eLBi Must Try!

The Original Buko Pie. It captures the taste of a juicy buko, giving an irresistible creamy texture. Several outlet stores are found along the National Highway in Anos, Los Baños. It's not really hard to spot these stores since they often create the slow-down in traffic along the said highway because they always have a long queue of patrons.

You can get a box of the sumptuous Buko Pie for 150 Pesos. Your family will love it if you get them one as a pasalubong. :)

Other ORIENT products: Buko-Apple pie (175), Tropical Pie(130), cassava cake(140), pineapple

Since it was opened to the general public in 1965, BOTANICAL GARDEN has been more than just a sanctuary for endangered and rare plant species in the country. It has become a reminder, especially for nature-lovers, that there is still a bit of heaven here on Earth. This is why once you get the chance to have a hike up to the College of Forestry and Natural Resources, you owe it to yourself to go and check out the BOTANICAL GARDEN.

This nature-rich tourist destination and educational/recreational facility is officially called "Makiling Botanic Gardens". It opens from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. everyday except on New Year’s Day, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, All Saints Day and Christmas Day.

More info here: http://www.laguna.net/mcme/MBG/index.html

Although some say it is also sold out of town, a lot of students aren't very sure about that. PROVEN has been one of UPLB's favorites ever since ever and a lot of students claim that they have never seen the deep-fried delight anywhere except when they entered UPLB. I guess UPLB students took PROVEN as a local icon and can't help but associate it with the university people's fascination with identifying body parts of animals and naming different species.

It's real name is PROVENTICULUS... which came from the Greek word... which I don't really know. Or was it Latin? Anyway, who cares when it tastes this good? PROVEN has proven a lot when it comes to being a good merienda during students' vacant hours. It is a street food made from a small part of chickens that, when cooked rightly (rolled over on breading, then deep-fried til it's crispy, golden brown) and then dipped in the right mixture of vinegar and spices, explodes in your mouth with such awesome that you would always want more.

It is sold in various locations around the UPLB campus, inside and out. The cooking is very different from each store so you might want to try buying from different ones. One of the students' favorites can be found in Umali Subdivision.

There are those simple things that you just can't afford to miss when going to a place.

Here in UPLB, they say you have an incomplete student life if you haven't tried PAPU'S SIOMAI. No one really knows the secret behind these luscious pork dumplings for only the owner, Mr. Tagalog, knows the recipe. And in adition to students' unrelented words of praise for them (especially during low-budget days), several stores located along the Grove that leads to the UPLB Campus make PAPU'S SIOMAI really hard to miss.

I guess what really makes PAPU'S SIOMAI special is its kindness toward your pockets. For 17 Pesos, you can have three pieces of siomai and if you make it 25 Pesos you can have it with rice. Not bad, huh?