Taal Basilica, Batangas | Asia’s Largest Roman Catholic Church

June 12, 2022June 14, 2022 Rex Lim Lim 2022, BLOG, BUDGET, CHURCH, GUIDE, HOW TO, ITINERARY, landmarks, TOURIST SPOTS, TRANSIT PINAS, TRAVEL GUIDE

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From the busy thoroughfares of Lemery, I already saw Taal Basilica’s red roof contrasting against the green backdrop of trees as I neared my destination that day.

Asia’s Biggest Roman Catholic Church

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Whenever someone mentions the name “Taal”, one immediately thinks of the Taal Volcano, Tagaytay’s Bulalo, and the scenic lake with the Binintiang Malaki as the “actual volcano”

The eruption of Taal Volcano in Batangas, Philippines, on 12-13 January, 2020, was a phreatomagmatic eruption that affected the weather by creating a lot of rain, ash fall, and lightning strikes though a volcanic plume. (smithsonianmag.com)

But as I was browsing the internet a few years back, little did I know that there is a town named Taal that sits a few kilometers from the actual lake. Furthermore, it made me want to visit it for the quaint Bahay-na-Batos and the basilica as the town’s centerpiece.

As I passed by several rows of preserved colonial houses leading to Calle Marcela Agoncillo, the structure is not so hard to notice since the Taal Basilica dominates the landscape. Sitting on top of a small hill is the Taal Basilica or known as the Minor Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours.

This is the largest Roman Catholic church not just in the Philippines but in Asia. Moreover, it stands 88.6 meters (291ft) long and 48 meters (157ft).

From the Ashes, We Will Rise

The original church was established in 1575 and was rebuilt in 1642 using stronger materials in the present-day town of San Nicolas which is just at the edge of the Lake Taal. But in 1754, the whole town and church were heavily devastated by the 7-month destructive eruption of the Taal Volcano that forced the locals to relocate near the Balayan Bay.

On top of the hill of the present-day town of Taal, the church was rebuilt again in 1755 only to be reduced to rubble by the 1852 earthquake.

Taal Basilica circa 1900s (Photo by John Tewell)

By 1856, reconstruction efforts began. Finally, it was completed in 1878. The basilica’s present form, save for the bell tower that was destroyed by the Japanese during WWII, is how it looked like when Father Agapito Aparicio finished building it in 1878. It was a massive structure, and it remained one of the biggest even a century later.

It has had a long history of resiliency from adversities, and then again in 2017, was a victim of the magnitude 5.5 and 6.0 earthquakes that struck Tingloy and Mabini in Batangas.

The Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours in Taal, Batangas was damaged by the magnitude 5.4 earthquake that rocked the province on Tuesday night. (April 4, 2017) Photo from Taal Mayor Re-elect Pong Mercado

To save the structure, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) did some rehabilitation efforts. To date, the newly restored Basilica of St. Martin de Tours was turned over to the Archdiocese of Lipa in 2020.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) formally turned over the newly restored Basilica of St. Martin de Tours to the Archdiocese of Lipa on Wednesday. (Courtesy: National Historical Commission of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN)

The Basilica’s Design

This Neo-classical church’s facade has its first level lined with 12 coupled-Ionic pillars, which alternate with five arched doors topped by five arched windows.

The second level is separated by a horizontal demarcation of cornices and moldings that is joined by 12 vertical coupled columns that are now Corinthian in design. Also, there are five arched windows alternating the columns.

On the third level, the facade is topped by three pediments, a semicircular one flanked by triangular ones. To add, the left side of the facade is the still existing bell tower, which once contained the large church bell. Sadly, it was destroyed by the 1942 earthquake and was later on replaced with Carillon Bells.

The interior of the basilica was grander than I have imagined. It has three naves, the one in the center the grandest since it can accommodate even more church pews than it presently has.

Also, it has such a light solemn atmosphere inside due to the pale warm white LED lighting. Moreover, after the restoration, the ceiling was repainted to match its original trompe l’oeil paintings.

How to Get There

Taal Basilica is located in Calle Marcela Agoncillo, Taal, Batangas
Take any Lemery, Batangas bound bus from Manila and ask the driver to drop you off at the Taal-Lemery Bypass Junction. (105 kilometers, 2-3hours travel time, depending on the traffic condition)
From the junction, rent a tricycle or jeep to take you to the Taal Basilica
Mass Schedule under the New Normal:
- Monday to Saturday – 7:00 AM.
- Sunday – 7:30 AM / 9:30 AM / 5:00 PM.

Extend Your Trip

Taal Basilica, Batangas | Asia’s Largest Roman Catholic Church
Updated June 12, 2022