Today was a beautiful reminder that you don’t always have to travel far to experience something meaningful. My bestie and I took a short but sweet trip to Calamba, Laguna. A little history side trip with a hint of Japan feels (arigathanks, Calamba!).
Our main stop? The birthplace of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. It felt surreal to finally visit the Museo ni Jose Rizal, to walk through the very home where he was born and raised. I even got to check out his favorite books and had a quiet moment reading through them, imagining what kind of thoughts stirred his brilliant mind.
Stepping into his home felt like riding a time machine. From the rustic kitchen (that I now totally wish I had) to the antique furniture and wood floors, every corner gave us a glimpse into the past. We were both completely wowed by the preserved interiors. Such a rich piece of our heritage!
After the museum, we dropped by Calamba Baywalk, a peaceful little spot by the water. It’s a small bay where you can just park your car, take a breather, and savor the stillness. From there, we had a lovely view of the majestic Mt. Makiling. One of those quiet moments where time just slows down.
We also passed by the Jose Rizal Coliseum and wow, it was massive! We didn’t get to walk around the whole area because the heat was intense, but it looked impressive from the outside. Thankfully, there’s ample parking for a quick peek.
For lunch, we were craving something comforting and our taste buds led us to Ippon Yari, a Japanese restaurant that totally brought back memories of Japan. As someone who’s been to Japan, I have to say this place really gave off those authentic vibes. The ambiance was warm and cozy, like stepping into a quiet corner in Japan. The food was delicious and tasted fresh, just like how it is over there. We ordered Onomichi Shoyu Ramen, Gyoza, Mixed Tempura, Chahan, Nigiri Sushi, and Calpis Soda. They also served unlimited cold green tea (which was perfect in this heat) and a free salad that was absolutely phenomenal. The staff were all super friendly, courteous, and attentive. We’ll definitely be coming back.
We were actually hoping to visit the Makiling Rainforest, but since it’s already in Los Baños and would take us around 45 minutes to get there, we decided to save that for another time. So instead, we ended our trip with cups of coffee. One hot, one iced (because balance is life haha!) and called it a day.
There’s still so much more to explore in Laguna. With 24 towns and 6 cities, that’s a whole lot of stories waiting to be discovered. Pinas muna for us, not because we don’t dream of traveling the world (we totally do!), but we don’t have that luxury at the moment, especially since we can’t leave our furbabies behind. While everyone’s off flying abroad, we’re over here soaking in the beauty of our own country and honestly, we’re loving it.
As Rizal once said, “Well then, of all loves, that of country is what has produced the greatest, the most heroic and the most selfless.” And truly, loving our country doesn’t always require grand gestures. Sometimes, it starts with small steps. Obeying the law, caring for our environment, and simply getting to know our roots.
