Taal Basilica
The Taal Basilica Minore of St. Martin of Tours, is the biggest catholic church in South East Asia.
This is to continue the Taal Discovery. After our hike at Taal Volcano, we were off to the Taal Heritage town, which is 45min to an hour long drive from San Nicolas. It was already pass 5 in the afternoon when we reached the town itself. It was a very interesting town, quite small in contrast to Vigan but you could easily see the historical houses being towered by the gigantic Taal Basilica at the town center park. The Basilica is huge, and what a perfect timing that I forgot to bring my wide angle lens in times like this. I have to get really far just to take a shot of it.
A devotee lighting a candle and offering a prayer.
A bit unfortunate that it was already late and there was a mass on going inside the church. We couldn’t get up to the bell tower and view the whole Town of Taal from the top. So we just looked around the church. I’m really impressed by the huge columns that support the second level of the church. It looks very Roman and reminds me of the church pictures I see in Rome. Probably inspired?
The Basilica Wall, impressive roman columns and aging texture of the walls.
Written on its door: The church was built in 1575, destroyed by the Taal explosion in 1754 and was rebuild in 1755. Then an earthquake shook it down in 1849 and once again rebuilt in 1856 by Architect Luciano Olivero.
Right now the church is decreed as a Historical Landmark. Any renovations or changes done should go by the National Historical Institue first. I also read somewhere that the whole town is being considered or there are talks in including them in UNESCO’s heritage list.
The Basilica on the side with the bell tower on top.
Taal town is very interesting. I’m planning on going back here soon to explore more of the town itself as we only had the chance to visit only the Basilica.
Tags: Churches, Heritage, Structures, Taal, Taal Town
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Friday, January 27th, 2006 at 2:28 pm 
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January 27th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
mukhang ang laki nga ah… sa batangas ba yang taal town?
January 27th, 2006 at 4:34 pm
bro! nice pics (as usual, hahaha). na-miss ko na yang basilica of san martin de tours. was there about 2 years ago. sana narepair na siya. anyway, thanks for your comment on the mangyan poem. yep, the script alone pleases the senses, the poem is haunting. amazing find nga eh. goes to show that our rich heritage has much to offer, all we have to do is discover them.
January 27th, 2006 at 4:39 pm
…sama naman ako when you go back
a friend gave a tour of the town to his students and they climbed up the bell tower daw. inggit ako. i want to try native thick chocolate over hot rice and witness panutsa-making…etc.
January 27th, 2006 at 9:02 pm
Lino : Hi Lino, yes, it’s still in Batangas, an hour’s drive from Tagaytay.
Oggie : Yes, I agree with you re: our heritage.
Ten : Sure, kelangan ko lng cguro i schedule in advance yung daytrip. Cguro isasabay ko na rin sa ibang gusto sumama mag photoshoot. Ok ba to Lino? Denver ready ka ba sumama ulit?
January 28th, 2006 at 3:15 am
beautiful old architecture…i like the texture and color tone on the building…nice capture.
January 28th, 2006 at 8:49 am
I know Taal but it seems I missed this town and the Basilica. One more excuse to go back there!
January 28th, 2006 at 2:14 pm
Thanks for the congratulatory remarks
Anyway, if you want to know more about the book, visit here:
http://fnf.org.ph/books/filipino-as-a-liberal.htm
January 29th, 2006 at 7:08 am
no wonder ikaw maging best photo blogger kasi dami kong natutunan dito, di lang maganda mga kuha mo ay may nalalaman ako tungkol sa mga kugar natin, di ko alam na itong church na ito ang pinakamalaki sa southeast asia, galing… i’m sure next year ikaw ulit mananalo, hehehe. Ganda ng trophy mo….
January 30th, 2006 at 3:35 pm
Sure Ferdz, sabihin mo lang kung kelan, wag lang sana sunday, hehehe.
February 1st, 2006 at 1:33 am
hey ferdz! nice photo on the Taal basilica. Just wondering, why is it that the Taal Town, is not so close in proximity to to taal volcano island — as compared to towns like talisay. In fact, the barangay on the north side of the volcano island are parts of Talisay municipality itself. Shouldnt it have been part of Taal? I’m just wondering. Maybe perhaps you know the story behind it.
October 7th, 2006 at 2:22 am
hi there! you do have a very nice blog site! Uh, i just need to ask you how to get to Taal Basilica? you see, my parents and other relatives are going there tomorrow and they may need basic directions? any landmarks around it ba? what’s its address? thanks a lot!
March 1st, 2007 at 9:26 am
mgnda tlga sa taal!!! try also to visit d well of sta.lucia near our lady of casasay chrurch!!! npka gnda tlga ng taal!!! mafifil mu tlga ung unang panahon!!!! ALA EH PUNTA N KAU!!!!!
March 29th, 2007 at 3:29 am
I love the town of Taal. It is a very nice town with a lot of old houses and the church is fabulous!
You captured it’s beauty well!
June 16th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
wow!! ang ganda tlaga ng taal n0h? nkapunta n yata cla dun eh!!
June 16th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
hehehe!
June 16th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
my multo cguro dyan??
sa picture plang pngsinaunang pnahon n tlaga ung plce n un…………!!!
July 4th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
its nice!
i’m hoping na marami ka pang info about sa mga beautiful places here in the philipines
September 4th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
nice one, ferdz =) the sunshot members are thinking of going to taal this weekend - daytrip only. do you have suggestions as to our IT? which places to go to for a whole day affair? thanks!
September 4th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
this is nice, ferdz! the sunshot members are thinking of going to taal this weekend - daytrip only. do you have suggestions as to our IT? which places to go to for a whole day affair? thanks!
October 5th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
0ooppss…buti nlng napadaan poh aq dito…i’m living here in batangas and we’ve been there in taal last week lng for some research studies! we have chosen taal xe nga napakyaman ng culture nito!
nice pics and info poh!
just wanted to tell sumthing abt d question of Mr. S Crypt po…
[ S. Crypt says:
February 1st, 2006 at 1:33 am
hey ferdz! nice photo on the Taal basilica. Just wondering, why is it that the Taal Town, is not so close in proximity to to taal volcano island — as compared to towns like talisay. In fact, the barangay on the north side of the volcano island are parts of Talisay municipality itself. Shouldnt it have been part of Taal? I’m just wondering. Maybe perhaps you know the story behind it. ]
naitanong n din poh kc nmen un…
sbi ng napgtanungan nmen, dati daw tlga taal lng ung nme nung byan n un n malapit at sumasakop s taal lake… eh dhil nga daw npaklawak ng political coverage ng taal, needed na-idivide cia into different municipality such as towns of Sta. Teresita, San Nicolas, San Luis, Lemery and Agoncillo…d nrin poh binago ung name ng volcano kc nga un ung original namenya at dun cia kilala….=)
March 30th, 2008 at 3:25 am
VERY NICE OF YOU TO WRITE ABOUT THE BASILICA OF TAAL I AM FROM TAAL AND WE JUST FINISHED RESTORING OUR ANCESTRAL HOUSE WPOULD LIKE TO INVITE U TO VIST TWO OF OUR ANCESTRAL HOUSES THANK U
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
parang kahapon lang ng mag work ako sa taal basilica,ako nga pala ang isa sa mga nagrestor ng kesame ng altar grabe ang taas pero ng matapos kami sa pagrestor ng kesame wow satisfied ako at isa pang inirestor ay ang bahay ng unang gumawa ng bandera ng pilipinas nandyan yun sa harap ng school inirestor din namin ang dinding at kesame yero nga ang kesame nyan eh at may design salamat po na mis ko lang magpunta dyan at hindi ko malilimutan ang bayan ng taal,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,sana makapunta muli ako dyan ,,,,,,,,