CALAMBA AND SANTA ROSA: DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES

Calamba and Sta. Rosa are both located in Laguna. They have similarities and differences when it comes to freshness of air, shopping malls, night life, and tourist attractions.

The freshness of air is clearly better in Santa Rosa. Calamba is more populated than Santa Rosa. According to research, as of 2007, 360,281 people are living in Calamba while 266,943 in Santa Rosa. Calamba is more polluted than Santa Rosa because there are lots of vehicles in Calamba. Both Santa Rosa and Calamba have vehicles but it is more in Calamba.

Shopping malls are both found in Calamba and Sta. Rosa. They both have SM but the differences are the time when they were opened and their size. SM City Calamba opened 2011 while SM City Santa Rosa opened 2006. The one in Santa Rosa is bigger than the other one in Calamba. They both have Walter Mart but the difference is that the one in Calamba is larger than the one is Santa Rosa. They both have Paseo but the one in Calamba is smaller than the one in Santa Rosa. Paseo de Sta. Rosa have different shops for bags, clothes and foods while Paseo de Uno de Calamba just have few shops and restaurants. Santa Rosa have Robinsons while Calamba don’t have. Santa Rosa have Solenad 1 and 2 in Nuvali while Calamba don’t have. Both Solenads are good venues for recreation, relaxation, shopping and most especially for recreation.

Night Life is better in Santa Rosa than in Calamba. Bars, clubs and party places are more in Santa Rosa than Calamba.

Santa Rosa and Calamba are both known to have tourist attractions. Calamba have Jose Rizal Shrine, Calamba Rizal Park, Banga Pot of Calamba and St. John the Baptist church while Santa Rosa have Enchanted Kingdom and EK Biki World. They both celebrate festivals too. Sikhayan Festival, Santa Rosa Cityhood Day, Saint Rose of Lima Fiesta, Saint Lorenzo Ruiz Fiesta and Grand Wizardy Competition in Santa Rosa while in Calamba, Independece Day, Rizal Day, Feast of Saint John the Baptist, Town Foundation of Calamba and Rizal’s Death Anniversary.

 

Calamba and Santa Rosa are both beautiful places. They have both similarities and differences. If you’re into modern travelling, I suggest you go to Santa Rosa and if you’re into traditional travelling, try going at Calamba city.

 

When you go to both places, be sure to have someone with you because it would give more fun and excitement. Bring extra clothes and towels because some beautiful places of both cities are open and not covered. Don’t forget to have some pocket money so you good buy a remembrance from both cities. Camera is a sort of a must when travelling to capture the moments.

 

How would you get there? If you want to go directly to the “Bayan ng Calamba”, from Manila you would ride a van or a bus that stops in Crossing, Calamba City then you would ride a jeepney going to the “bayan.” The ride on the bus costs approximately Php 10.00-30.00 and approximately Php 40.00-60.00 for vans. The jeepney from Crossing to Calamba Bayan costs around Php 7.00-10.00. Basically, I’ve never commuted going to Sta. Rosa, I even went there once only so as far as I know, from Manila, you could ride a bus or van going to Balibago, Sta.Rosa then take a jeepney going to “Sta. Rosa Bayan.” It would costs you around Php 80.00 for the van and jeepney and around Php 50.00 for the bus and jeepney.

 

My personal advice is that, don’t visit those cities without a companion. The more, the merrier and you’ll surely have fun. It’s better to use or rent a van if you are many and it gives more conducive travelling experience.