I do HDR Photography so I loved being in Taal. It was a great day trip out of Manila. I came the day there was a service at the church so that rocked any more.
A heritage town close to my heart. Im a proud Batanguenia and this is one place in Batangas that you should visit especially if you're a history buff. There are several old ancestral house open for the public. Visit one of Asia's biggest church Basilica of San Martin de Tours, The Marcela Agoncillo Shrine, The Villavicencio Wedding house, The amazing vintage camera museum at Galleria Taal, and dont forget to stop at Villa Tortuga to wear colonial customs and enjoy a colonial lunch. Complete your visit by dropping by at the nearby Taal Market and taste their special empanada and tapang taal. A lot of great things to keep you busy in a day! Please visit my blogs for reviews and photos. http://mommyqueenelizabeth.blogspot.com/2011/09/tour-de-taal.html
Taal is a small town in Batangas that is preserved by its government. It didnt open the place for business or new developments. For you to appreciate the visit, its recommended that you walk around the town, all places are accessible and safe. Also, drop by at the 100 steps of San Lorenzo Ruiz and the miraculous well of our Lady of Caysasay.
You will be relaxed by the views in Taal heritage town. Hear mass in the biggest Catholic church and be amazed in century-old museums.The ancestral houses are a must to visit and appreciate the beauty of the old Philippines. Away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis..
A must-see for Filipinos. Turning in to the main street towards Basilica St. Martin de Tours is like stepping back in time. Definitely visit the Ilagan-Barrion House where the Camera Museum is. Walk through the streets and admire the preserved houses from the Spanish era. Take a break from the walking and enjoy a cold drink and some nibbles at Cafe G just a stone's throw away from the basilica.
The main road in the Heritage Village is akin to Vigan's Calle Crisologo minus the cobblestones. The homes in Taal look friendlier than the huge Vigan mansions covering entire blocks. The Taal mansions and homes are nevertheless as grand, if not actually grander. I have visited the most popular heritage homes enough for me to conclude that the best of the lot is Casa Villavicencio, the wedding gift house of a wealthy shipowner to his equally wealthy wife. Here, an entrance fee of P100 per person entitles the guests to a Native merienda of hot chocolate and rice cake, and a piece of local bread.The next best and a very close second favorite is the Gregorio Agoncillo Mansion at the end of the road, also known as the White House.Do not miss Villa Tortuga and for a fee, wear old Filipiniana attire and have yourselves photographed, and finish on sepia for a period look. Other interesting spots are the Galleria Taal, a museum displaying old cameras and photographs, the Apacible House where you could get a chance to see a balisong maker in action, the Marcela Agoncillo House where the first Philippine flag was sewed (not the first flag of the Philippine Republic which she sewed while in exile in Hongkong). The tour could also include the Taal Basilica and the Church of Our Lady of Caysasay. If you have time, also visit nearby San Nicolas, which is the site of the first Taal town.Cap the tour at local cafes with settings depicting the era.
It’s a pity that all the heritage sites and ancestral homes in Taal (Batangas) are being lumped altogether under one collective heading when they should be reviewed individually. Each one, after all, possesses its own historical significance and had a tremendous impact in our country’s beginnings. Be sure to visit the carefully preserved houses (with their contents almost unbelievably intact too) of LEON APACIBLE, of MARCELA AGONCILLO (she who sewed the first Philippine flag), and many others. Don’t skip the only camera museum in the country (GALERIA TAAL) and marvel at its extensive collection of vintage cameras and photographic equipment (all working, we were told). Learn a lot from each place you visit and, though most offer free admission, contributions are most welcome as they rely chiefly on voluntary donations to sustain their operations. Picture-taking is allowed so bring your cameras.
A good example of a well preserve Spanish colonial town near manila. It's a 2-3 hrs drive away from manila and a day tour is enough to explore the place. There are several ancestral house that are converted into a museum and admission is free! but be kind and donate so they can preserve the place. The town is also famous for being the balisong and barong capital of the Philippines. Also don't forget to try their own version of tapa (tapang taal) and coffee (kapeng barako).
I like being transported in the past! The town has so much cultural heritage! So amazing to see the preserved ancestral houses including the Agoncillos :)