For Visitors
| "Parini na Yanung Ganda" |
Among these water bodies, Dagatan lake is the most notable. It is 2 hectares lake that lies on the secluded Sitio Busal of Barangay Ibabang Palale. It remains untouched until now due to its relative distance from the center of Barangay. One can be able to reach the lake by approximately 12 kilometers walk through a hilly trail going up the lake from Sitio Sentro. According to the Municipal Environment and Natural Resource Office, Dagatan Lake is soon to be declared as protected area. Tayabas is teeming with waterfalls that could be potential tourist destinations if developed. One that has been on track is the Tumloy falls located at Barangay Lalo. Its development has been funded by Foundation for Philippine Environment, a non-government organization that supports environmental protection. The site is being planned to become destination. The place is accessible to any motor vehicle although the road is hardly passable. Tayabas has a rich cultural heritage and traditional practices that are apparently attractive to many tourists be it local or foreign. Being the former capital of the province, it has a historic past that is evident in some existing old structures in town. Casa communidad de Tayabas was build as guesthouse for dignitaries during the Spanish Era. After, it became a garrison for Filipino soldiers during the World War. Now, Casa Communidad has been converted into a museum that exhibits the town’s unburied past. It houses to several antique objects, old wardrobes by prominent people and pictures of former leaders of the town and events that took place in it. Another is the century old key shaped church of San Miguel Archangel that stands as the tallest structure in town with 28.80 meters in height. It was first build in the 1589 and concreted in 1600. Also considered living witness to the town’s colorful past are the bridges standing still after centuries that heed over. The eleven bridges in Tayabas are still passable, each having its own historical significance. The most outstanding is Malagunlong Bridge, being the longest, tallest and most beautiful among other bridges. It is located at Barangay Mateuna through a five minutes drive from the poblacion. Recently, there were cultural artifacts discovered in a few barangays in the municipality which can be developed as a potential alternative tourist destination. This has yet to be documented and the Tourism Office has already coordinated with experts from the UP Diliman Anthropological Division to make the necessary research study on this. The newly initiated festivity in the town, more popularly known as “Mayohan” is one of the main events in Tayabas yearly. Mayohan festival is a weeklong celebration in honor of the Patron Saint San Isidro Labrador where traditions and potential s of Tayabas are showcased. It aims at reuniting everyone in the town through different gratifying activities such as Lambanog drinking, Hagisan ng Suman, Parada ng Baliskog and many others. It has been gaining support from the local residents and the local government unit since it started in 1989. Mayohan yearly has been drawing a number of visitors for the town. A favorite lodging house, designed uniquely with a come-on ambiance is the Mi Casa en Tayabas. It is a small cozy hotel and restaurant with numerous antique displays where tourists can stay during their visit. Another desired place is Nawawalang Paraiso Resort and Hotel at Barangay Camaysa. This is where people can have a relaxing vacation and experience swimming into the cold spring waters of Tayabas. Another famous and original in Tayabas, Kamayan sa Palaisdaan is known for its mouth watering native palaisdaan cuisine such as ginataan, sinigang, ihaw-ihaw and the likes. With its growing number of customers, it has already branched out in different towns in the province of Laguna. Among the products Tayabas is most famous for are the handicrafts and locally produced wine from coconut more popularly known as “Lambanog”. Handicrafts have long been exported by some local entrepreneurs because of its good quality in terms of material used and labor dispensed in manufacturing. Lambanog from Tayabas is now being exported to the world market. The most frequently visited distilleries are Mallari, Capistrano and Buncayo Distillery. Mallari distillery is located near the municipal hall and the two others are operating in Barangay Wakas. Tayabas is now preparing for a new trend in tourism development called Ecotourism. Since Tayabas is considered an ecologically critical area, any efforts towards eco-tourism development should be carefully considered. One of the newly build ecotourism destination is Graceland Estates and Country Club. It is the first of its kind in the province of Quezon and soon to become another landmark in Tayabas. Graceland was designed and planned according to the natural contours of the land. One can enjoy a soothing vacation in this 10 hectares wide country club. It offers different nature inspired recreational facilities and amenities exclusive to its members. Among its operating facilities are the swimming pool, apartelle, restaurant and a lagoon suitable for fishing and boating. Graceland Estates and Country Club opened two years ago and its facilities are not yet 100% completed. Members to date are about 1,400 including corporate ownership. Truly, tourism could readily fuel the economy of a community. Not only would tourists mean additional increase in tax revenue for the town but more employment opportunities for the local people. |
