A Daytrip to Liliw, Laguna and the Tsinelas Festival/Cafe Arabela

Liliw is one of my favorite towns in Laguna, second only to my hometown of course. Located at the foot of Mt Banahaw and blessed with cooler weather than the lowlands (that's a secret), bordered by the towns of Sta Cruz (the provincial capital), Magdalena, Nagcarlan, Majayjay (all in Laguna) and Dolores town in Quezon. Its streets still retain the heritage houses vis-a-vis new brightly colored houses built with money pumped in by the thriving shoe industry that rivals that of Marikina.

My father and my sisters decided to visit again this quaint town to shop for sandals, visit friends and unknowingly witnessed the on-going Tsinelas Festival (Tsinelas or chinelas, a certain kind of footwear)

one end of Gat Tayaw St with the welcome arch

Liliw town was founded by Gat Tayaw, whose main street is named after him, during the 1500s. The town's name was said to be taken from a bird with a sound onomatoepeiac to Liliw (as in Liw! Liw)

gat tayaw street with banderitas and stalls

shoes and bags galore that ladies drool over

beaded sandals/flip-flops at my favorite store there: Aristocrat

After shopping you may visit Ara Bela, probably the most popular restaurant in this side of town with their not-so-pricey pasta, pizza, cakes and other delectable offerings frequented even by denizens of the big city. The place is usually full at lunch time so come early.


the cozy interior of Ara Bela has soft, dim lights and low ceiling fit for hobbits and other vertically-challenged people

delectable cakes and desserts for people with sweet tooth

double cheese pizza at Ara Bela

at P45 each for an 8 inch tall glass of mocha shake, this is a steal

for truly frugal foodies, there's street food

There's also Decio's near the church for Filipino food finds plus a handful of others on the main road and adjacent places.

How to get to Liliw, Laguna (commuting):

Liliw town can be reached the commute way by taking a HM Transport bus bound for Sta Cruz in Cubao (near Victory Liner) or on Taft Ave near corner Buendia stations. Alight at barangay Pagsawitan in Sta Cruz (a fork on the road where most people get off) and transfer to a Liliw-bound jeepney. There is also a way via San Pablo. For people coming from Quezon province or the fourth district of Laguna (like Paete), board a jeepney bound for Sta Cruz, get off at Sambat (Jollibee, Pagsanjan not the other Sambat in Sta Cruz) then transfer to a jeepney with Lilw signboard.