Good Friday

Since 2008 we always visit Caleruega every Holy Week as in walang palya yan. I was still pregnant when we first visit the church and now parang nakakasawa na kasi paulit-ulit na lang picture namin. Hehe! But it is my husband's devotion so I need to support him.

It is nice to visit Caleruega every Holy Thursday and Good Friday because there’s no entrance fee but you have to be early so parking would not be difficult and less crowded. Parking is P30.

We left before 5AM to pick up my in-laws in Laguna and off we went to Caleruega. We were there before 7AM so we ate inside the car while waiting for the opening.

 After Caleruega, we dropped by Chapel of Hills.

Then Taal Basilica or Basilica de San Martin de Tours, according to Wikipedia, Taal Basilica is considered to be the largest church in the Philippines and in Asia, standing 96 meters (315 ft) long and 45 meters (148 ft) wide.

“Ang Basilika ng Taal (1575) Unang itinayo ni Padre Diego Espina noong 1575 sa ngayon ay San Nicolas na dating bahagi ng Balangon. Nagiba nong 1754 nang pumutok ang bulkan. Ipinagawa sa kasalukuyang kinatatayuan nong 1755 at giniho ng lindol noong 1849. Kinikilalang pinakamalaking simbahang katoliko sa dakong silangan, ang kasalukuyang simbahan at sinimulan noong 1856 ayon sa ibinalangkas ni Luciano Oliver, isang arkitekto. Pinasinayaan ito noong 1865.

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It was our first time in Taal, Batangas and now I know why it is called Heritage Town. You can really see that this town was preserved, most of the houses are still old and even the 7-11 is in old building. It looks like we were transported at different times. Unlike in Vigan, you can only see the old houses in one place but here in Taal, everywhere you go, you can see old houses. I know that there are several places that we can visit in Taal but my husband wanted to visit 7 churches so we have to leave immediately.

Next stop is this church, I’m not sure if the name is San Roque Parish.

As I mentioned, my husband wanted to visit 7 churches but we were stuck in the traffic on our way back to Tagaytay and were exhausted already, especially his nephew who experiencing motion sickness. As in lahat ng stop namin, sumusuka ang baby. #wawa So after eating our lunch, we went straight home.

By the way, we saw Fantasy World on our way to Taal Basilica. According to the vendor we can go inside for P1000 (max of 10 people). 

How to get to Taal Basilica from Caleruega

From Caleruega, just go back to Nasugbu-Tagaytay Road then turn right to Batangas-Cavite Boundary. If you see the Fantasy World as you drive farther, you’re on the right track. Drive straight until you reach Mahayahay Crossing. Turn left and stay on the road. You’ll pass through Lemery Town Proper. When you cross the Pansipit Bridge, you have entered Taal Territory. Turn left going to Taal Basilica. 

Source: Batangasphilippines.org.