Taal, Batangas
Casa Real
The heritage town of Taal displays a typical Spanish town setting—a central plaza surrounded by more important civic buildings such as town hall, church, public market and school. The Town of Taal is located atop a rolling hill in the province of Batangas. Taal and Lemery are bounded by the Pansipit river. San Luis, San Nicholas and Sta. Teresita are its other neighboring towns. Taal is famous for its ancestral houses. It is designated as a National Historical Landmark. The town is home to hundreds of heritage structures dating from Spanish colonial period. A Taal community is well-organized and very well-mannered people. Below you can see some examples of heritage sites and their famous ancestral houses and their one and only Taal public market, First lets go and visit Don Leon Apacible Ancestral House.
Don Leon Apacible House
The Apacible Museum, once the ancestral home of Don Leon and Matilde Apacible, stands like a beacon on the main street of the town. Don Leon was Emilio Aguinaldo’s Finance officer and a delegate to the Malolos Congress of 1898. Some notable items on display are blue and white Ming pottery, gilded Florentine wine decanters, a gilt-edge hand-painted Venetian dinner service, 18th -century chandeliers (many more were made in 1870 by M.F. Rachals of Hamburg, Germany) carefully preserved by the Apacibles.
The Apacible Museum, right across the Galleria Taal
Just a few meters away from the Galleria Taal, is the declared ancestral house/museum of Don Leon Apacible and wife Matilde Martinez. Based from history, Don Leon was the Finance Officer of General Emilio Aguinaldo. This ancestral house is one of the oldest in this heritage town of Taal, Batangas. There are collections of many antiques dating back to the 18th century and kept in pristine condition. It is a very old structure but once you set foot on it, it does not feel like it because it was kept in such tip-top shape. A great thing because our generation and also the future ones will still be able to visit it and have the chance to personally appreciate our history.
There is no entrance fee but a donation box is present so visitors can give any amount that they are comfortable parting with.
Don Leon Apacible is also a prominent individual during the Philippine Revolution. His house became the meeting place of the resistance leaders, and he, himself, joined the fight. Another notable fact about Don Leon Apacible is that he served as Finance Officer under President Aguinaldo during the First Philippine Republic and also became a delegate in the Malolos Congress. When the Spaniards were dethroned in the Philippines, he joined General Malvar’s forces against the American colonizers. As you move further down below you will see the most famous and biggest catholic church in Asia history, the Taal Basilica.
Taal Basilica
Taal Basilica is canonically known as the Minor Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours, is a Minor Basilica in the town of Taal, Batangas in the Philippines, within the Archdiocese of Lipa. It is considered to be the largest church in the Philippines and in the Asia , standing 88.6 meters long and 48 meters wide.
The Basilica as it presently stands is not the original Taal Basilica, no matter that it is very old. The first was actually built in the old town of Taal by the banks of the Taal Lake. A volcanic eruption ruined the basilica and the whole town had to be relocated to the present day Taal, and the basilica was built on this “new” location. The former Taal town is in a barangay called San Nicolas, now a town on its own, independent from Taal. A visit to San Nicols, therefore, is a necessary trip for travelers who want to understand better the history of Taal and its basilica, you can also see some Rococo, Baroque and some art forms in this church.
The church has been damaged over and over again by powerful earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The present church is actually the third church of Taal. The first one was destroyed in 1754 during the largest eruption of Taal Volcano. The ruins can still be seen in San Nicholas. The second church was erected further away away from the volcano but was destroyed during the devastating earthquake of 1852, The present church was constructed in 1856 and was inaugurated in 1865. Lets go in the place where you can taste some delicious Empanada, some wonderful smell of “Tsokolate” or “Tableya”, and a bunch of beautiful “Burdang Taal”, please get ready for some beautiful taste of one of their beautiful delicacies, lets go in Taal Public Market.
Taal Public Market
Taal Market is the town’s marketplace or palengke where you can buy the local products, like delicacies and Burdang Taal items(native embroidery). Empanada is not the only reason why we should visit Taal Market. Its also their delicious and as pure as cacao “Tsokolate” or “Tableya”.
Aling Vicky touching her empanada with her beautiful stainless imported tong
Empanada is not the only reason why we should visit Taal Market. Its also their delicious and as pure as cacao “Tsokolate” or “Tableya”. The crescent-shaped empanada is the vegetable-filled one and the rounded-shaped is the meat empanada. They are newly cooked, hot and deliciously good all the time! I love both flavors but my favorite is the vegetable one. For the price of P10 pesos (vegetable empanada) and P16 pesos (meat empanada) it’s a total value for money! The serving is quite bigger than other commercialized empanada and the filling is rich, tasty and really appetizing. For the meat, its tender and has a wonderful blend of spices that honest-to-goodness makes it scrumptious.
“Tsokolate” or “Tableya”
“Tapang Taal”
Apart from the two local favorites that I’ve mentioned, Taal Market is also a home for the famous “Tapang Taal”. It is a pork recipe marinated in soy sauce with garlic and calamansi with no preservatives added. It is one great dish to enjoy for breakfast, serve it with eggs and fried rice.
Taal Public Market is also known for its embroidered formal wears or “Burdang Taal”. It has a flourishing industry of embroidery, wedding gowns and other formal attires for men and women. If you’re looking for affordable gowns and barong this is the place where to find one. They are not just affordable but of good quality and elegance. Their masterpiece is comparable to other high-end ones. Piña and Jusi are the main fabrics of their embroidered apparels which they customized for their customers. They also offer a variety of fabrics from local to imported ones and there are ready-to-wear raiments to choose from.
Taal Market is situated at Taal Poblacion, just across the Taal Basilica. Accessible by jeepney or tricycles in the locality.
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