Lucban
Lucban is a town in Quezon, on the foot of Mount Banahaw.
Understand
Lucban lies inland in Quezon, 24 km (15 mi) north of Lucena. Most of the town is rainforest, and there is no dry season, so regular rainstorms can occur time by time.
The town town takes its name from the Tagalog word for the pomelo tree, "lukban", but the real origin is shrouded by ancient tales spread by word of mouth.
Get in
The town is served by regular jeepney service from Lucena, all terminating at the public market. Vans from Lucena Grand Terminal can be taken if you go on package tours to Kamay ni Hesus.
There are no buses to town. The easiest is to take a bus to Lucena, and transfer to a jeepney. Less common is via Tayabas: take the daily JAM bus plying Manila-Mauban, or the hourly NCR Lines ordinary buses plying Lucena-Mauban and get down at Tayabas, and take the jeepney.
Lucban is served by Pagsanjan-Lucban-Lucena Rd (Rte 605), and can be reached via Pagsanjan or Lucena. A drive from Manila usually takes 3 hours, via Pagsanjan.
Get around
Lucban poblacion is easily walkable. To Kamay ni Hesus, take a jeepney along the highway or hail a tricycle.
See
- 🌍 Hermano Pule Monument, Lucban-Luisiana Road, Abang (Near the junction to Majayjay, Laguna). A shrine to Apolinario de la Cruz, better known as Hermano Pule, who founded the Cofradia de San José, who fought for religious and civil rights during the Spanish colonial era. Pule lead a rebellion from 1840 until his execution in 1841.
- 🌍 Kamay Ni Hesus Healing Church, Tayabas Road,, ☏ +63 42 540-2206. 7AM–5PM. Roman Catholic pilgrimage site on the foot of Mount Banahaw, frequently visited during Holy Week. It houses a replica of Noah's Ark, a healing church, family park and pond. Group tours can be organized from Lucena.
- 🌍 La Casa de Doña Ana, Quezon Avenue, Poblacion. A large Bahay na Bato (stone house) built in Neoclassical style by a local couple. Among the ancestral homes in town, only the Casa is designed with that style.
- 🌍 San Luis Obispo Parish Church (Lucban Church, St. Louis of Toulouse Parish), San Luis Street, Poblacion.
- 🌍 Mount Banahaw. A mountain and extinct volcano (or a potentially active volcano), straddling the provinces of Laguna and Quezon. It is the highest mountain in the Calabarzon region (2,170 m a.s.l.), and a sacred monument for the Tagalog people.
- 🌍 Mortuary Chapel Ruins, Roman Catholic Cemetery, Lucban-Sampaloc Highway. Open 24 hours. These are what remains of the old mortuary church of Lucban Public Cemetery. built in the late 1700's on top of a hill overlooking the town, this church features two belfries and a magnificent ornately designed facade which is quite unique for this type of church. although the church is now in ruins the exterior is still well preserved, though weathered. Free.
- 🌍 Marcos Tigla Park, La Purisima Concepcion Street. Open 24 hours. Free.
- 🌍 Maapon Falls, Barangay Mahabang Parang. Open 24 hours. Entrance fee: ₱20; Guide: ₱300.
Do
Festivals
- Pahiyas Festival - (May) Locals throughout the town decorate their houses with native materials to celebrate a plentiful harvest, before the rainy season comes (though Lucban is rather rainy at any time of year as a rainforest town). The town is frequented by tourists when this festival is held, so, accommodations like transient homes and apartments become fully booked.
Buy
- 🌍 Pamilihang Bayan ng Lucban, Gomburza Street. 5AM–5PM.
Sleep
The Poblacion area hosts many apartments and homestays ("transients") that can be rented for one day, especially during Pahiyas Festival.
- 🌍 Kalesa Inn, A. Racelis Ave, ☏ +63 42 540-6592. Home stay in the Poblacion, having A/C rooms with basic amenities ₱1,505.
Connect
- 🌍 Municipal Tourism Development Council of Lucban, Quezon, A, Racelis Avenue.