory Action Research) and we were immersed in a far community where we would not just live but also try to empower the community with regards to their health condition. We were actually brought to Cavinti, Laguna to do the said immersion.

Cavinti is largest town of Laguna in terms of area, With an area of 25,770.7 hectares (63,681 acres). It contains 2 urban and 17 rural barangays.

• Anglas
• Bangco
• Bukal
• Bulajo
• Cansuso
• Duhat (urban)
• Inao-Awan
• Kanluran Talaongan
• Labayo
• Layasin
• Layug
• Mahipon
• Paowin
• Poblacion (urban)
• Sisilmin
• Silangan Talaongan
• Sumucab
• Tibatib
• Udia

The Historic Cavinti Church

Poblacion is the center of commercial and business activities in Cavinti. Almost all of the Basic Municipal Facilities are located in Poblacion including the Municipal Hall, Town Plaza, ABC Multi-Purpose Hall, The Public Market, and many commercial and business establishments. The Catholic Church (Transfiguration Parish) are located in Poblacion too.

The town's name came from the Tagalog expression, "kabit sa binti"which is a wedding ritual done by the Aetas, the early dwellers of the land. The ritual is that the groom chases his bride to the riverbank and try to capture his bride by her legs ("binti"), with the witnesses shouting, "Kabit sa binti, kabit sa binti!" This phrase later became "Kabinti"; hence the name.

We actually enjoy going to this place since it was like a mini out-of-town trip with the exclusion of having your cellphone around, staying in a cozy hotel/resort and just enjoying the place. Despite all the downers we had, we still manage to enjoy and yeah who needs a cellphone when you have to go to the highest place just to get a signal, who needs a cozy hotel when you get to stay in someone's house for free and who needs to just enjoy the sights if you can actually help people while enjoying. Though we were there to "work" and study we always felt as if we we're to go to a retreat from all the stress Metro Manila has brought us.

The Road-River, yes our bus' tires get wet every time we go here

Friends with our CI having a fresh sip of buko from our host family

The place is actually known as the real city that houses the "Pagsanjan Falls" according to the Mayor, they own the jurisdiction of the said falls. They are actually attesting in court to change the falls' name to CAVINTI Falls. Well If they really prove it right then they should have credit for it.







The town actually has copra, suka, coconut as it's main agricultural products. They also have fishing and paghahabi (weaving) for livelihood.












Our Nanay Baby always gives us some of her native products... like this fancy hat... which Ginger (my well traveled doggie stuff toy) is having fun with. :D









Here's some of our memorable pictures since all we do is get pictures as our pass time and the fact that we stayed there for 3days/week for 1 month in the last 2 years of our Nursing School life.

Feeling model coz of the view!!!

The long road

The lake going to Isla, Lake Lumot

 Besides the beautiful scenery and refreshing breeze, one can also look forward to meeting the wonderful people of this city. The place we were assigned in was Barangay Bukal. And believe me the people here are so friendly and very accommodating. Everyone is very helpful and caring. Here are some of our "Cavinti Family" members :D

The Nanay & Tatay of all MMC-CN students Tay Ben & Nay Amor

One of our host families :D

Of course our one and only Nanay Baby, until now we try to keep in touch with her

We also went to an island which was just a couple of minutes boat ride from the main land and it's called, ISLA which means island in Filipino.

Our Group in the Isla

A sight from the island

Our other groupmates :D

Here's a video that I made as a requirement for our subject. With this you'll see how much we enjoyed being there. This is actually during our last year of Nursing so it actually served like a farewell video.

 

If you're into the USUAL TRAVELERS ITENERARY THESE ARE THE PROPULAR TOURIST DESTINATIONS FOUND IN THE AREA:

• Cavinti Falls (a.k.a. Pagsanjan Falls) (Brgy. Anglas/Tibatib)
• Cavinti Underground River and Caves Complex (Brgy. Paowin)
• Nakulo Falls (Brgy. Anglas/Tibatib)
• Caliraya Lake is a man-made lake popular for surface water sports and recreational fishing. (Brgy. East and West Talaongan)
• Lumot lake is another man-made lake connected to Caliraya Lake by an underground penstock, which is also popular for water sports and sport fishing. (Brgy. Mahipon, Inao-awan, Bukal, Cansuso, and Paowin)
• Bumbungan Eco Park (Brgy. Tibatib)
• Pueblo El Salvador Cavinti Nature's Park and Picnic Grove (Brgy. Anglas/Tibatib)
• Japanese Garden (Brgy. West Talaongan)
• Bayakan Falls (Brgy. Tibatib)
• Bat Cave (Brgy. Tibatib)
• Bumbungan Twin Falls (Brgy. Sumucab)
• Talon ng Caliraya (Brgy. West and East Talaongan)
• Roman Catholic Church (Transfiguration Parish)(1606)

HOW TO GET THERE:

It is approximately 100 km from Manila. From Manila via Calamba

• Take a bus to Santa Cruz, Laguna

• In Sta. Cruz, jeepneys going to Cavinti can be found at the terminal

• Via Sta. Cruz, you will pass by the town of Pagsanjan before you reach Cavinti. 

Transportation to its barangays are served by tricycles and jeepneys.

Another routes/mode of transportation to go to Cavinti:

Cavinti to Santa Cruz (jeepney) - Main (Cavinti)
Lucban to Santa Cruz (mini-bus) - Via Cavinti
Lucena to Santa Cruz (mini-bus) - Via Cavinti
Luisiana to Santa Cruz (jeepney) - Via Cavinti
Infanta to Lucena (bus) - via Cavinti

*but beware, there are not that much jeepneys in the area. So I suggest to bring patience along with you. And if you're planning of bringing your own vehicle better get ready to step on that gas & break, the road is a bit zigzag & sometimes might get steep. Though bringing your own transportation is a great breeze when you want to roam around the whole of Cavinti, it's again the biggest town in Laguna terms of land area and yeah you'll really get tired even for the usual distance you're used to cover because of the hilly land area.