Heritage villages have always been so eye-candy for loads of heritage advocates. The mere sight of even a façade of an ancestral house could easily whet the appetite of an avid enthusiast of the olden times. What more if they fortunately experience entering these “monuments” of past generations. Glancing upon the various relics from yesteryears, obtaining very interesting information regarding bits on Philippine history beyond the classroom, as well as being baffled by the intricate interior craftsmanship, would definitely bring back feelings of nostalgia in the minds of any history buff out there.
Here in the Philippines, as far as I know, there are four (4) towns/cities, which have been declared as National Historical Landmarks, and these are Pila in Laguna, Silay in Negros Occidental, the very famous Vigan in Ilocos Sur, and Taal in Batangas.
Dubbed as the Balisong & Barong Tagalog Capital of the Philippines, and founded in 1572, Taal proudly boasts a plethora of ancestral homes and heritage structures, each of which has its own unique story, as every traveler reflectively trudges the pavements, situated around 9 kilometers away from the town’s former location, the present-day San Nicolas.
The Minor Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours, also known as the Taal Basilica, is Asia's biggest church. The current church's construction started in 1755, but it wasn't finished until 1878 because of a significant earthquake that occurred in 1852. Its original location was in the city of San Nicolas today, but it was completely destroyed by the eruption of the Taal Volcano in 1754, which explains the relocation for safety purposes.
Clinica Tenorio is an ancestral house, which was turned into a clinic. The process of taking an existing structure and modernizing or adapting it for a new use or purpose is known as adaptive reuse.
The Villavicencio-Marella House or Wedding Gift House is an old Spanish Colonial Era house. The house was the wedding gift present of Don Eulalio Villavicencio to his wife Doña Gliceria Marella y Legaspi on the occasion of their wedding in 1871.
The Casa Villavicencio or Casa V is an old Spanish Colonial Era house. Built in 1850, the house was given to Don Eulalio Villavicencio upon the death of his parents. Just like most houses in Taal, this house survived the Japanese Occupation.
Built in 1876, the Goco Ancestral House is a classic well preserved Bahay na Bato located in front of Casa Villavicencio. It is the house of former Ambassador Raul Goco, son of Juan Cabrera Goco, who was Treasurer of the Filipino Revolutionary Movement.
La Casa Victrola is an ancestral house, which was turned into the La Casa Victrola Cafe. The cafe is owned by Chef Earl Salazar,
This house, which dates back to the early 1900s, was restored in late 2014 while maintaining the Filipino Bahay-Na-Spanish-American-Colonial Bato's design. Following the Spanish custom of converting old castles, monasteries, and historic buildings into government-run bed & breakfast facilities, it was finished in 2015 and given the name Paradores del Castillo.
The San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps has 125 steps. This staircase connects the town center, leading to the Basilica of San Martin of Tours and the Our Lady of Caysasay Shrine. The San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps is dedicated to the memory of San Lorenzo Ruiz.
The Our Lady of Caysasay Shrine is a coral-hewn chapel in Barrio Caysasay. It was built in 1639 to replace a temporary structure built in 1611.
The Santa Lucia Well, under an old stone arch with a Marian image, is a pilgrimage site that is said to contain miraculous healing waters.
The Don Leon Apacible Mansion is one of the oldest structures in Taal. Owned by Don Leon Apacible, originally from Balayan, Batangas, this house was last occupied by a descendant who became Mayor of the town. Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero, used to frequent this place in the 1800's.
Fashion designer Lito Perez restored this home from the nineteenth century. The home has been converted into a bed and breakfast with a photo studio where visitors can have their photos taken while dressed in 19th-century Filipiniana attire. The residence is close to the Pansipit River, where turtles used to roam. Villa Tortuga was inspired by the Spanish word for turtle, tortuga.
The Agoncillo-Mariño Ancestral House where the 'Mother of the Philippine Flag', Marcela Agoncillo, was born was built by her grandfather, Don Andres Mariño, around the 1780s.
The only camera museum in the Philippines is located in Galleria Taal, an old Spanish-era ancestral house. Camera and photography enthusiasts would love visiting this place.
The town's marketplace, Taal Public Market, is where you can purchase goods from the area, including delicacies and Burdang Taal items (native embroidery).
Don Juan Boodle House serves a variety of Filipino specialties, including grilled food, regional specialties, and the most popular boodle fight food, which is made every day in the restaurant's kitchen with premium ingredients.
This historic Spanish municipal building dates back to 1845. It is the only Spanish structure in the neighborhood with a tile roof. Casa Real, Tribunal & Casa Consistorial was the previous name of the Taal Municipal Hall.
The Escuela Pia is a church-run school that bears the name of the congregation founded in the 17th century by San Jose of Calansanz. This convent was built by Augustinian priests and later converted into a school for Taal children from disadvantaged families. The current structure was constructed in 1885. During the American regime, this Escuela Pia had become the main school.
The Ylagan-de la Rosa Ancestral House was built in 1800, and Don Julian Ylagan and Dona Dionisia Agoncillo-Ylagan were its first owners. Don Julian Ylagan was a prominent political figure in his day. The de la Rosa Clan later acquired ownership of the home, thus the name of the ancestral house.
The Gregorio Agoncillo Mansion is the same house where Felipe Agoncillo, the first Filipino diplomat, was born. Gregorio Agoncillo married a daughter of Gliceria Villavicencio, the recipient of the “Wedding Gift House”.
The Taal Heritage Welcome Arch welcomes visitors to the historic town.
As far as I am concerned, Vigan may be the most famous heritage in the Philippines based on various tourist reviews, but my vote goes to Taal, due to the fact that, apart from being astounded by the nostalgic structures surrounding the town, visitors can have the golden opportunity to actually enter some of the houses, which Vigan and Pila could not offer.
Taal is way more than just the famous volcano. An underrated heritage town awaits your historical cravings. Explore Pinas!
