CALAMBA: THE CITY THAT MOLDED A HERO

Planning your next domestic travel? Let us take you on a quick tour of Calamba, Laguna. If you’re not sure whether to spend your time dipping in a relaxing hot spring pool or having a refresher about Philippine history, Calamba may be the right place to do both at once.

A visit to the Rizal Shrine, a look at the Pettyjohn Pottery Studio, and a relaxing stay at a hot spring resort will give you a well-rounded Calamba experience.

RIZAL SHRINE

The Rizal family residence has become a must-visit place in Calamba. The two-storey house built with stone and hardwood is located at Mercado Street, beside St. John the Baptist Church and near the Calamba

City Plaza. The original house was built a few years before Dr. Jose Rizal was born in 1861.

The existing house-turned-museum is a replica of the original structure, reconstructed by National Artist for Architecture Juan F. Nakpil in 1949. In 1950, it was inaugurated to the public as Calamba Rizal Shrine. The 72-year-old shrine lives with plenty of stories waiting to be discovered by those who visit it.

The museum is arranged in six galleries that walk you through Pepe’s life from his childhood until his travels to Europe, up to his writings that cemented his place among the country’s heroes. As you enter

the premises, Gallery 1 called Kaliwanagan, will welcome you on the museum’s ground floor. Hanging on the wall is the family chart enumerating the siblings of Jose and their respective spouses.

The second gallery introduces you to Kapaligiran or Pepe’s environment growing up. You can also see a timeline of Calamba’s history. As you move on to the third gallery, you’ll learn about Jose’s formal and informal schooling including his years in Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) and the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

The museum’s second floor reveals more of how the family spent their lives in their home. As you walk through the grand staircase, you will see the waiting room .....