Laguna Loop: Now on with the First Pit Stop, the Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery

“A TRAVELLER’S ITCH” - A SUDDEN THOUGHT THAT POPPED UP WHILE MY BOSS DISCUSSED WITH ME THE POSSIBILITY OF ASSISTING THE STUDENTS IN THEIR LAGUNA LOOP/INTEGRATION/OUTING:  A REFRESHING WAY TO END THE SCHOOL YEAR.

Although I had been to Laguna for so many times (not to mention my brother lives in Cabuyao) and my friend Sandie is from Rizal, Laguna, out of inquisitiveness, I checked the itinerary if I could spend the whole trip slumbering. Well, they had an underground cemetery and Liliw, Laguna before heading to Los Banos. 

The underground Cemetery was new to me. Although I had seen cemeteries before but with an underground one was something made me attracted. The trip was ok with tolerable volume of traffic when we reached Alabang.  After a short stop at Starbucks, SLEX (the students are hell crazy with it), I opted to get my lowly supply of caffeine from Jollibee.

First pit stop: Nagcarlan, Laguna.

Nagcarlan is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. It is 21 kilometers northeast of San Pablo City, or 99 kilometers south of Manila, Philippines.  So, the 99 kilometers is translated to 2 hours of road trip.  It was drizzling and the clouds were not too blue for my lenses. But it never daunted my spirit to get awed. Truly, the beauty of the cemetery begins at the gate: “An arched gate leads to the chapel built into the cemetery's inner wall.”

“The Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery Historical Landmark is a fine example of Spanish colonial architecture. Built by the Franciscan Friar Vicente Velloc in 1845, its octagonal grounds are enclosed by a wall decorated with wrought-iron grills and stonework meant to look like drapery.” (http://www.nhi.gov.ph)

The chapel is not that big. I mean don’t expect too much on the dimension.  Just allow yourself to get immersed with its history.   “This underground section of the cemetery played an important role in our history.  Throughout the Revolution of 1896 and the Filipino-American War, our fighting patriots used the crypt as a secret hideout, gathering here to plan their moves or to seek shelter.  Similarly, it became a safehouse for guerillas during the World War II.” (same source)

Now, that is history overload.  But don’t be depressed.  The pasalubong at the entrance of the chapel, delectable and affordable, offers a door to present times, just in case you undergo 1896 homecoming romanticism.

Now…on to the next pit stop, Liliw, Laguna.

TRAVEL TIP: 

 The Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery Historical Landmark is located in Nagcarlan a mountainside town of Laguna. The landmark is open for public viewing from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday. For inquiries please contact the NHI central office at telephone number +63 2 5249952.