Welcome to Paete Laguna :)

                                               (The Carving Capital of the Philippines)

I am not born in Paete Laguna and either my parents because my mother is from Bicol region then me and my father is from Mindoro. There is a time that I asked my mother that why she live in Paete. Then my mother answered me that when she was young, my grandmother go to Paete Laguna together with her husband and children because there is a lot of jobs and opportunity here. I am almost 12 years here in Paete Laguna since year 2002. I also finished my elementary here at Ibaba Elementary School and my high school at Poten&Eliseo M. Quesada Memorial National High School. I am not “tubong Paete” but I can say that I am a “batang  paete ”

There is a lot of thing you can enjoy here. We have a lot of events, amazing culture, cute language, beautiful and unique souvenirs, delicious foods and many more that you can see only here in Paete or originated from Paete.

Paete has its unique “punto” (the way Paetenos speak or pronounce a word) that when heard by the people from other town, they can easily tell that you are from Paete Laguna because of your “puntong-paete”. I have a few words or language that I learned during my childhood years like “haka” (lier) “bayabas” (mayabang or boastful) “waso” (pilyo or wicked) “kulig” (biik or piglet)”tambok”(monay or  Buns/type of bread) and when we describe a person we use the word “bali” for example “balikaganda” means (you’re so beautiful). There is a lot of words that in Paete can found but it is not familiar on me so I just list down a few of it.

In foods, on the book that I’ve read on our University Library (LSPU-Siniloan) I saw this three: Minanok, Pinaniki, and Minane. Minanok is “Ginataang Inihaw na Talong” in tagalog. Some of my classmates don’t know what is Minanok. I asked one of them then he said to me that it is something that has a Chicken. Because there is a root word of “manok” that is chicken in English. He said that it is Chinicken (Minanuk) and he is serious but I laugh a little because of his answer then I explain to him that it was not chicken it is a grilled eggplant that has a coconut milk and vinegar and I don’t know why it is called minanok but the taste of it is really good and delicous. Then we also have the “pinaniki” it is bopis in other town. I don’t know how to cook it but it is “ginataang lamang loob ng baboy” with ginger called “dilaw-pula” and “silingtilos” or “labuyo” it is also delicous. Then the last one that I saw in the book is the minane. It is a fried cube sliced cassava with garlic, salt, and seasoning. I don’t know if it is originated from Paete because I also see this in other town. But there is a lot of vendor of it on Paete Laguna  when I was young specially when summer. I think there is many more delicacies that only here on Paete Laguna and I want to know it someday..

Paete Laguna is an ideal place for me. The drinking water here is not expensive. Actually you can have it for free on our “igiban” (free flow of drinking water) and we have many of it. The nearest one when you are in town plaza is located at Brgy. 8 Bankusay  at the back of “Simbahang Katoliko” and the water here is not “lasang kalawang” unlike from the poso of other town. And if you want to date with someone there is the Wawa Park at Brgy. Ibaba Del Sur it is a park that anyone can go and we have also the Tatlong Krus when you want to hike. It is beautiful and you can see from it the whole town of Paete. In holy week, many people go there from Monday to Sunday. The people here is cute, handsome and beautiful except me Jand they are also kind and always smile on their lips :)

We have also a lot of events and happenings every year. The Salibanda on January it is a parade of Sto Nino together with the band and the town people and people from other town. In Holy Week we have the Cenakulo, “Prusisyon”, “Penitensya” then hiking at TatlongKrus. The town fiesta is on July 25 and there is a lot of happening like competition on ice carving, fruit and vegetable carving, soap carving, bartending and wine mixing and many more. We have also a festival, the Paet-taka Festival (former ukit-taka festival) I don’t know the exact days but it was held during September I think it is a week of celebration maybe you can search it nalangpoJ I don’t know because I don’t know what is going on in their because I have a work during that celebration and I can’t go there to watch but I guess it was so amazing basta taga Paete When December, there is a decoration in our plaza. It is nice and very artistic design “Paskuhan sa Paete”. I think you enjoy reading this and I hope you now know something new about Paete Laguna  :D

If you want to go here…Welcome po sa Paete :) 


 thanks :)


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(photos from google)