In 2011, my friend and I went to another friend’s farm in Batangas. It is a lovely place with lots of mango trees, bordered on one side by a ravine and a shallow stream. The farm is a place of quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was the last time that we’d be visiting while she was here – she has since moved to Singapore (then to Ireland) to work. On our last day, she decided to bring us to the historic town of Taal along the shores of the lake that shares its name.
We didn’t get to see sights that much because we had to head back to Manila for work the following day. We did, however, see the famous Taal Basilica, or more properly known as the Basilica de San Martin de Tours.
From Wikipedia:
“Basilica de San Martin de Tours is a Minor Basilica in the town of Taal, Batangas in the Philippines, within the Archdiocese of Lipa. It is considered to be the largest church in the Philippines and in Asia, standing 96 metres (315 ft) long and 45 metres (148 ft) wide.”
Heading to the church is like being transported back in time. Some of the houses were built like those in the Spanish baroque era, and you could see the influence even on the municipal hall.
The church’s style was a reminder of the Spanish legacy. And once you get inside the church, you’ll feel the grandeur of the great architecture.
The nave is just awesome, I took a photo from the entrance, and I could say that it’s just…long. You can see the meticulousness of the design on the ceiling. Even the chandelier is grand. And once you’re near the altar, you’ll be amazed by the dome above you.
My only concern is that Taal is located on the fringes of the volcano. I hope the town would be spared in case the Taal volcano erupts.
As with my other trips, I wish I could’ve stayed longer. I wanted to see the pantalan, and also the town from the lake’s vantage point. Well, someday I’ll be back to pay a visit.
Damage of the Batangas Earthquake
On April 4, 2017 at around 8:58 PM, an earthquake struck the province of Batangas, damaging the Basilica. The quake’s epicenter was located 7 kilometers northwest of Tingloy town, Batangas. Fortunately, no one was reported hurt by the falling debris.
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