Sambalilo Festival

Sambalilo Festival? Yeah you heard it right.

Actually this is my first time attending that festival and also it is also the first time I've heard that festival. I really don't have any idea about Sambalilo, not until I saw one.

Well, Sambalilo is a hat made out of Pandan leaves.

It was originated in Paranaque but it was initiated by the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) and Magdapio Club in Cavinti, Laguna in order to boost Cavinti's Tourism in 2003.

Due to unknown reason, the said festival was never been celebrated again until 2013 under the new administration.  The festival is usually celebrated during first week of August.

(source: www.cavinti.gov.ph)

It was sudden but thanks to Ansay Family who invited us to the Sambalilo Festival.

Unfortunately we weren't able roam around the whole place because it was raining non stop and we don't have that much time. 

So if you are planning to visit this place, be sure to travel early in the morning (around 4am).

Going to Cavinti, Laguna may take time. It's around 4-5 hours of travel.

We arrived at DLTB Co. Bus Terminal (in LRT Buendia) around 2pm.

The transportation fee will cost you 140.00 pesos only and its already an air-conditioned bus.

The bus departed around 2:30pm.

It was a traffic-free journey not until you reached Calamba, Laguna.

Because of the private pools located in Pansol you will experience moderate to heavy traffic.

Traffic will gone in Los Banos, Laguna.

(from 4:15pm - 5:15pm an hour of travel from Calamba to Los Banos)

At 6:18pm we finally reached Sta. Cruz, Laguna (end point/terminal of bus).

 (my travel buddy. my mahal. JAYSON)

(something to look in your window while traveling)

From the terminal, we look for a jeepney that is going to Lucban.

The Quezlag Terminal which is a walking distance from the bus terminal is located on the other side.

I forgot to take picture of the "jeep/bus" but to give you a hint of what it looks like.

It was a long jeepney. The front of the jeepney looks like a FX were 13 people including the driver can filled the seats. The back of the jeepney looks like a bus were I think if I'm not mistaken around 30 people can sit. Kinda' long right? It takes time to fill the seats. At exactly 6:38pm the jeep departed.

The transportation fee will cost you 20.00pesos only. You have to tell the fee collector or the driver to drops you off to Johnsons. It was a 35 minutes travel and at exactly 7:13pm we arrived at Johnsons where Kuya Dan is waiting for us. Going to Johnsons is a little bit scary because first of all, it was night so obviously it was dark plus it was raining. The trail or the path should I say that the jeepney will passed through is more of a "twisties" just like what motorcycle riders name it. Of course! What do you expect? It's a mountain! So there are several blind curves, ups and downs, swirling turns.

Take note: You will also pass the road going to Pagsanjan Falls!

Going back, we already arrived on Johnsons from there we rode a tricycle going to Ansay's House. I forgot to ask for the tricycle fare but I think its 10.00pesos only. 7:15pm arrived! Hooray!!!

We were so tired and hungry but no worries this is a festival that's why you don't have to worry about the foods. It is a typical festival tradition in the Philippines that they celebrate festival with foods in each neighborhoods.

After the meal, me, Jayson and Kuya Dan went to the covered court to watch the Mr. and Ms. Teen Cavinti 2016. Few stalls of goods and others stuffs will be seen in the area because the officials what to emphasize the events during the festival.

In the roof of the covered court you will see the BIGGEST SAMBALILO which is declared in the Guinness World Record. It was raining that's why we weren't able to finish the pageant but to tell you, girls and boys in Cavinti are beautiful and have a good complexion.

We have stayed there overnight and it was cold. You don't even need electric fan!

Morning came and it still raining but I've manage to take some pictures in the area while Ate May and the kids went to see the Big Sambalilo.

 some of the things that can be made out of a Pandan Leaves.

Creative, right? 

Houses is mandated to design or display Sambalilos in support of the festival. And its actually a contest!

Best displayed house = WINNER!

Some of the Festival Arches made by different barangays. If I'm not mistaken, there are 27 barangays. It is also a contest!

We weren't able to visit other places but definitely we are going back here because we have to go back in Manila. The kids have classes the next day and again it was raining. I have to try the Pagsanjan Falls adventure and I want to go back in the Ecopark (we visited it before). 

PS.

I forgot to bring my camera, sorry for the low quality photos.

It wasn't a full travel adventure because of the weather and also the budget.

Thank you Ate May and Ansay Family! :)))))

Visit Cavinti, Laguna! Definitely, a good places with good people!

#choosePhilippines