Tadlac Lake And The Happiness Through The Simple Things In Life

      The van en route to the City of Calamba started its engine, marking the start of a new set of memories and experiences. 

I’m on my way to the University of the Philippines Los Baños for some tasks to accomplish. A night before this trip, I was thinking about how I will maximize my day in the province of Laguna. I checked some places around the area, and to be honest, I became more excited that I would explore a new place than the possibility of a fresh path in my college life. 

I haven’t slept all night searching for the best destination around Los Baños and it caused me some headache on the way. I guess it was a terrible idea not to sleep when you are going to another place with a few hours of travel time. But what could I do, I’m too excited for today. 

We stopped in a jeep terminal near SM City Calamba and from there, jumped onto another jeepney going to UPLB. 

The ride took me another 30 minutes. If I wasn’t born energetic and optimistic, I would’ve been ranting and cursing the entire time for too much stress.

University of the Philippines Los Baños

After my tasks inside Elbi, I’ve eaten an early lunch partnered with a coffee. Beside my table was a couple who were so fun to watch. They act like best of friends, constantly teasing each other. 

They probably saw me staring at them while smiling and immediately introduced themselves to me. I also introduced myself to them. They asked me where I’m from and for the reason I’m in Los Baños.

They seem very down-to-earth and have a really wonderful sense of humor. I remember asking them if they are “mag-asawa” (married) and I vividly remember the husband saying “sawa lang, hindi mag” which made me burst into laughter. 

Knowing my reasons I’m in Los Baños, they started giving me some advice about my possible new college journey, which I appreciate so much. 

The wife is Shirley, a lovely woman with a PhD, and her husband is a Mining Engineer with a background in economics.

I was shocked at how affable, simple, and funny they are when they are, in fact, a highly educated couple. Frankly, I always thought that their “kinds” are boring, intimidating, and distant. But they are not, and I wish I could meet more people like them. I even thought to myself, “They are so smart that they probably cracked the code of keeping a long-lasting marriage and genuine happiness.” 

What a beautiful couple they are. They met in high school and after all those years that they’ve been together; they maintained their sweetness. Being single for over 2 years already, Dr. Shirley and her husband and the way they look at each other with full admiration, the way they talk to each other like they are still in their youths, make me jealous. I can only wish. 

After eating, I caught a jeepney to Barangay Tadlac as quickly as possible. I don’t want to run out of time and I’m really excited to explore the destination I’m headed to.

They dropped me off at a place near a mountain. It was so windy that I’ve had to take off my face shield. I also sat for a minute and I hope I’ll not offend anyone, but I put down my mask to appreciate the clean and refreshing wind from the surrounding trees. Don’t worry, I made sure I have kept my distance from everyone.

I’ve had another ride, but this time on a tricycle. I told him to drop me on the best spot beside their lake—Tadlac Lake or also known as Alligator Lake and Enchanted Lake. 

At that approximately 15-minute ride, the tricycle driver told me wonderful things about the lake. Like, how it was frequently visited by a few celebrities and how beautiful the lake is. 

I was seated behind him and while he speaks; I looked at him in the side-view mirror. I can’t see his entire face, but the tone of his voice and the changing size of his eyes gave me a hint that he is thrilled and proud having been able to share facts and stories about their very own Tadlac Lake and Laguna De Bay. It flattered me because I was convinced that I made the right decision to visit it rather than the other destinations around the municipality. 

He dropped me in front of a narrow path with a concrete ladder going down. 

I immediately jumped out of the tricycle and walked towards the lake.

The path to Tadlac Lake's shore

 Good God! How fresh the wind that blows my face. Though, I think it’s underappreciated because of the absence of establishments and such. There are also no other tourists on that spot except me. The place is relaxing. You couldn’t even hear anything other than the waves crashing into the shore and the wind blowing the trees above the spot where I’m in. 

It was peaceful, isolated, and beautiful. That was also the time I realized I didn’t have a headache anymore. I guess I was healed by the view and the wind of Barangay Tadlac. 

After a few minutes of sitting, thinking, and appreciating the place, I grabbed my camera and started taking photos—beautiful photos. 

Tadlac Lake 

What stood out in my shots is not actually the lake, but the vibrant sky and trees around it. I realized there's really something about the whites, blues, and greens that calms a stressed mind, don't you think?

Tadlac Lake and the clouds above it

Of course, knowing myself, I already expected how this trip will go even before I stepped into the place. And with my eccentric personality, I grabbed my bag, approached a local, and asked to guide me to the other side of the lake, a spot probably hidden from the feet of most people who visited it.

We walked for a few minutes, passing an entire neighborhood sandwiched between two bodies of water, and walked through an undisturbed grassy land beside a hill. 

I got more excited knowing that I'm on a path only the locals know. 

The path towards the hidden shore of Tadlac Lake

After a few more minutes, we reached the shore. I can now see the mountain beside Los Baños in its entirety.

The view around Tadlac Lake from a different spot

I took more photos. I want to preserve this memory, especially that a few days ago; it was announced that NCR will undergo another lockdown. Cities inside the NCR will most likely inspire the neighboring cities and municipalities to have their own lockdown. So, this would probably be my last chance for the coming weeks to go outside and enjoy the summer. 

Still not contented, I asked the local who was accompanying me to bring me to the other side—the more isolated shore of the lake. 

While we walk, I started asking questions about their place. I’m planning to write two or more blogs about it, so please, wait for it and read it. I’ve gathered some creepy stories in the area and it was chilling and disturbing. 

A spot we passed by while walking to another shore of Tadlac Lake

After a long stroll, finally, we reached a very narrow path with dangerously steep corroding stairs directed to the lake with only a few inches of slanted earth to stand and walk. 

I was nervous when I was told to be careful because, unlike other bodies of water with a shallow part, this lake, which is originally a crater of a volcano, doesn’t have it. So, if someone falls from the shore to the water, you don’t fall on a few feet high water but a few meters. And if you don’t know how to swim, you’ll pray that your company can.

Nevertheless, the view from this side of the lake did not disappoint. The only disappointing part of it though is the fact that I can see a spot on the opposite side—a hill that was divided in half to accommodate some human activities. 

Tadlac Lake from another spot

When we ascended from that area, my guide told me we will walk on a shortcut, the shortest path from where we are to the main road. 

This route has another view to offer. There were no bodies of water to be seen this time, only the majestic mountain that added to the character of the municipality and its rural beauty, a gigantic block of color green breathing life to the surrounding communities.

The view from the shortcut Anne had pointed out

I spent a few more minutes taking photos before jumping on a tricycle onto a highway. I also bid goodbye to Anne and to her cousin—the people who guided me to spots around the Enchanted Lake that are only known to the locals.

Remembering my time inside that barangay, that community, that neighborhood between Tadlac Lake and Laguna De Bay, I was reminded of how we take our freedom to explore unknown places before COVID-19 for granted. My entire day of strolling within Calamba and Los Baños is fulfilling, not because of the respective beauty of these two places, but because of the abundant interaction I’ve had with so many wonderful, helpful, and kind people. They are all smiles when talking to me for a reason I would never know, but I smiled back because I’m grateful to have interacted with them 3 meters away for a short period.

I remember one of our lessons in Purposive Communication. Our teacher discussed the two types of culture—Individualism and Collectivism. We, Filipinos, our society falls into the collectivist culture because we are used to being in a group all the time, whether in school or in the workplace. Maybe, this pandemic that limited our interaction with one another is one of the major reasons people are more depressed and with more anxieties compared to before when the virus has yet to hit our world.

This trip to another place is something so memorable and enjoyable. I clearly maximized every bit. To be honest, I appreciate it so much that it made me realized something, and that is how so many beautiful things in life remain underappreciated. 

How we underappreciated human interaction. 

How we underappreciated nature. 

How we underappreciated the life that was given to us. 

How we underappreciated our youth. 

Simple things that you would only realize after being jailed in your four-cornered room for so many weeks because of the pandemic. 

Before I left the municipality of Calamba, I whispered a wish and that is for the pandemic to end. I also promised never to take things for granted ever again. I will always be grateful and appreciative of the most simple things in life because happiness is not always about grandeur and materialism.

The old couple seated beside me and their youthful glow and relationship has inspired me to believe in love, even when I’m still hurt from my recent heartbreak a few months ago. The simple community around the lake reminded me of why I aspired for a career in public service in the future. The sky, the lake, the mountain, and all the surrounding plants obliged me to help the environment by changing how I throw my trash. Believe me when I tell you that my backpack looks like a trash can when I got home. All my rubbish within that day goes nowhere but the inside of my bag. 

See? Simple things in life could also inspire people. I hope with the help of this blog, you would also be inspired to look around you and be thankful.

We only live once, don't put hate in your heart for being frustrated just because you don't make a hell of a lot of money, anxious that you don't have clear skin, disappointed that you don't have the newest iPhone, ranting about many other things you have no expertise, or mad that you can't be someone else.

You don't have a sad and incomplete life, you're just not appreciative enough. 

Have a good life, everybody.

Since you have reached the end of my blog, here's a bonus. Below are my photos (your mediocre, hopelessly romantic, currently single writer) with my awkward and cringe-worthy poses. 😅