Taal Town or famously known as Taal Heritage Town is a third class municipality of Batangas Philippines. It is famous for its old ancestral houses that was built more or less than hundred years ago and is one of the most historical places in the Philippines. It is the home town of many notable personalities who supported the revolution against the settler colonies in the country.
Being a history fan boy, I was really surprised to learn about this historical town of Taal or also known as the Taal Heritage Town. It is considered as a heritage landmark by the National Historical Institute – obviously because of the raw heritage houses that will greet you the moment you enter this rustic town. It is approximately 2-3 hours drive away from the metro depending on a traffic situation. It is also good alternative destination for those who wants to visit Vigan but don’t have enough time for long and tiring 7 hours drive or more just to get there.
The moment we entered through the town’s welcome arches, I instantly feel like we transported to a time when the Philippines was battling for the freedom from the opponents. We were greeted by the old ancestral houses and a friendly local.
Here’s how our day went exploring this historic little town.
Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours
The Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours is the biggest church in Southeast Asia. The Basilica was dedicated to the town’s patron saint, St. Martin of Tours. It was built in 1755 but was rebuilt a century later after it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1849.
This is how the church looks like inside
Its tabernacle is made of silver, the only one of its kind in the Philippines. It was declared as a national shrine on January 16, 1974.
Dona Marcela Agoncillo Museum
Dona Marcela Agoncillo Museum is one of the oldest house in Taal, built in the late 17th century by Marcela’s grandfather Andres Mariño. The first Philippine flag was sewn by hand by Marcella Agoncillo in this house. The heirs donated the property to the national government, it is presently being maintained by the Department of Tourism.
Felipe Agoncillo was the Filipino lawyer representative to the negotiations in Paris that led to the Treaty of Paris (1898), ending the Spanish–American War and achieving him the title of "outstanding first Filipino diplomat.
As a family friend and adviser of General Emilio Aguinaldo and General Antonio Luna during the critical times of the revolution, Agoncillo has been active in participating during that era especially when he presided over the Hong Kong Junta—a group of Filipino exiles who met to plan for future steps in achieving independence. His greatest contribution to Philippine history was when he was assigned to negotiate with foreign countries to secure the independence of the country. This was considered the most important assignment given by a General.
He was born on May 26, 1859 and died on September 29, 1941 at the age of 82.
Marcela Mariño de Agoncillo also simply known as Marcela Agoncillo, was a Filipina renowned in Philippine history as the principal seamstress of the first and official flag of the Philippines, gaining her the title of Mother of the Philippine Flag.
Agoncillo was a daughter of a rich family in her hometown of Taal, Batangas. Finishing her studies at Santa Catalina College, she acquired her learning in music and feminine crafts. At the age of 30, Agoncillo married Filipino lawyer and jurist Don Felipe Agoncillo and bore him six children. Her marriage led to her important role in Philippine history. When her husband was exiled to Hong Kong during the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution, Agoncillo and the rest of the family joined him and temporarily resided there to avoid the anti-Filipino hostility of some foreign countries. While in Hong Kong, General Emilio Aguinaldo requested her to sew a flag that would represent their country.
Agoncillo, her eldest daughter and a friend manually sewed the flag in accordance with General Aguinaldo's design which later became the official flag of the Philippines.
She was born on June 24, 1860 and died on May 30, 1946 at the age of 85.
The children of Dona Marcela and Filipe Agoncillo
The museum accept donations only instead of charging an entrance fee. It is also open during Sundays unlike the other museum in town which are close during Sunday. The guide inside the museum is absolutely free but it would be nice if you have a heart of giving him/her a tip.
Paradores del Castillo
After exploring Dona Marcela Agoncillo Museum we decided to have lunch since it was already 11 am when we finished. It was very hot when we go out of museum so we decided to charter a tricycle and we asked the driver to take us to the best restaurant in town and he brought us at Paradores Del Castillo.
The Paradores del Castillo is a remodeled ancestral house that converted to a bed and breakfast hotel. It is located on Calle Dr. H. Del Castillo, a few meters from Taal park and St.Martin de Tours Basilica.
See our Paradores del Castillo experience here.
It was even more hot when we finished our lunch at Paradores del Castillo. But we decided to still continue our walking tour in town. We walked going to Poblacion Street where most of the old houses are located. We got to passed by Casa Villavicencio, Taal Galleria and other famous houses in town. Unfortunately most of them are close during Sunday so we didn’t get chance to discover what’s inside of those houses.
Tampuhan Cafe
Upon walking along Agoncillo St. We got to passed by this cute cafe called Tampuhan Cafe. (Tampuhan is a Tagalog word means a misunderstanding between 2 people). Like Paradores del Castillo this cafe is used to be an old ancestral house that converted to bed and breakfast hotel. It is a perfect place if you want to enjoy local foods such as lomi(they have the best lomi in town, I swear), tapsilog, and famous halo halo.
We decided to end our Taal Heritage Town tour by eating at Tampuhan Cafe. We failed to visits all the tourist spots in town but it’s a good thing because I have the reason to come back again to discover more the rich culture of Taal Town.
Other places to see and discover :
Ylagan- Dela Rosa Ancestral House – a beautiful house restored by the descendants of the family.
The White House – the home of Gregorio and Mariquita Villavicencio Agoncillo.
Villavicencio Ancestral House – owned by Eulalio and Gliceria Marella Villavicencio.
Don Leon Apacible Museum – The home of Don Leon Apacible who was Emilio Aguinaldo’s Finance officer and a delegate to the Malolos Congress of 1898.
The Wedding Gift house – This ancestral house is wedding gift of Eulalio to Gliceria.
Sta Lucia Well – a spring-fed well where two women saw reflections of the Virgin of Casaysay, water has miraculous healing powers.
Our Lady of Casaysay Shrine – the home of the miraculous Virgin of Casaysay.
San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps – 125 granite steps dedicated to the memory of San Lorenzo Ruiz
Local crafts – balisong and hand-embroidered clothe.
Balisong and Bagumbayan Church – built in the 1700 to cope with the expansion of the Catholic faith in Taal.
How to get there?
From Manila to Taal Town (source: Taal.gov.ph)
1. From Manila, take the South Luzon Expressway all the way to EXIT 50. Continue driving and enter the Star Tollway.
2. Take the LIPA Exit from Star Tollway. After the exit, turn LEFT at the National Highway towards Taal / Lemery / Cuenca.
3. Drive STRAIGHT for approximately 3.5 km (past landmarks like Fernando Airbase; Petron Gas Station; Sunflower Agro-Industrial Corp.; Vazbuilt Tiles/Vazcom) until you sees a green highway sign on your right side and Phoenix Fuel station on your left side. This green sign will have an arrow directing you to the RIGHT to Cuenca/Alitagtag/Taal.
4. Once you see this signage, make a RIGHT towards Cuenca / Taal / Lemery.
5. Follow this winding road for about 11.5 km. At about 11.5 km you will go past the Alitagtag town’s welcome arch. Continue going straight past this arch for approximately 1.7 km.
6. When you see a Caltex station in Cuenca on the left side, veer RIGHT towards the Alitagtag Poblacion (town proper).
7. Go straight for another 3 km till you see the welcome arch of the town of Sta. Teresita. Go straight for another 3 km till the end of the road, until you reach the National Highway Junction. Your landmark is the Petron Gas Station at the end of this road. Turn RIGHT towards the town of Taal.
8. After 5 kms, past landmarks like the Villas del Pueblo Subdivision, Tawilisan, you will see the Flying-V Station on your right side. (DO NOT go RIGHT on this INTERSECTION, just go STRAIGHT)
9. Go STRAIGHT, after Flying V for approximately another 2 kms towards the Taal town proper. Always minding your RIGHT side, pass landmarks like the Hacienda Villas Subdivision and the Heritage Villas Subdivision, following the RIGHT LANE all the way to reach the town proper where you will see the Plaza/Municipal Building/Basilica of ST. Martin de Tours.
From Tagaytay to Taal Town (source: Taal.gov.ph)
1. Take the SOUTH LUZON EXPRESSWAY and exit at STA.ROSA, LAGUNA. Make a RIGHT after passing through the toll booths towards Tagaytay. Follow this road till the END, where you will pass the Public Market. Make a RIGHT at the dead end, on the NATIONAL HIGHWAY.
2. Take the main Tagaytay National Highway driving past TAAL VISTA LODGE, McDonald’s, Josephine’s Restaurant, etc., all the way past the radar; Rodeo Hills Subdivision; etc., going towards Nasugbu.
3. Before the Nasugbu sign, you will see the SAN MIGUEL CONVENTION CENTER on your left. (DO NOT GO STRAIGHT TOWARDS NASUGBU.)
4. Make an immediate LEFT on the small road after the San Miguel Convention Center, (this small road is before the Petron Station on the left side).
This small road is called DIOKNO HIGHWAY going towards the town of Lemery. (If you’ve passed the arch of Nasugbu, you have missed Diokno Highway, so you must turn back.)
5. Drive PAST landmarks like the Pacific Heights Subdivision; Canyon Woods Subdivision; Fantasy World; Leisure Farms; etc., all the way down to the END till you reach LEMERY. This zigzag road would take approximately 40 minutes drive. Make a LEFT at the end of this road going toward the town proper of LEMERY.
6. Go straight until the dead end and you will see the river and the PANSIPIT BRIDGE, which is the entrance to the Heritage Town of Taal. Make a LEFT turn going uphill toward the town proper of Taal.
