How to Enjoy a Picnic Lunch at Lake Pandin, San Pablo Laguna

Lake Pandin of San Pablo is calling. Took us almost a month to plan this. We need to synchronize our schedules. Finally we were able to push through last December. We wanted a dining experience away from from the malls, and not frequented by vacationers. So what better way to do it on a Wednesday while everybody was busy at school and work. Time to shake the norm.

Lake Pandin is a crater like lake which has a twin lake beside it, Lake Yambo. Legend has it that they were named after two lovers.

We hopped on the bus around 9:00am leaving the JAM Transit Buendia Ave. terminal. Ride to San Pablo City was smooth. Get off the bus at the San Pablo Medical Center. Ride a tricycle from there going to the San Pablo church. A jeepney terminal plying the route to Lake Pandin is just beside 7-11 fronting the church. You can't miss it, just tell the driver you're going to Lake Pandin, it's the last stop of the jeep's route. We arrived almost 12:00nn at Lake Pandin. We had to walk behind our guide for almost 1km. The trip was well worth it!

 

Trying to maneuver our "balsa" to the other side of the lake 

Manang our tour guide

Take a short trek and take a peek at its twin, Lake Yambo. 

The other visitors

This was a picnic lunch to remember. Even Anthony Bourdain would not want to miss this one. Our food for lunch is composed of Grilled Eggplant Salad, Shrimps with Coconut Cream and 'Kamias', Grilled Tilapia. Banana for dessert and Young Coconut juice. It is advisable to bring your own bottled water.

Grilled eggplant salad

Shrimps with coconut cream and ripened 'Kamias'

Grilled tilapia

Special delivery, fresh picked young coconut

Lake Pandin tour is managed and maintained by the residents in the area who formed a cooperative. Please extend your help by not throwing your trash or small plastic wrappers directly on the lake.

Here is an estimated breakdown of commuters fare going to Lake Pandin:
-JAM Transit from Buendia Ave. terminal = P130.00/pax
-Tricycle from San Pablo City Medical Center = P30.00 special trip
-Jeepney ride from San Pablo town proper 7-11 = P15.00/pax

At Lake Pandin:
-for the 'Balsa ride and Picnic Lunch = P360.00/pax

Experience
-priceless