Los Banos Beyond Boundaries

by Norbert Benedict Isles

“When I came here in 1939, I was so fascinated by the beauty and splendour of Los Baños that during that moment of my life, I prayed to the Lord, dito na sana ako mabuhay buong buhay ko (I wish to live here for the rest of my life). Thanks to Him, that dream was fulfilled,”said Dr. Celestino Habito, who has been in Los Baños for almost 68 years.

Los Baños is a very hospitable town that tourists, environmentalists, academicians, and entrepreneurs alike take pride of. Its spectacular sceneries and landscapes have attracted thousands of people. Although Los Baños lies at the foot of Mount Makiling and is cradled by Laguna de Bay, it is officially considered as a first class urban municipality.

The present day Los Baños is much more different than it was a hundred years ago or even more. The dense forests, thick canopies, tall grasses, damp mountain paths, and dusty caretela (farm cart) trails then are now buildings, roads, restaurants, subdivisions, and modern commercial establishments. Let us take a look at how our humble town went through the changes that affected the way of life of the Los Baños citizens.

Spanish Bath Tub
According to the records of the municipal office of Los Baños, the town was first known as Mainit, and was just considered as a small barrio of Bay. It was called Mainit because of the steaming natural hot springs all over the place, which were said to have healing powers. The Franciscans discovered the place and the wonders of the hot springs in 1589. They cleared and cleaned the vicinity and built a rest house made up of rattan and nipa on the prairie of Dampalit, Brgy. Lalakay. That time, a Franciscan friar named Pedro Bautista decided to make it a public bath site and called it Los Baños, which means “bathing places” in Spanish. From then on, Los Baños became popular. People from other places came to experience the touted therapeutic effects of the natural hot springs, and some of them decided to settle in Los Baños. In 1615, Los Baños officially became a town separate from Bay.

In 1671, the friars constructed the Immaculate Concepcion Church which was raised to ground in 1727. It was soon rebuilt in 1815. It sustained major damages after an earthquake in 1863. It was immediately renovated, and it still stands at Brgy. Timugan beside Liceo de Los Baños. Later on, in 1892, a palace for the governor-general in Los Baños was fully constructed at Brgy. Bambang. It is now the place where Liceo de Los Baños stands.

American Defense and Education
When the Americans took over the country in 1901, much of their efforts in Los Baños have put the town’s natural and human resources to good use. These efforts resulted in the physical and economic developments that Los Baños had during the early part of the American occupation.

In 1903, American President Theodore Roosevelt declared the establishment of Camp Eldridge in Los Baños, a US army camp that covered Barangays Lalakay, Timugan, and Bambang. Based on the records of the municipal office, there was more life and activity in Los Baños after the establishment of the camp. Hotels and resorts appeared in the poblacion (town center) leading to the establishment of restaurants and dancing halls. One notable building during that time was the McVean Hotel and a softdrink plant called Isuan.

Employment also soared at that time. Residents worked in establishments that provided products and services to the American soldiers stationed at Camp Eldridge. 

The growth of businesses has tremendously changed Los Baños from a sleepy little town to a fast developing municipality. However, what could perhaps be the greatest “contribution” of Americans to Los Baños was the establishment of the University of the Philippines College of Agriculture (UPCA) in 1909, which decades later would be known as the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

According to the Centennial Panorama by Dr. Fernando Bernardo, Edwin Copeland founded that first agricultural school in the country. There were only 12 students studying only in modest borrowed tents set up inside Camp Eldridge. Later on, it was permanently transferred to a  vast area at the foot of Mount Makiling. When forestry was included in the curriculum in 1910, the university included Forestry in its name and extended the campus to the lower slopes of Mount Makiling.

From 1909 to late 1930’s, school buildings in UPLB were constructed to accommodate the growing number of students and the widening of academic programs. In and out of the campus, elementary and secondary schools were also established. In 1921, Lopez Elementary School was constructed, followed by UP Rural High School in 1927. In 1932, Maquiling School Inc. was instituted by faculty members of the UPCA for the education of their children.

According to the Socio-Economic and Physical Profile (SEPP) 2005 of the municipal office, Los Baños developed simultaneously with the growth of UPLB. Enrolment at the university grew steadily, and many people from other places migrated into the town. The university was also reinforcing its reputation as a first learning institution. From then on, Los Baños was known to carry the name of the university. Transportation during the early decades of American occupation was in the form of caretelas and kalesas (horse carts) on land and Yangco boats through Laguna de Bay’s waters. Later on, railways were constructed and trains were used to travel to far places like Manila. Migrants and students coming to Los Baños travelled through these vehicles.

According to Dr. Habito, when he came here in 1939 from Lucena City, there were only few houses along the pathways (no roads yet), and there were most likely no sources of pollution. The UP campus alone was “very, very clean, orderly, and organized.”

Likewise, former councilor Mrs. Sofie Tidon, a native of Los Baños for 81 years, said, “That time, Los Baños was very peaceful and very clean, walang mga garbage na nakabunton, walang mga asong gumagala. Kokonti ang mga migrants. Life was very simple (There were no garbage stacked, no dogs astray. There were a few migrants.)”

Japanese Bombs and Bayonets
Mrs. Tidon has also experienced the World War II in Los Baños. She related that in December 1941, the Los Baños railway station was bombed. A train filled with evacuees from Manila was bombed, which killed hundreds of people. In January 1942, Japanese soldiers started to occupy the country. Garrisons and camps were set up. That same year, they established an internment camp for prisoners of war and civilians of different nationalities at the grounds of UPCA campus

At first, the Japanese soldiers were reaching out to people –walking around town, talking to them, but when they learned about the return of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, they became wild and brutal, especially to the foreigners and natives who were interned at the UP campus. During that time, the local government could not do anything. The government officials ran away and hid, and the whole Los Baños was in trouble. People were harassed, murdered, and abused. They suffered from fear, hunger, sadness, and disease.

Later on, in 1945, US-Filipino forces raided the internment camp set up in UPCA campus and rescued 2,147 military and civilian internees,foreigners, and Filipinos. According to Mrs. Tidon, having seen the raid from the mountains, there were US army airborne paratroopers landing, amphibian tanks from the Laguna de Bay coming from Brgy. Mayondon, and Filipino guerrilla forces guiding the American soldiers’ entry to the campus. All of the 2,147 internees were safely rescued, but they left Los Baños unguarded, helpless, and damaged.

After that rescue, Los Baños was in total devastation. The Japanese soldiers suddenly appeared. They murdered many residents and burned down buildings, houses, bridges, and other structures in and outside the UP campus. According to the Centennial Panorama, the American army came back to Los Baños only after two months to finally liberate it.

Recovery and Reconstruction
After the liberation, Los Baños underwent restorations in terms of its physical environment and economy, just the same as the whole country did. Houses, buildings, bridges, roads, and other structures damaged during the war were rebuilt. People were mostly concerned about bringing back their livelihoods and living a normal life despite the losses and sorrow.

The war greatly devastated the UP College of Agriculture and School of Forestry. Almost all of the buildings were destroyed and burned down except the Baker Hall and the Agricultural Engineering building. Based on the Centennial Panorama, the release of the Philippine-US War Damage Funds to the university in 1947 made possible the reconstruction of academic and research buildings, the infirmary, student dormitories, and bungalows.

From 1945 to late 1950’s, Los Baños was recuperating from the wounds that the war brought about. Its people, as well, were recovering from the loss of the properties they had worked for and more importantly, the lives of their loved ones. Little by little, Los Baños was progressing.

According to Mrs. Tidon, there were many jobs for Los Baños residents after the liberation. Livelihoods were back to normal, and money was not really a problem. The Americans came back to restore stability.

Additionally, despite the casualties that the war caused, there were more people in town because of continuous migration of people from other provinces. One reason is the flourishing UPCA. More students enrolled in the university, and more employees were needed. UPCA became UPLB. The success of the university attracted local, regional, national, and international institutions and organizations. Most of these were development institutions.

In 1962, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) was inaugurated and established, the same year with the foundation of the Dairy Training and Research Institute (DTRI). Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) was instituted in 1966, followed by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) in 1972.

Later on the National Arts Center of the Philippines was established in 1977 together with the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA). All of these institutions contributed to the development of the country and primarily of Los Baños.

Urban Los Baños
According to Dr. Fernando Bernardo, the establishment of various institutions and organizations in Los Baños led to the birth and growth of large and small commercial establishments in the surrounding areas. The growth was centralized in Brgy. Batong Malake, which housed the many institutions and organizations, instead of the town center which is located in Brgy. Baybayin and Brgy. Bambang. At present, there are four urban barangays in Los Baños, namely: Timugan, Baybayin, San Antonio, and Batong Malake.

According to the SEPP 2005 Filipinos and foreigners working in these institutions brought their families here and decided to settle permanently. This, according to the report, made Los Baños, an international community, bringing developments in business, commerce, and civic works.

From 1970’s to present, commercial establishments as well as residential estates in Los Baños continued to rise in response to the growing population. A few establishments stayed through time, while some did not. Some agricultural lands were converted to subdivisions and commercial buildings.

As said by Mr. Lenard Lopez, son of the owner of Lopez Village, and a descendant of ex-Mayor Silvio Lopez, sugarcane plantations along Lopez Avenue were then converted to residential lots and commercial establishments –stores in front, houses at the back or on the second floor.

According to Mrs. Merlita Lansin, a native of Los Baños for 48 years, there were already many recreational business establishments during the 1970’s. There were famous theater houses, one located in Junction called Chit Theater (now the building across Batong Malake Public Market), and another was the Agrix Cinemas (now an old structure often renovated for different purposes). Those were the most notable establishments while others were only small stores and general merchandise shops with houses at the back.

In the 1980’s, according to Mr. Lopez, the most notable establishment was the arcade beside the UP gate, now known as Vega Arcade. He recalled that there were a few stores there, usually selling foods, and an ice cream parlor, which was a fad during that time. The present Star Commercial and a part of Los Baños Square was Eva Lanes Bowling Alley. It was then vacated after it operated for only a few years.

“Wala pang McDonald’s o Jollibee nung panahon namin. Joke nga no’n na magkaron ng Jollibee sa Los Baños. Parang  joke na, ‘kain tayo sa Jollibee!’ Pagkagraduate namen, ‘di na joke ‘yon. Totoo na ngang may fast food diyan.” (There were no McDonald’s or Jollibee then. It was even a joke to have a Jollibee in Los Baños during our time. The joke was like, ‘let’s eat at Jollibee!’ After we graduated, it was no longer a joke. There was already a fast food chain there.),” said Mr. Lopez.

Fast food chains started to rise in Los Baños in the 1990’s. Jollibee at the corner of the national highway and Lopez Avenue in Junction was a gas station before. Wendy’s existed in Junction exactly at the present location of Bodega ng Bayan. There was also a Shakey’s restaurant near the Batong Malake Public Market along the national highway. Los Baños continues to grow and develop. At present, there are Robinsons Town Mall, Olivarez Plaza, and Vega Center located at the town. There are already banks, hotels, resorts, coffee shops, internet cafés, restaurants, and bars.

According to the Socio-Economic and Physical Profile 2006, the town now has 44 schools, 40 subdivisions, 33 resorts, 11 food chains, and 17 banks. In addition, with its natural wonders and role as a center for science and technology, Los Baños was declared Special Science and Nature City in 2000 through Presidential Proclamation No. 349.

Los Baños Spirit
One major factor that caused the urbanization of Los Baños is its population. As the growth of UPLB and other institutions stabilized the town’s economy, it also made a significant increase in the town’s population. Having experienced the beauty of Los Baños, many people were attracted and decided to reside here.

Just like other municipalities, Los Baños’ population grew as time passed by. However, there is a significant growth in the population of Los Baños from 1948 to 2000. From 10,954 in 1948, it doubled to 21,519 in 1960 and increased more than 10,000 every decade. This period was the height of the physical growth of Los Baños. Different institutions were established, and businesses boomed. Subdivisions were developed, and people from different places came to settle. Hence, the growth of population and the developments in the physical characteristics of Los Baños took place simultaneously.

This growth in population resulted to negative effects on the whole community of Los Baños on the aspect of sustainable environment and social unity.

The cleanliness and orderliness of Los Baños in the early decades of the 1900’s as emphasized by Dr. Habito and Mrs. Tidon are said to be gone now. In addition, one reason pointed out by Dr. Bernardo was the lack of discipline among the younger generations. “They carelessly throw garbage anywhere they want. Tapon doon, tapon dito. (Throw there, dump here.) The care and concern of the people for the town are now gone,” stressed Dr. Bernardo.

People in Los Baños today are way different than the native of Los Baños. “There’s a great difference. People were obedient and disciplined. No influence of drugs. Wala pang mga local criminalities. Ngayon, dumadami na. Ngayon masyado nang polluted. Mataas ang rate ng cases ng cancer at asthma dito sa Los Baños. Dati kasi madaming mga puno. Ngayon, madaming pumuputol. At saka noon, Los Baños citizens were very hospitable and friendly. Pero nahaluan ng iba’t ibang mga tao. (There were no local crimes. Now, they are increasing. It [the town] is already too polluted. Rates of cancer and asthma cases are high in Los Baños. Before, there were many trees. Now, there are many tree-cutters. Also, people in Los Baños before were very hospitable and friendly, but are mixed up with different kinds of people.),” said Mrs. Tidon.

Moreover, according to Dr. Bernardo, there was a so-called Los Baños spirit, which was a spirit of unity, enthusiasm, and pride. This was originally a concept of the students of UPCA, but it reached the other residents in Los Baños.

“Noong araw, merong kaming tinatawag na Los Baños spirit. Pagka may trabaho, tulungan kami. Meron kaming spirit ng pagkakaisa. Pagka kami  eh nagpunta saMindanao or sa Visayas, kaming mga taga Los Baños, nagbabatian. (During that time, we have a so-called Los Baños spirit. When we have some work to do, we help one another. We have a spirit of unity. When we go to Mindanao or Visayas, we, people of Los Baños greet each other.),” related Dr. Bernardo.

They want that the Los Baños spirit be relived. Dr. Habito emotionally said, “I hope you could revive that Los Baños spirit. Everybody here, we felt like we belong to one family. We were so united. We were bound by a love for Los Baños.”

As said by Ms. Chrysalyn Gocatek, a Sociology instructor in UPLB, these changes in behavior of the Los Baños citizens can be the effects of many factors.  These factors are media, primary groups (family), physical environment, and outside forces. She mentioned the effects of its population which  is composed of people of different cultures brought about by migration. The distinct characteristics and values – unity, care for environment, and discipline – of the natives of Los Baños are easily wiped out because of these.

What Lies Ahead?

Despite the losing “town spirit” with more people living here, Los Baños continues to embrace those who opt to make it their home.

According to Councilor Ma. Luisa Wassmer, despite the limited income (almost 60 percent of the land area is exempted from tax) that the municipal government is getting; it has been addressing the needs of the Los Baños citizens.

For instance, the municipal government is actively promoting tourism to increase job opportunities for the unemployed.

Councilor Wassmer also mentioned of the efforts of the local government concerning the environment. Currently, there are community-driven projects in solid waste management, plastic disposal, and water availability monitoring.

As a special science and nature city, Los Baños is also striving harder to live up to the title.

Councilor Lourdes Principe said that Los Baños will always remain as “a host town for local and international research institutions and remarkably for UPLB, consistently producing the best academicians, scientists and authorities in agricultural research and development for countries in Southeast Asia and even worldwide.”

She predicted that there will be nosignificant and massive developments in the economy and commerce of Los Baños because of its limited land  area for business. It will remain as a university zone and an academic community only accommodating goods and services for the needs of the constituents.

Likewise, Mrs. Lansin commented that Los Baños is already a developed community. “Okay na okay na ang Los Baños. May mga ospital, may mga ilaw sa kalsada, may mall, madaming paaralan. Marami paring mga puno. Wala nang kulang dito. Wala nang idedevelop pa. Magaling naman kase ang namumuno dito ngayon. (Los Baños is very much okay already. There are hospitals, lamplights in the streets, malls, and a lot of schools. There are still many trees. We do not lack anything anymore. There is nothing more to improve on because the local government is doing well.)”

However, Councilor Wassmer said that there are still problems. In response to them, she personally seeks the help of the community – the people of Los Baños as well as the different institutions and organizations within it – in all the undertakings of the municipality. She said that there should have a committed, wellorganized coordination among the local government, research and development institutions, schools, private individuals and  corporations, religious organizations, and ordinary people for the progress and stability of Los Baños.

“World-class ang Los Baños..dahil sa hot springs, sa environment, sa mga tourist spots, historical sites at siyempre dahil sa UPLB. Pero mas sisikat pa ‘to kung magiging model community ito na lahat ng mga tao at lahat ng mga institusyon ay nagtutulungan at nagkakaisa para sa ikabubuti ng lahat. (Los Baños is a worldclass municipality because of hot springs, the environment, tourist spots, historical sites, and of course because of UPLB. But it would become more popular if it would be a model community wherein all the people and institutions work together as one for the good of all.), said Councilor Wassmer.

Grandeur Remains
Los Baños, even from the Spanish period until now, has been attracting thousands of people with its natural charm and exquisiteness. Because of this, it has undergone all the developments that made it into a place where people find solace and contentment.

Although there are underlying problems brought about by population growth, Los Baños struggles to maintain its natural charm along with its transformation into a modern community. The town will continously maintain the majestic view of mount Makiling. Around it, local and foreign tourists will always hear the chirping birds and feel the warn embrace of its enviroment.

Los Baños will always be a Special Science and Nature City.

Lawa ng Tadlac

ni Aries Bayeta

Malinaw ang tubig, singlinaw ng bukas na hinaharap nito at kasiguruhang hindi na muling dudumi sa pagdaan ng maraming henerasyon. Kumpleto ang larawan. May palaruan, parke, at pook pasyalan. Makikita ang makukulay na bee-eater bird na walang patid sa paglipad. Nagtitipon ang lahat: mangingisda, bakasyunista, at turista. Sa paligid ng tubig ay naroon ang iba’t ibang lugar-pasyalan. Panahon na lamang ang hinihintay, ang larawan ay magiging isa nang katotohanan.

Limang taon mula ngayon, isang malaking pagbabago ang magaganap sa Brgy. Tadlac, Los Baños, Laguna. Ang Lawa ng Tadlac, na dati’y isang natatagong likas na yaman ng Laguna ay sadyang inihahanda na upang maging isang pook-pasyalan na magtataguyod ng eko-turismo sa Laguna. Dahil sa taglay nitong kagandahan at kasaganaan sa likas na yaman, nakitaan ito ng potensyal para hangaan ng mga turista.

Pagkilala sa Lawa
Ang Lawa ng Tadlac ay matatagpuan sa hilagang bahagi ng Brgy. Tadlac, malapit sa hangganan ng Lungsod ng Calamba, Laguna. Ito ay may lawak na humigit kumulang sa dalawampu’t apat na ektarya (24 has) at may lalim na tatlong daan at tatlumpong metro (330 m). Sa bahaging silangan ng lawa ay matatagpuan ang Alviar’s Resort, isang pribadong pasyalan na sumasakop sa isang bahagdan (1%) ng kabuuang lawak ng tubig-lawa. Sa bahaging timog naman, ilang kilometro mula sa lawa, ay matatagpuan ang Brgy. Tadlac.

Dalawang barangay ang nagmamay-ari sa Lawa ng Tadlac: Pitumpong bahagdan (70%) nito ay bahagi ng Brgy. Tadlac at tatlumpong porsyento (30%) naman ay bahagi ng Brgy. Masili, Lungsod ng Calamba. Ang sistema ng pagmamay-ari sa lawa ay ibinatay lamang sa lawak ng sakop ng dalawang nasabing barangay at hindi dumaan sa anumang pormal na ordinansa. Ito ay iniayon din sa napagkasunduan ng mga nakaraang tagapamahala ng dalawang barangay sa tulong at pagsubaybay ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Ayon sa mga dalubhasa, bukal at tubig-ulan ang mga pangunahing pinanggagalingan ng tubig sa lawa. Bukod pa rito, tinatayang isa sa pinakamalaking pinagkukunan nito ng tubig ang Laguna Lake, kung saan dumadaloy ang tubig sa ilalim ng lupa (ground layer) patungo sa lawa.

Bukod pa sa potensyal nitong maging isang tourist spot, ang Lawa ng Tadlac ay tahanan din ng iba’t ibang uri ng hayop at halaman. Batay sa Master Development Plan and Feasibility Studies of Priority Banner Eco-Tourism na isinagawa ng mga mananaliksik mula sa URBIS Philippines Incorporated, 24 na klase ng ibon ang matatagpuan sa mismong paligid ng lawa.

Kabilang na sa mga ito ang kanaway (Whiskered Tern), bakaw (Little Heron), tagak (Egret), martines (Crested Myna), matangdulong (Lowland White Eye), kilyawan (Blacknaped Oriole) at ang Blue-throated Bee-eater Bird na siyang pinakamarami at pinakasikat sa lugar.

Sa hilagang bahagi ng lawa ay kapansinpansin ang tila isang lambak kung saan namumugad ang mga makukulay na Bee-eater Birds. Ang populasyon ng Bee-eater Bird sa Lawa ng Tadlac ay higit pa sa bilang ng mga nananahan sa Subic Bay, isa sa mga kilalang kanlungan ng ibon sa bansa. Samantala, kabilang naman sa mga isdang nabubuhay sa lawa ay ayungin, kanduli, bangus, dilis, dalag, at tilapya, na siyang pangunahing isda na matatagpuan sa lawa.

Bukod pa sa mga isda at ibon, may mga water lilies din na nabubuhay sa lawa. Dagdag pa ang mga nakakaing halaman tulad ng kangkong sa dakong timog ng lawa.

Pagbabalik-tanaw
Walang nakababatid kung kailan at paano umusbong ang Lawa ng Tadlac. Bawat tao na nakatira sa tabing-lawa ay may kani-kaniyang kwento tungkol sa pinagmulan nito.

Sa kabila ng alamat, ang tunay na kasaysayan ng lawa ay nagsimula noong 1664 nang ito ay matuklasan ni Kabesang Diego, isang estranghero na unang nakatagpo sa lugar. Ito ay tinawag na Lawa ni San Diego mula noon. Noong 1901, ang lupang nakapalibot sa lawa ay ginawang maliit na kampo ng mga Amerikano at tinawag nila itong Cayman’s Lake. Noong 1946, pormal na pinangalanan ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Los Baños ang lawa at tinawag na Crocodile/Alligator Lake sapagkat pinaniniwalaang may mga namataang buwaya sa lawa noong panahong iyon. Pagkalipas ng isang dekada, ito naman ay tinawag na Enchanted Lake.

Noong 1952, isang grupo ng British geologists ang dumating sa bansa upang pagaralan ang komposisyon ng lawa. Ipinalagay nila na ito ay posibleng naging bunganga ng isang aktibong bulkan na pumutok maraming taon na ang nakalilipas dahil sa taglay nitong asupre (sulfur).

Ito ay sinang-ayunan ni John Lemuel Aquisay, isang rehistradong geologist mula sa Mines and GeoSciences Bureau at Global Information System (GIS) specialist mula sa Coral Resources Philippines Inc. Aniya, ang mga lawang nagtataglay ng asupre ay normal lamang kung ito ay bahagi ng isang bulkan. Binigyang-diin din niya na ang mga bitak ng bato sa ilalim ng tubig ang maaring pinagmumulan ng asupre.

Paglipas ng Panahon
Gaya ng mabilis na pagpapalit-palit ng pangalan ng lawa, ang gamit nito ay mabilis ding nagbabago sa paglipas ng  panahon.

Noong mga 1930’s, ang katimugang bahaging lupang nakapaligid sa lawa ay ginamit bilang minahan. Bunga nito, nagkaroon ng bitak sa  ilang paligid ng lawa na naghiwalay sa timog at hilagang pampang nito. Noong mga panahong iyon, walang patakarang pinaiiral sa lawa kaya naging talamak ang pagmimina. Ang biglaang  paglago ng populasyon sa Brgy. Tadlac ay nagdulot naman ng mabilis na pagkalat ng dumi sa paligid ng lawa. Pagpasok ng mga 1960’s, sinimulang buuin ng ilang residente ng Tadlac ang isang samahan na mangangalaga sa lawa. Kasabay nito, ang Konseho ng Nayon ay nagsumite ng kahilingan sa Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources o BFAR na maglagay ng mga palakihing isdang-tabang sa lawa. Kaakibat ang ilang patakaran at kundisyon, inumpisahan ng BFAR ang taunang paglalagay ng palakihing isda (Lake seeding) sa lawa noong taon ding iyon.

Noong 1980, ang pagbabaklad sa lawa ay lumaganap din. Hindi ito napigilan sapagkat karamihan pa sa mga  nagmama-yari nito ay may matataas na katayuan sa Los Baños, dahilan upang hindi ito gaanong nabigyang pansin ng lokal na pamahalaan. “Kahit noon pa, hindi namin mapigil o masisi ang mga may-ari ng mga baklad dahil ang ilan sa kanila ay mga pulitiko. Maliban dito, ang lawa ang siyang malaking pinagmumulan ng ikinabubuhay dito sa aming komunidad. Nanghuhuli sila ng isda at ipinagbibili sa palengke.”, ani G. Olimpio Trimor, Kalihim ng Brgy. Tadlac.

Upang matugunan ang suliraning ito, nakipagtulungan ang Barangay Fisherfolk Aquatic Resource Management Council (BFARMC) ng Brgy. Tadlac sa Ugnayang Los Baños, isang non-government organization (NGO) upang pag-ibayuhin ang pangangalaga sa lawa. Sa taon ding ito, ipinasa nila ang pamamahala ng lawa sa Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA). Sa bisa ng Executive Order 027 na nilagdaan noong Disyembre 16, 1983, ganap na inilipat sa LLDA ang pamamahala sa lawa at ang operasyon ng pagbabaklad ay ipinatigil. Ipinagbawal din ng LLDA ang pag-aalaga ng isda sa lawa dahil ang mga kemikal na nagmumula sa mga fish feeds ay nakarurumi sa tubig.

Dahil sa pagtaas ng suliraning pangkabuhayan sa barangay, ang pagbabaklad ay muling ipinabukas noong 1991. Ngunit sa pagkakataong ito, hanggang 150 baklad lamang ang pinayagang ilagay. Gayunpaman, ang mga kasunduaang ayon sa batas ay muling nasuway. Ang mga mangingisda sa kalapit na lugar ay patuloy na nagtayo ng mga baklad at ang bilang nila ay mabilis na dumami.

Ang polusyon sa tubig ay muling kumalat dahil sa dami ng komersiyal na pakain sa isda mula sa mga baklad.

Ang dalawang magkasunod na paglabag ay nagtulak sa LLDA na ganap na ipagbawal ang pag-aalaga ng isda sa lawa. Ayon kay Engr. Erwin Kim Mercado, Development Management Officer of Planning and Project Development Division ng LLDA, nagpalabas ang kanilang tanggapan ng Aquaculture Operations Ban noong Hunyo 2000 sa pamamagitan ng

LLDA Board Resolution 140 series of 2000 na pinahusay at binago mula sa 1999 Aquaculture Operations Ban Act. Ito ay dahil sa malawakang pagkamatay ng mga isda dahil sa pagdami ng mga baklad na lampas sa kakayahan ng lawa. Bagama’t umaabot lamang ng dalawang taon ang bisa ng resolusyon, ipinatupad ng opisyal ng komunidad ang ganap na pagbabawal sa pag-aalaga ng isda upang maiwasan ang polusyon sa lawa. Sa kabila ng paghahanda para sa gagawing pook pasyalan, inaasahan naman ang malaking pagbabago sa maaaring maging takbo ng pamumuhay ng mga taong nakapaligid sa lawa. Mahalaga ang Lawa ng Tadlac para kay G. Francisco Trimor, 60, residente ng Brgy Tadlac. Sa halip na gumastos siya sa pagbili ng sariwang isda sa palengke, humuhuli na lamang siya sa lawa. Sa kabilang banda, hindi lamang ang mga taong nakatira sa paligid ng lawa ang nakikinabang dito. Mayroon ding mga malalaking pribadong establisimyento gaya ng Alviar’s Resort na kumikita dahil sa lawa. Ang porsiyentong sakop ng nasabing pamasyalan ay ginagamit din bilang palaisdaan.

Ang Lawa Ngayon
Mapapansin ang malaking pagbabago sa Lawa ng Tadlac simula ng malipat ito sa pamamahala ng LLDA. Wala na ang mga baklad kung kaya’t malinis na ang tubig. Wala na ring dumi sa lawa at ito ay ligtas nang paglanguyan o pagliguan.

Noong 2004, ito ay napiling isa sa mga kalahok sa Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran Award na ginanap sa Los Baños. Itinanghal din ang lawa bilang Best Inland Body of Water sa Provincial Gawad Kapaligiran sa loob ng dalawang magkasunod na taon noong 2004 at 2005.

SamantaIa, isa ang Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD) sa maraming sumusuporta sa pagtataguyod ng eko-turismo sa lawa. Nagsasagawa sila ng ibayong hakbang gaya ng paglilinis ng tubig sa lawa upang mapanitili ang magandang kondisyon nito. Nakatanggap naman ang barangay ng halagang P50,000 mula sa Filipino Community na nakabase sa Bangkok, Thailand bilang suporta sa clean-up drive na isinagawa sa lawa.

Patuloy na nagsasagawa ang LLDA ng regular na pagsisiyasat at pagbabantay sa kalidad ng tubig sa lawa. Lumikha naman ang Brgy. Tadlac ng ordinansa na nagpapahintulot sa pangingisda mula Disyembre hanggang Pebrero lamang.

Kaakibat ng LLDA, marami pang samahan sa Tadlac ang naglalayong pangalagaan ang lawa. Sa katunayan, tuwing Hunyo, ang Los Baños Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), na pinamumunuan ni Emilio Leviste, ay nagsasagawa ng tree planting activity sa tabing lawa.

Ang Tubig Kanlungan Foundation, Tau Gamma Fraternity, BFARMC at Linis Ilog Team ay ilan din sa mga samahan ng komunidad na naglalayong pangalagaan ang lawa.

Ang Linis Ilog Team na binubuo ng mga naninirahan sa Tadlac ang naatasang maglinis sa lawa kada buwan. Samantala, ang pamunuan ng barangay ng Tadlac at ang BFARMC ay masigasig na namamahala sa lawa. Ang BFARMC naman ay nakikipagtulungan 
sa LLDA sa pagsisigurong ang mga batas at regulasyon ng pangingisda ay nasusunod ayon sa 
mga panukala ng LLDA.

Ang pagsubaybay naman sa datos ng kalidad ng tubig ay ginagawa ng mga opisyal ng LLDA. Itinatala din nila ang kabuuang huli mula sa lawa para tiyakin na ito ay ganap na nakasusuporta sa kabuhayan at upang mapigilan ang mga mapang-abusong gawain.

Ang pag-aalaga ng isda ay ipinagbawal ngunit ang hayagang pangingisda ay pinapayagan lamang tuwing panahon na ang mga isda ay nakarating na sa kalidad na puwede nang ipagbili 
sa palengke.

Samantala, ang mga pamunuan ng Brgy. Tadlac, sa pamumuno ni Kapitan Juan Marvin Bautista, ay tumutuon sa pagpapatupad ng Tadlac Lake Nature Park (TLNP). Bukod pa sa pagkakataong ito, iba’t ibang serbisyo din ang dulot ng TLNP sa Brgy. Tadlac. Ang TLNP ay isa ding paraan upang magkaroon ng maayos na transportasyon ang mga tao dito. Dagdag pa rito, tinitiyak nilang walang mapipinsala at lahat ay makikinabang sa pagsasagawa ng proyekto.

Inaasahan naman ang mabubuting pagbabago at pag-unlad kaugnay ng pagpapatupad ng TLNP. Kung dati’y pangingisda lamang ang maaaring pagkunan ng ikabubuhay ng mga tao, ang TLNP ay magbibigay ng karagdagang hanap-buhay. Kabilang dito ang pagpepedikab para sa mga turistang darating, pagiging tourist guide, pamamangka para sa mga nais mamasyal, at pagtatayo ng mga negosyo.

Ang Lawa sa Hinaharap

Sang-ayon sa pangangalaga ng lawa at pakikipagtulungan ng URBIS Philippines Inc., nagsagawa ang LLDA ng mga pagsusuri upang matukoy kung maaaring ituloy ang proyektong TLNP. Ito ay dumaan sa konsultasyon at isinagawa ayon sa pagpayag ng mga tao sa komunidad ng lokal na pamahalan ng Los Baños.

“Ninety-nine point nine percent na matutuloy ang TLNP. Sa katunayan, masaya ako nang malaman kong mauumpisahan na ang proyekto ngayong taon. Ibig sabihin lang no’n na dadami ang magkakaron ng trabaho dito sa aming lugar dahil yun ang pangunahing problema,” pahayag ni Kapitan Bautista.

Batay sa 2006 Barangay Management Information System (BMIS) ng Tadlac, 40 bahagdan ng kabuuang tagapagtaguyod ng pamilya ay walang trabaho at ang 25 bahagdan naman ay walang regular na trabaho. Sa pagsasakatuparan ng nasabing proyekto, umaasa nang malaki si Kapitan Bautista na ang employment rate sa kanilang lugar ay tataas.

Idinagdag din ni Kapitan Bautista na mayroon nang mga nakalistang mga Korean investors na magpopondo sa proyekto, at ito ay isang magandang senyales ng pag-usad. 

Ayon naman kay Bb. Camille Cammayo ng URBIS Phiippines Inc., ang pagpapaunlad sa TLNP ay hindi sa lawa lamang nakatuon kundi maging sa kabutihang maidudulot nito sa buong barangay. Ipinaliwanag niya na ang proyekto ay magbubukas sa barangay ng iba’t ibang oportunidad na trabaho (waiters, tour guides, receptionists) at iba pang oportunidad na negosyo (pagtatayo ng souvenir shops, pampasadang pedikab, atbp.), dagdag pa sa pagpapaganda ng kapaligiran ng lawa. 

Kasama sa plano ang pagtatalaga ng mga pook sa paligid ng lawa para sa iba’t ibang uri ng libangan gaya ng campsites at nature tripping. Mayroon ding itatayong mga kainan na nakalutang sa tubig. Samantala, pagagandahin naman ang tubig sa lawa para sa pamamangka o kayak. 

Itinalaga din ang mga indibidwal at grupong magsasagawa ng ibat’ ibang uri ng tungkulin sa proyektong TLNP. Ito ay ikinonsulta sa mga susing tagapagpaganap sa TLNP at sa Pamahalang Bayan.

Bawat grupo ay may ginagampanang tungkulin na itinakda ng mga opisyal mula sa URBIS Philippines Inc. Ang LLDA ay naatasan sa pangkalahatang pamamahala at regulatory control sa Lawa ng Tadlac. Ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Los Baños ang siyang magiging responsable sa programa at tanggapan ng  barangay na malapit sa lawa. Samantalang ang BFARMC ang susubaybay sa lawa. Panghuli, ang SK ang siyang susuporta sa LGU sa pagsasagawa ng mga programang pantubig.

Layunin ng TLNP na mapaunlad ang eko-turismo sa lawa at mapanatili ang ecological balance sa lugar. Ito ay titiyak din sa tuloy-tuloy na pag-unlad, pagbibigay ng kabuhayan sa komunidad, at pagpapalawak ng karanasang pag-aaral sa pagkakaroon ng kaalaman sa kapaligiran.

Ang proyektong TLNP ay inaasahang magsisimula ngayong taon matapos ang mga pagdinig at paghahanda ng lahat ng mga kailangang kagamitang teknikal. Limang taon mula ngayon, sino ang makapagsasabi kung ano ang magiging kaanyuan ng lawa. Anuman ang kalabasan ng proyektong TLNP, responsibilidad ng bawat isa na panatilihin itong malinis at produktibo. Huwag nating iasa lamang sa organisasyon at lokal na pamahalaan ang tungkuling pangalagaan ang lawa.

Hayaan nating magdulot ng higit pang tulong at oportunidad ang lawa sa pagpapaunlad ng Brgy. Tadlac. Gawin natin itong isa sa mga modelo ng tuluy-tuloy na kaunlaran. Gawin natin itong hakbang upang mapatanyag pa ang eko-turismo sa Laguna at maging sa buong bansa. Pag-ibayuhin pa natin ang natatanging katangian ng Lawa ng Tadlac bilang isang tourist spot at bilang isang lugar na sagana hindi lamang sa likas na yaman kundi maging sa kwento at kasaysayan. ■