This huge basilica is considered the biggest Catholic church both in Asia and in the Philippines measuring 88.6 meters long and 48 meters wide. That being said, it has a long aisle suitable for a bride who dreams of taking her moment walking down the aisle on the way to the altar, with her long gown train elegantly flowing on her back.
Photo by Mike Cobarrubias
Taal Basilica is canonically known as the Minor Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours and can be found in Taal Batangas, just a walking distance from the town’s palengke. The Escuela Pia: Taal Heritage Center, the Rizal College, and Our Lady of Caysasay Academy are also structures nearby the church.
The Taal Basilica was the town’s very first church. It was founded around 1575 and continued to develop until 1754 when the Taal volcano exploded and destroyed most of the church’s structure and most of the town’s buildings. A year after, renovations and beautifications took place. However, a massive earthquake hit Taal and destroyed the church once again.
Another church was built in the same location, four years after the quake and a newly erected church was inaugurated in 1865 although the construction was only finished in 1878.
The outside facade of the church is noticeable to be really huge. The interiors offer a spacious area with pale yellow paint and intricate painted pattern along its walls, columns, and ceiling. Images of saints are also painted around the church.
Photos sourced from 9010randompics.com
Weddings that were held here were surely stunning. From the colossal columns on the facade, big doors, long aisle that could be decorated by endless options of flowers, an altar that stands 79 ft., and spacious area that can accommodate more than 500 guests, the Taal Basilica deserves its title as one of our national shrines.
Photos by Mike Cobarrubias
Photos by Erlin Olan Photography