December 25, 2023

December 25, 2023 Pakil, Turumba, Laguna Province, Philippines.

Arriving around 4pm by tricycle from the Plaza in Paete beneath a cloudy fragmented drizzle. 

"Sa kanto lang kuya, 'd kailangan pumasok." (Let me off at the corner of the intersection sir, no need to go inside.) From the main road J.P Rizal it's a walk of less than fifty yards.

Everyone says "malamig!" Too cold to swim in Turumba, but  once into the freestyle stroke rhythm, the heart gets pumping as those "bubbles" you practiced pays off-breathing like an old single stroke engine on the African Queen.

The pool is said to have healing miracle powers fed by the natural waters from Mt. Pingas of the Sierra Madre range. The Range that encompasses almost the entire length of the Island land mass of Luzon. As the water enters it exits at the opposite length of the pool, thus no chemicals, kept clean by a continuous circulation of water. The pool seems about fifty feet long, you can get a decent workout swimming laps at length.

Like many old places the infrastructure is vintage 1938 and seen plenty of use. The pool surrounded by tile is a rocky river bottom and only chest deep. Some of the walls are edged by what seem flat mossy boulders. Moss all around and small fish. Once, a kid came up from the bottom with a small fresh water crab. Kids like to borrow my extra pair of goggles-to explore and swim in an aquarium.

Casually completing ten laps, breaking in the middle to do sittups and stomach pulls, the cloudy drizzle is once more illuminated by the sun peeking through, painting the water gold with rushing heat. Swimming this hour there is no shade on the entire pool beneath the sun's reveal.

Workout completed and on the tier of steps, slipping into dry cloths beneath the veil of a large towel, suddenly an angelic choir broadcasted from the Church of St. Peter of Alcantra (built 1739) only a block or so away. Echos through this natural amphitheatre at the foot of Mt. Pingas filling the ether as the sun once again breaks through. 

Answering the siren call, walking to the Plaza of Pakil which is maaliwalas (spacious). This is small  Spaghetti-Western-esque town you saunter through the tricycle station to the empty square. Appearing there is the facade of St Peter's  of Alcantra  upon a pedestal of steps. Where one can gently climb and peek in briefly at pews of the good people of Pakil. Crossing back to the Plaza are a couple of vendors at the crosswalk. They sell red candles, some lit like incense.

Bearing on a return tricycle Paete bound, staring back at the Church, the Holy chorus continues. Behind it all, the slopes of Mt. Pingas glow bright green from the peeking sun, a rainbow's colors radiate beneath a misty sky, above the said healing miracle waters of Turumba.