La Roca Trinidad Resort: As promised

01 May 2008: On our third summer getaway of my high school friends we all agreed to choose a nearby place for the reason that we want to persuade our other friends to join us this time. Unfortunately, some still couldn't make it but there are others who came despite the short notice.

A classic summer outing in Laguna during highschool days

It took us almost an hour and a half to reach Los Banos Laguna. The town is located in the Northern slopes of a long dormant volcano Mt. Makiling. In Spanish, Los Banos means "the baths", fitted for the place since it becomes a weekend or summer getaway among tourists for its hot spring resorts, and hot spring is known for its therapeutic values. Aside from that, the town is well-known for its delectable Buko pie (coconut meat pie) which you can purchase in a several native delicacies stores along the way.

La Roca Trinidad Resort is a hot spring resort, located in Brgy. Lalakay - gateway to Los Banos, Laguna, at the left side of the National Highway Km. 58 southbound from Manila, past Calamba, Jose Rizal’s birthplace. The resort is near the former Camp Eldridge, previously used as barracks of the American Naval Station, and is now occupied by the Philippine Constabulary.

The name “La Roca de Trinidad” is coined from the Rock of Trinidad.  “La Roca” or  “The Rock” in English is in reference to the huge rocks in the terrain and along the hillsides of the resort, once the site of a “Quarry” as a source of stones for building roads. (source: La Roca resort website)

They have different facilities and attractions suited for family outings, picnics, socials, fellowships, religious retreats, garden weddings, birthday and any other occassions. It has a pear shaped adult pool with waterfalls and a slide surrounded by flowering plants and natural rock formation, it also has a smaller and shallow pool for the kids, karaoke room, Guia's nature spa, a Lady of Lourdes Grotto, playground for volleyball, basketball and pingpong, camp florentina - camping grounds and hiking trails  and many more but unfortunately we can't be able to take pleasure in everything because we rather have a chat than to wander around and I don't know why time flies so fast when you're having fun and while spending it with the people who mean a lot to you.

Overall, it was a very simple yet memorable day, I always treasure the time that my friends shared to me. Because we all know time is the most wonderful and greatest gift you can give to someone. When you give them your time, you're giving a part of your life that you can never get back. And I admire the effort of each one of us to keep our friendship even though there are a lot of changes in our life we at least try not to grow apart. And I realize that it is not always about the place, most of the time it is who you are with that makes it special.

How to get here and additional information

• From Manila, take South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and exit at Calamba, go through Calamba Town and Pansol, Laguna National H-way

• You will pass along popular landmarks such as Letran Calamba and Monte Vista Resort at your right side and Libis ng Nayon Resort at your left

• La Roca de Trinidad is at left side next to Libis ng Nayon Resort, signage can be seen with gravel road on its entrance

• La Roca de Trinidad website
• Don't forget to buy Buko Pie (coconut cream pie) and Espasol (cylinder shape rice rake)

*thanks to Ms. Led Zeffelyn (one of my high school best friends) for the contributions to this post