Rafting tours in Lake Pandin provide livelihood for wives of San Pablo fishermen

Posted at 5:23 pm March 10, 2011

Tags: Beaches and Water Activities, Environment, Travel Tales and Tips

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By Marjorie Gorospe

SAN PABLO CITY, LAGUNA— The wives of fishermen in Lake Pandin have realized the true benefits of protecting the environment. By keeping it safe and clean, the lake is now providing them another means of livelihood in the form of tourism.

One of San Pablo’s Seven Lakes, Lake Pandin has an area of about 20 hectares. It is also regarded as the cleanest, its calm waters ideal for swimming.

Fishermen in Barangay San Lorenzo used to depend solely on the lake for fishing. Their wives would help by selling their catch.

In 2005, they met environmentalist Mandy Mariño and famous acclaimed designer Patis Tesoro (both are from San Pablo), who approached them with the idea of preserving the lake while thinking of ways to promote it as a tourist destination.

“We told them Pandin would end up like (Lake) Sampaloc if it’s not given the proper protection,” says Mandy, who also led efforts to preserve Lake Sampaloc, the biggest lake in San Pablo.

The wives organized themselves into the Samahan ng Kababaihan sa Lawa ng Pandin.

The women then pooled resources to construct a bamboo balsa or raft. “From a single bamboo raft, we now have several rafts ready to accommodate visitors,” says Gina Tolentino, the group’s vice president.

These rafts can accommodate up to 20 people for a tour around Lake Pandin. During weekdays, you can cruise around the lake longer while on weekends they limit the tour to three hours to accommodate more guests. Fee is P180 per person.

You also have the option of having lunch on the raft. However, you need to call at least a day before so the wives can market and prepare your meal. Fee is P250 per person for lunch and tour.

It’s an all-female crew manning these rafts, with a tanod aboard a smaller raft in case of emergency like someone accidentally falling in the water.

“All of us know how to swim but just to make sure, wearing a life vest is a mandatory to all our customers,” says Gina.

At the middle of the lake, guests can take a swim or go fishing.

To make sure that the visitors won’t pollute the area, each bamboo raft has trash cans on board. “We are also happy that the visitors also respect the place and they dispose trash properly,” says Gina.

The wives of Lake Pandin value this body of water because it has given them another source of income. Gina says they are looking for other ways for tourists to enjoy their visit while keeping the lake safe and clean.

“We owe a lot from this lake and we protect it the way we protect our own families. We hope other people can also respect this place like we do.”

Get more information about Samahan ng Kababaihan sa Lawa ng Pandin