KNOWN as the birthplace and hometown of the national hero Jose Rizal, Calamba in the Province of Laguna exemplifies modernity. Yet, it has preserved Filipino culture well, and it is an exponent of 21st century learning, too.
A first-class component city with an approximate population of 550,000, Calamba — from kalamba, the Tagalog word for a wide-mouthed earthen water jar, which is also called banga — is the regional center of Region 4 or Calabarzon. It is also known as the Spring Resort Capital of the Philippines for its numerous hot springs with water coming from the dormant Mount Makiling, which is actually a volcano.
Located just 50 kilometers south of Metro Manila, Calamba is…
