All over the Philippines, towns are dotted with old Spanish colonial churches that have stood the test of time. More than houses of worship and prayer, our beautiful and magnificent churches are living testaments to the unique and profound Filipino culture and artistry.

Caysasay Shrine

This year, come with us as we explore and appreciate these edifices of faith.

Illuminati Tours and Advocacies brings you to eight (8) most beautiful churches of Batangas, including the Basilica of San Martin de Tours (the largest Catholic Church in Asia) and the Our Lady of Caysasay Shrine, in Taal, Batangas.

Interior of Taal Basilica

Re-visit our rich history and re-acquaint with the Catholic faith thru a unique guided tour by Joel Aldor of Heritage Conservation Society. Get to understand and appreciate our Philippine architecture and heritage, and the importance of preserving our legacy. It’s an exciting, enriching, and enlightening journey you owe yourself.

Going to church. It's more fun in the Philippines.

Interior of Batangas City Basilica

The Churches of the Batangas Province:

Batangas was founded in 1581. Originally, it was composed of the present provinces of Batangas, Mindoro, Marinduque, Southeast of Laguna and even far Camarines.  After several devastating eruptions of  Taal Vlocano, the smallest volcano in the world, the old Taal town site was buried. The capital was eventually transferred to Batangas (now a city) in 1754 where it has remained to date. 

The name "Batangas" was derived from the word "batang," which is a term of the natives for the numerous logs found in the Calumpang River, the body of water that runs through the northeastern portion of the town and assumes the shape of a tuning fork.

Among its famous churches are:

Interior of Lipa Cathedral and Calaca Church

Metropolitan Cathedral of San Sebastian (Lipa City)

The seat of the Archdiocese of Lipa was then administered by the Augustinians beginning April 30, 1605 (and until the end of the 19th century) under the name “Convent of San Sebastian in Comintang”. The first church building was made of light materials. The present building of “serious architecture, proven solidity and great proportions” began its construction in 1779 during the term of Fray Ignacio Pallares, OSA. The church was totally completed from 1865 to 1894 during the administration of Fray Benito Varas.

Basilica de San Martin de Tours (Taal, Batangas)
Reputed to be the largest in Asia. Taal church stand 95 meters long and 45 meters wide on a plateau in the heart of Taal.  The Augustinian missionaries started the construction in 1756 and took a century to achieve its present form.  The facade resemble St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Its tabernacle is the only one of its kind in the Philippines.

Basilica Of the Immaculate Conception & Infant Jesus (Batangas City)
The  Baroque-styled basilica was built in 1857. The present church began in 1851 due to the increased population. Father Pedro Cuesta, the parish priest undertook the construction after having the torn down the old church. It was granted Basilica status by Pope Pius XII, the first basilica to be vested that honor and privilege in the Philippines and in the entire Far East.  The basilica houses the original Sto. Niño ng Batangan, a miraculous statue of the Infant Jesus.

Our Lady of Caysasay Shrine (Taal, Batangas)

The Our Lady of Caysasay, is home to the the amiable and miraculous quadricentennial image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Juan Maningcad, a fisherman, found the statuette in 1603 in the Pansipit River.

San Rafael Arcangel Parish Church (Calaca, Batangas)

This centuries old church, built in honor of St. Raphael the Archangel, is mostly intact and unspoilt by “renovations, improvements, and restorations”.  Truly it is a national heritage site and a cultural treasure of Batangas.

The Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Joseph the Patriarch (San Jose, Batangas)

This church was built by the Augustinian friar Fr. Manuel Blanco in 1812. It has a large one-aisle interior and is remarkable for its restored main altar, geometrical decorations and flowery capitals on the columns. The church is a paragon of Baroque architecture in the Philippines, and combines this with the neo-classical lines of an adjacent convent. The pulpit and canopy is study in intricate carvings of local flora.

Immaculate Conception Parish (Bauan, Batangas)

First constructed in 1700, it was built around neo-classical lines and its walls are broken by Gothic lancet windows. The altar has a tri-centered arch with the niche containing the statue of the Virgin Mary. The facade of the church features both geometric and circular forms. It has a bell tower which is hexagonal, and rests in a base decorated with coupled columns, topped by a campanile. The church is arcade with capiz shell windows on the upper level. It is home to the old devotion to the Mahal na Poong Santa Cruz.

Inmaculada Concepcion Parish (Balayan Batangas)

A National Cultural Treasure, Balayan Church is one of the few examples of churches built under direction of the “indio (Filipino) clergy” in 1753. The interior has not changed much since the 1870s when a print showing the church interior was made, despite several superficial additions.  The National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) declared this church as a National Heritage Site.

Tour Itinerary:

Saturday March 17

05:30 am - Assembly at McDonalds Makati Valero/Breakfast

06:30 am - Departure

08:00 am - San Sebastian Cathedral, Lipa City, Batangas

09:00 am - San Jose Patriarco Parish Church, San Jose, Batangas

10:00 am - Immaculada Concepcion Minor Basilica, Batangas City, Batangas

11:00 am - Immaculada Concepcion Parish Church, Bauan, Batangas

12:00 pm - Lunch at Don Juan Restaurant, Taal, Batangas

01:30 pm - San Martin de Tours Minor Basilica, Taal, Batangas (National Historical Landmark and Largest Church in Asia)

02:30 pm - Our Lady of Caysasay Shrine, Taal, Batangas (National Shrine)

04:00 pm - San Rafael Arcangel Parish Church, Calaca, Batangas

05:00 pm - Immaculada Concepcion Parish Church, Balayan, Batangas (National Cultural Treasure)

05:30 pm - Departure to Manila

08:00 pm - ETA Makati