San Juan, Batangas is now popular among the local as well as foreign tourists. The reason - it has one of the best beaches in the country. Aside from that, Batanguenos in general are a welcoming lot. They do not discriminate and they welcome guests with open arms.
Tourists flock to San Juan because of its beautiful beaches located at Laiya-Aplaya or simply known as Laiya. Its white sands and clear waters make it appealing to people who love swimming on the beach. Good thing that there are hotels and resorts to cater to its numerous visitors the whole year round.
One of the country's popular fashion designers, Renee Salud, was born and raised in San Juan. He is proud of his town in as much as the town is also proud of him. He is proud of is heritage especially when he meets his fellow San Juan townsfolk here and abroad. In the Philippine fashion industry, his name is synonymous to his town.
The town's patron saint is San Juan Nepomuceno. Its church stands aloft in the center of San Juan. It has a museum beside it. Knowing Batangenos to be religious, the church is big enough to accommodate its populace as well as visitors especially during the fest of their patron saint.
One thing that I've noticed in San Juan is how they preserved their heritage houses through the years. In every nook and corner of the town, you will see well-maintained centuries-old houses that mix with the new edifices. Rumor has it that the owner of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar bought old houses there and brought them to their resort in Bataan for proper preservation.
One more nice attitude of the people of San Juan is how they patronize local restaurants which serve food that can only be tasted in town. Despite the proliferation of fast food chains, the locals still opt to eat the local fare. In all fairness, they are palatable and give the fast foods a run for their money not to mention the home-cooked taste.
As part of development, modern groceries and restaurants have opened their branches in San Juan. They know that they already have a market there that is why they have made it an extension of their businesses.
But for me, San Juan is still the quaint town in Batangas that welcomed me in my early days as a production person. It has been part of my growth as a director and a special place that occupies a space in my heart. To all the people of San Juan who took care of me in the early years of my career, you are all still in my heart. San Juan, Batangas is secret gem waiting to be explored.
Credit to the owners of the photos.
No comments:
Post a Comment