Lake Muhikap

Lake Muhikap
Location San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines
Group Seven Lakes of San Pablo
Coordinates 14°07′34″N 121°20′02″E / 14.126°N 121.334°ECoordinates: 14°07′34″N 121°20′02″E / 14.126°N 121.334°E
Type crater lake
Basin countries Philippines
Surface area 14.5 hectares (36 acres)
Surface elevation 80 metres (260 ft)
Settlements San Pablo City

Lake Muhikap (more commonly spelled as Mohicap or Mojicap) is one of the seven lakes of San Pablo City, in the province of Laguna, Philippines. The lake, which is located in Brgy. Sta. Catalina has an area of 14.5 hectares (36 acres), and it is one of the main suppliers of water in the city. The waters of San Pablo Lakes provide a generous source of tilapia for Metro Manila and suburbs.[1][2]

Legend

The legend of Lake Muhikap is quite similar to those of Lakes Pandin and Yambo to the east. A couple had a very sickly daughter named Munica, and they frequently prayed to God for her health. They promised to do anything in exchange, to which God granted their prayer on condition that Munica must not set foot on soil. She thus grew up to be healthy and very industrious.

One day while her parents were away, Munica was sewing a dress. The ball of thread she was using fell on the ground and when she tried to retrieve it, she fainted and fell. She suddenly sank with the entire neighbourhood, and a lagoon was formed. This body of water was later called Muhikap, derived from the unfortunate girl's name, and "mahikap", which means industrious in the local dialect of Tagalog.[3]

References

  1. San Andres, Ramon B. (2006). "Backgrounder". Friends of the Seven Lakes Foundation. Retrieved on 2011-01-06.
  2. "Seven Lakes". San Pablo City Official Web Site. Retrieved on 2011-01-07.
  3. "Legend of the Seven Lakes - Lake Muhikap". Seven Lakes International. Retrieved on 2009-03-16.

External links