Taal volcano and its
caldera lake may be the poster boy of Batangas, but unknown to many, the
province is also home to a municipality of the same name. Hailed as the
Heritage Town, the Grand Lady of Batangas, the Tagalog Capital as well
as the Balisong and Barong Tagalog Capital of the Philippines, the
tranquil town of Taal is about two and a half hours away from Manila, a
perfect destination for those wanting to temporarily escape the bustling
metropolis.
Today, the preserved old town is a delight to tourists. Its narrow streets exude a graciously laid-back atmosphere dappled with elegant old houses with the highest concentration found in M.Agoncillo Street where the eponymous seamstress of the first Philippine flag once lived. Marcela Agoncillo was raised in Taal, Batangas in their 17th century ancestral house, now turned into a museum. Visitors can enter the Doña Marcela Agoncillo Museum without admission fee but donations are highly encouraged for its upkeep.
(Doña Marcela Agoncillo Museum)
A few meters away is the imposing heritage house of Don Leon Apacible
which also doubles as a museum. He is General Emilio Aguinaldo’s
finance officer. Don Leon Apacible Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday at 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Galleria de Taal
is another colonial house turned into a museum, entrance fee is Php 50.
Here you can find Daguerreotype cameras dating back to the 18th century as well as a collection of old photographs. Meanwhile along Agoncillo Street, is the eye-catching old house of the Agoncillo Family where a bronze statue of Felipe Agoncillo, the husband of Marcela Agoncillo proudly stands.If you are planning to stay here overnight, the grandiose Villavicencio Wedding Gift House has rooms starting at Php 3,000. For a more budget friendly room, consider staying at Casa Punzalan, a colonial house turned into a hotel, rates starts at Php 600.
(Basilica de San Martin de Tours)
The most prominent structure in this serene town is the massive Basilica de San Martin de Tours situated in front of the Taal Plaza and the 18th
century Casa Real. It is dubbed as the largest Catholic Church in Asia.
The church also houses one of the largest bells in the country.
(Our Lady of Caysasay Shrine)
Also make time to visit the Our Lady of Caysasay Shrine which houses one of the earliest
Marian images in the Philippines. Based on anecdotes, it was found by a
fisherman named Juan Manicad at the nearby Pansipit River. At the back
of the church is the San Lorenzo Steps named after the
first Filipino saint. Nearby is the trail to the ruins of the old chapel
built beside the spring where the image of the Our Lady of Caysasay was
originally found.
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