Itik Festival: Celebrating Victoria Laguna’s Cultural and Agricultural Heritage
The Itik or Duck Festival of Victoria Laguna is an annual celebration coinciding with the town’s founding anniversary every November. It’s a vibrant event held
Santa Cruz, Laguna
Kesong Puti Festival
Celebrating Santa Cruz, Laguna’s Culinary Heritage
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- Santa Cruz, Laguna
The Kesong Puti Festival highlights Santa Cruz, Laguna, as a vibrant center of Filipino culinary tradition and cultural celebration. With its rich heritage, picturesque location, and thriving community spirit, the festival invites visitors to experience the warmth and flavor of this unique municipality.
Explore the Philippines through my lens as we venture into Kesong Puti Festival with Point of View (POV) photography. Using a body cam, I’ll guide you on an interactive tour, revealing the behind-the-scenes of capturing the shots shared here. Let’s dive into this visual journey together and uncover the wonders through my lens!
Let’s explore the PHILIPPINES through my lens as we journey on a photo slideshow to Kesong Puti Festival. Join me in this visual adventure and discover the wonders captured through my lens! Check out the shared slideshow here.
Santa Cruz, a first-class urban municipality and the capital of Laguna province in the Philippines, is a place where tradition, culture, and culinary delights converge. At its heart lies a beloved breakfast staple: kesong puti, or white cheese, made from the rich milk of carabaos, or water buffaloes. Produced predominantly in Sta. Cruz, this creamy delight is cherished by locals and visitors alike, especially during the annual Kesong Puti Festival.
Check out the video for more highlights. See what I’ve captured through my lens with Point of View (POV) photography. Using a body cam, I’ll take you on an interactive tour, showing you behind-the-scenes moments of capturing the shots shared here.
Check out the video below for additional features. Explore what I’ve captured through my lens in this cinematic slideshow.
The town’s culinary gem, kesong puti, isn’t just a food item; it’s a symbol of annual celebration and joy, often enjoyed with hot pandesal (bread rolls) and a cup of kape (coffee) or tsokolate (chocolate). This delightful combination has woven its way into the fabric of the municipality’s cultural history, evolving into a festival that celebrates not only its gastronomic heritage but also its cultural uniqueness and industrial prowess.
ABOVE: Santa Cruz, the capital of Laguna, blends tradition, culture, and flavor—best known for its creamy carabao milk cheese, kesong puti, celebrated yearly at the Kesong Puti Festival.
ABOVE: Santa Cruz, the capital of Laguna, blends tradition, culture, and flavor—best known for its creamy carabao milk cheese, kesong puti, celebrated yearly at the Kesong Puti Festival.
While Santa Cruz may lack the natural tourist spots found in other areas, its true beauty lies in its culinary offerings and vibrant community spirit. Proudly known for its kesong puti, freshly crafted from carabao’s milk, Santa Cruz stands as a testament to the richness of Filipino cuisine.
Geographically, Santa Cruz is strategically located on the banks of the Santa Cruz River, which flows into the eastern part of Laguna de Bay. Surrounded by the bay to the north and neighboring towns to the east, south, and west, Santa Cruz serves as a pivotal commercial and service center for the region.
With a population of over 110,000 people, Santa Cruz thrives as an administrative hub, housing the provincial government since 1885. Led by Mayor Denis Panganiban, the municipality continues to progress, embracing its role as a first-class urban area.
ABOVE: Kesong puti, often paired with hot pandesal and coffee or tsokolate, is more than just a local favorite—it’s a cherished symbol of the town’s culture, now celebrated through a festival that honors its culinary, cultural, and industrial pride.
ABOVE: Kesong puti, often paired with hot pandesal and coffee or tsokolate, is more than just a local favorite—it’s a cherished symbol of the town’s culture, now celebrated through a festival that honors its culinary, cultural, and industrial pride.
Economically, Santa Cruz flourishes with burgeoning industries such as livestock raising, horticulture, and aquaculture, contributing to its status as a thriving agribusiness hub. Its accessibility, both by land and water, makes it a pivotal point for transportation, commerce, health, education, and social services for the surrounding rural communities.
Strategically positioned along the southeastern coast of Laguna de Bay, Santa Cruz is easily accessible from Metro Manila, making it a gateway to nearby attractions like Pagsanjan, Lake Caliraya, Liliw, Paete, and Nagcarlan. With 26 urban barangays spanning approximately 3860 hectares, Santa Cruz covers about 2% of Laguna Province‘s total land area, serving as a bustling center of activity and a testament to the resilience and vibrancy of Filipino culture.
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ABOVE: Santa Cruz, home to over 110,000 people and led by Mayor Denis Panganiban, has been the provincial government seat since 1885 and thrives as a first-class urban center with growing industries in livestock, horticulture, and aquaculture, serving as a key hub for transportation, commerce, and essential services in the region
ABOVE: Santa Cruz, home to over 110,000 people and led by Mayor Denis Panganiban, has been the provincial government seat since 1885 and thrives as a first-class urban center with growing industries in livestock, horticulture, and aquaculture, serving as a key hub for transportation, commerce, and essential services in the region
ABOVE: Santa Cruz, located on the southeastern shore of Laguna de Bay and just a short trip from Metro Manila, serves as a vibrant gateway to nearby spots like Pagsanjan, Lake Caliraya, Liliw, Paete, and Nagcarlan, covering 26 urban barangays across 3,860 hectares—about 2% of Laguna’s land—showcasing the lively spirit of Filipino culture.
ABOVE: Santa Cruz, located on the southeastern shore of Laguna de Bay and just a short trip from Metro Manila, serves as a vibrant gateway to nearby spots like Pagsanjan, Lake Caliraya, Liliw, Paete, and Nagcarlan, covering 26 urban barangays across 3,860 hectares—about 2% of Laguna’s land—showcasing the lively spirit of Filipino culture.
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