Los Banos (translated "the baths" from Spanish), 65km (40mi) southeast of Manila, is an hour and a half drive by car or bus. Buses from Lawton to Sta Cruz stop in Los Banos. The locals separate the town proper into Bayan, located north of the highway on the Laguna lake side, where the town hall, main market, and resort hotels are situated; and College, south of the highway on the Mt. Makiling side, where the 'University of the Philippines Los Banos' (UPLB) (16) is located. The university's main gate (14) is at the corner of Kanluran and Silingan Sts. The central transportation point of the town for local jeepneys, tricycles and buses on the ManilaSta. Cruz line is called Crossing (13), which is the intersection of the highway with Lopez Ave (more popularly known as Grove).

Although the town is called Los Banos, there are few spa resorts located here. Most of the spas, resorts and hotels are located in Calamba. Los Banos is dominated by the university, which is the agricultural educational and research center of the University of the Philippines system. The "Dairy Training and Research Institute" (DTRI) is part of this campus and produces fresh milk products, cheeses, ice cream and yogurt in limited quantity for local marketing. The public can buy these products at numerous convenient private dairy shops located at Crossing.

Accommodation:

City of Springs (12) 35 N.Villegas, Bayan
Tel 50731; 5 swimming pools (6:3024:00), entrance 510
whirlpool P 150/hr

Victoria Lodge Hotel (12) (City of Springs)
dbl 169201 (fan,ac,tb); 10 rooms

City of Springs Resort Hotel (12)
dbl 280392 (ac,tb,minipools)
no visible street sign, entrance through enclosed driveway; lovely view of Laguna lake from back terrace, especially at sunset; restaurant 6:3023:00, busy place

Attractions:

Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

The 252 hectare (690 acres) experimental farm of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) (15) is situated next to the University of the Philippines. IRRI was established in the Philippines in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations in cooperation with the Philippine government and with the support of more than 50 countries, organizations and foundations. It operates as a nonprofit corporation, primarily devoted to rice development, the most important crop in the world.

The research center employs 2,200 scientific and support staff, 97 of whom are Filipinos. It has 70 senior scientists from different disciplines and nations, mostly Third World countries.

In 1966, IRRI introduced a developed variety of rice called IR8. This variety is more commonly called the miracle rice as it has many grainbearing heads thereby increasing Asia's rice yield and production by 60%. This miracle rice launched the Green Revolution in rice farming in the many Third World countries.

One of the most notable sites in IRRI is its laboratory, housing the germ plasma bank. This germ plasma bank is the repository of IRRI's collection of different rice varieties. Today, it has a collection of 70,000 out of 120,000 worldwide varieties of rice. Through the germ plasma bank, IRRI intends to develop rice varieties resistant to pests and diseases and tolerant to various conditions of soil. It further aims to prevent the extinction of traditional rice varieties.

In line with IRRI's intention to increase rice production, it sponsors several training programs and courses on rice variety development and improvement, production cost reduction, management technics, field collection, and germ bank management, among others. Post doctoral scientists from different Third World countries have worked at IRRI on their country's rice production problem. Graduate students taking master and doctorate courses conduct their thesis and dissertation research at IRRI.

Because of its efforts to alleviate hunger, IRRI became the recipient of the Third World Award of 1983. In 1987, two scientists of IRRI received the 1987 Japan Prize for their roles in the development of the miracle rice. The Japan Prize is Japan's most prestigious award, patterned after the Nobel Prize. Those awarded were Dr. Henry M. Beachell and Dr. Gurdev S. Khush.

Free public tours lasting about an hour are conducted upon request. The IRRI visitors' office asks 1 to 2 days advance notice. Special detailed tours require 1 week notice.

IRRI facilities open to public are the library with extensive research materials on agricultural technologies relating to rice and the cafeteria. Opening hours: MonFri 8:0017:00, Tel 7420717, 7420580 (visitors' office)

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