How Calamba got its name?

During the early days of spanish occupation, the two guardia civil got lost in what is now known Calamba. Thetwo soldiers met a young woman who was carrying a jar of water and a stove, he asked the woman for for the name of the place in Spanish language, but the girl couldn't understand the soldiers. The girl thought that the soldiers were asking her what she was carrying. She utterly answered, "kalan-banga" meaning, "wooden stove" because the Spaniard soldiers had difficulty pronouncing it, and so it was called Calamba. This legend was commemorated with a large concret water jar in the city plaza with the names of the city's barangays written on it. It is known as the World's Biggest "Claypot". -Kathleen Tan

Calamba City is a first class city in the province of Laguna Philippines. It is located 54 kilometers south of manila, just about an hour by chartered bus. This City is a popular tourist destination because of its hot spring resorts, most of the resorts are located in Barangay Pansol and Canlubang Golf and Country Club. Calamba City has a population of 281,146 people in 58,466 households according to the 2000 census. -http://lagunaphilippines.weebly.com/history-of-calamba.html

The town is unique in all the world as it has no less than five national heroes that fought for freedom! The most famous one, Dr. Jose P. Rizal overshadows all the others. Dr. Rizal, a renaissance man himself: a genius, an artist, a doctor/ophthalmologist, sculptor, a poet, a novelist, publicist, an engineer, a teacher, a linguist (speaks 21 languages) and more, but most important - a martyr who wrote two masterpiece novels that inspired the whole country to gain freedom, is considered the greatest man the Malay race ever produced.

-http://calamba.50megs.com/

Tracing back history, Calamba has a very significant chapter in the history of the Philippines. Calamba was thrust into the limelight because of its most famous son, Philippine national hero and martyr Dr. Jose Mercado Rizal. The historical house of Dr. Jose Rizal situated some steps away from the municipal building draw attention from foreigners as well as local visitors wanting to view the relics of the past Spanish regime of the Philippines. Paintings, furnitures, clothes, kitchen wares, the famous wishing well and most especially the writings of Dr. Rizal are still intact and well preserved in the house. From the window of Dr. Rizal's house, one can't help to view and admire huge clay pot placed atop a structure across the house. This pot is engraved with the names of barangays of Calamba and serves as the town's emblem. Early settlers said that name "Calamba" stemmed out from this earthen jar known as "BANGA" . This historical background is the reason why visitors mostly students, teachers and children from far provinces frequent the place. Whenever one thinks of wanting to go away from the hustle and bustle of Metropolitan Manila, Calamba is a place always considered. Who can refuse the panoramic view of Mount Makiling suited for meditation and contemplation? Who can reject the therapeutic effect of hot springs resorts, designed with full recreational facilities that help ease body pains taken from weeks of work. Whenever one thinks of wanting to go away from the hustle and bustle of Metropolitan Manila, Calamba is a place always considered. Who can refuse the panoramic view of Mount Makiling suited for meditation and contemplation? Who can reject the therapeutic effect of hot springs resorts, designed with full recreational facilities that help ease body pains taken from weeks of work. If Bulacan is known for its "pastillas" and Bian for its "puto". Calamba is popularly known for its "buko pie" (young coconut pie) and "espasol" (powdered sweet sticky macapuno pastry). These pastries are readily available right in the resorts or to vendors outside the vicinity. One's excursion is not complete without Calamba's special buko pies or espasols as a "pasalubong" (bring home treat). Plant lovers can also enjoy the various nurseries along the highway. The famous "Wonder Island" is the favorite hang out of people's spending leisure time. The town has several sport facilities purposely constructed for the locale of Calamba. These include basketball courts, baseball stadium, tennis courts, gymnasium, billiard halls, pelota courts bowling lanes and the likes. Almost all barangays are equipped with basketball courts funded by the local government to promote sports awareness especially to the youth. Tournaments are held often to instill sportmindedness to the youth. Cockpit arena and the three (3) movie houses are additional recreational facilities, excluding the completion of proposed movie houses con department/supermarket store for strollers in Barangays Real (Gotesco Department Store) and in Parian (Lianas Supermarket). -http://msc.edu.ph/calamba/recre.php

Land Area Calamba covers an area of 14,480 hectares, which are about 8.22% of the province's total land area. The municipality is comprised of 54 barangays: Barangays 1-7, Bagong Kalsada, Banlic, Banadero, Barandal, Batino, Bubuyan, Bucal, Bunggo, Burol, Camaligan, Canlubang, Halang, Hornalan, Kay-Anlog, Laguerta, Lamesa, Lawa, Lecheria, Lingga, Looc, Mabato, Majada-Labas, Makiling, Mapagong, Masile, Maunong, Mayapa, Paciano Rizal, Palingon, Palo-Alto, Pansol, Parian, Prinza, Punta, Puring-Lupa, Real, Saimsim, Sampiruhan, San Cristobal, San Jose, San Juan, Sirang-Lupa, Sucol, Tulo, Turbina, Ulango, and Uwisan. Among the barangays, Canlubang, which is located on the western part of the municipality, is the largest in terms of population, income and area. Topography The terrain of Calamba is generally rugged. The relief ranges from level to hilly and mountainous. The major portion of the eastern, southern and western parts of the town is a belt of hills and mountains . Slope The slope of the different barangays in the municipality ranges from level to steeply sloping. Geologic Map Clastic rocks is dominant in the areas of San Cristobal, Mapagong, Lawa, Batino, Mayapa, Prinza, Barandal, Tulo, Palo-Alto, Punta, Makiling, Ulango, Kay-Anlog, Bubuyan, Laguerta, Burol, Hornalan, Bunggo, Sirang-Lupa, Majada-Labas, Canlubang, and Mabato. Alluvium is commonly present in the poblacion areas and nearby barangays. Climate The basis of climate classification is the type of rainfall. Calamba falls under the forest type of rainfall. There are two pronounced seasons: dry from December to June and wet from June to December. Heavy rains usually fall on June, July, August and September. Dry season is more pronounced in the northwestern part of the municipality. Temperature The temperature does not show much variation from year to year. It is generally warm in April to June and cool from December to February. The highest and lowest temperatures were 29.5 C in April 1990 and 25.7 C in January. Relative Humidity The relative humidity (RH) during 1986-1990 has an average of 79.3% at a range of 78.88%. Relative humidity and seasonal variations in temperature are similar in Manila, though the temperature especially in the elevated areas is generally lower than the temperature in Manila. The coldest months are on October, December and January. Prevailing Winds -http://www.travelgrove.com/travel-guides/Philippines/Calamba-Travel-Guide-c1483420.html

Geography Just an hour away from bustling Manila, it lies on the northern quiescent volcano slopes of Mt. Makiling. The southern end of the South Luzon Expressway is located in Calamba, which makes it a strategic gateway to other southern Luzon provinces. Bordering the citys north is the Cabuyao municipality, to its south is the Santo Tomas and Talisay municipalities of Batangas province; the east is bordered by Los B aos and Calambas west is bounded by the municipality of Silang in Cavite province. Laguna De Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines also forms Calambas northwest border. The city is famed for its craggy planes and rugged mountain terrains, but more so because of its numerous hot spring resorts and recreational venues like the Canlubang Golf and Country Club. Calamba is also known for its historic significance, being the native land of Dr. Jose Rizal, the countrys national hero, and other prominent historical figures as well. The city has been a popular tourist location over the years. Economy Agriculture and fisheries remain the top sources of income for Calamba. It boasts of its abundant resources that are well in demand. Calamba City is a vital and progressive industrial hub in the CALABARZON region. Identified as one of the key growth centers in the CALABARZON Industrial Program, Calambas economy continues to thrive. The citys location and proximity is a contributing factor for its industrialization. The Silangan Industrial Park and the Carmelray Indistrial Park are two industrial estates situated in Calamba. These industrial structures are distinguished by large foreign export oriented firms and huge domestic firms. The heavy industries support a major percentage of the citys economy. Businesses are mostly focused on commercial establishments like retail, wholesale and manufacturing industries like garments and handicrafts. There are also a significant number of small-scale or cottage industries in Calamba. Real estate is also a blooming industry since Calamba is home to numerous first-class residential neighborhoods that cater upper and middle class families. Transportation Local modes of city transportation within the municipality include tricycles, jeepneys, and pedicabs. Provincial linkages are provided by several bus companies like BLTB Co., Tritran, Kapalaran, Jam Liner and St. Rose Transit. Passenger trains of the Philippine National Railways South Line also serve commuters in Calamba to Manila. Daily trips to Manila can be accessed twice a day. Education Public schools in pre-elementary, elementary and secondary levels provide free education to Calambas youth. There is one vocational school run by the governments Department of Social Welfare and Development and several privately owned institutions offering vocational training.

The city has satellite campuses of two of the countrys highly recognized colleges, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, a private Catholic University in Manila and Lyceum Institute of Technology, a private non-sectarian institution associated with Lyceum of the Philippines University, also in Manila. Both offer degree programs in several fields. The city also has several private tertiary educational institutions.

-http://www.travelgrove.com/travel-guides/Philippines/Calamba-Travel-Guidec1483420.html

Going To calamba

Only 54 kilometers from Manila, can be reached via the South Luzon Expressway in approximately an hour and a half of easy driving. The city serves as the gateway to the provinces of Batangas, Quezon and the Bicol region. Calamba is serviced by various bus lines throughout the day and night. Major bus companies like HM Transport Inc. and Greenstar Inc. are servicing along Cubao and Lawton, Manila area. While local bus companies like Saint Rose and Calamba Megatrans ply the Alabang, Lawton and Cubao area. Calamba is a major tourist destination and will be a transshipment point with the newly developed extension of SLEX and the proposed rehabilitation of the South Railways. A new route also from Calamba to Tagaytay City, Cavite is currently being developed. -http://www.calambacity.gov.ph/Tourism/

Rizal Shrine History In 1848, Rizals parents, Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso, who were originally from Bia n, Laguna, got married and settled in Calamba. The house they built was of the Spanish architectural style of that time and was one of the first stone and hardwood houses in Calamba. On June 19, 1861, Rizal was born inside that house and was the seventh among the eleven children of Francisco and Teodora. He was baptized Jos Rizal Mercado at the Calamba Church right next door. Today, the shrine serves as a museum containing memorabilias of Rizals earlier childhood. On the grounds is a statue of the boy Rizal and his pet dog. The lot is also where Rizals parents remains were transferred. Visitors can enter the shrine everyday and theres no entrance fee, but donations are welcome. Too bad It was closed for the public during my visit in Calamba Rizal Shrine, the caretaker mentioned to us that they are organizing the house in preparation of Rizal Day. So, dont plan your trip in the early days of December. A few meters away from the Shrine, you can also find the Citys Biggest Cone which embeds the map of Laguna. -http://maxtein.com/calamba-laguna-rizal-shrine.html