Reason#53 Heritage Houses of Pila, Laguna

Heritage Houses (and very clean streets) in Pila, Laguna; photo contributed by Joey Ablaza

Pila Municipal Center, Laguna; photo contributed by Joey Ablaza

What they say:

“Bayang Pinagpala” is Pila’s endeared name.  It is a town blessed with a long history of noble existence and doubly-blessed with evidences of its glorious origins. - Dr. Luciano Santiago

I feel that after discovering Pila, Laguna, my idea of it as the Vigan of the South is an understatement. Just an hour's drive from Manila, being there was like taking a ride in a time machine. Fact is, I could almost feel that a Spanish Guardia Civil would appear out of one those well-preserved Spanish colonial houses. - Joey Ablaza