Skywatch# 39 Caleruega's Cul-de-Sac

We found this breathtaking view at the Caleruega's cul-de-sac. A quiet place for meditation while taking in the view.

Caleruega is situated at Brgy. Kaylaway, Batulao, Batangas, Luzon. The place is run by the Dominican priests. Over the years, it has gotten popular for weddings because of its isolated but quite beautiful surroundings.



For more about Caleruega, the Church on the Hill, go here and here.

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My World#67 Kids of Caleruega

They trailed us the moment we went out of the gates of Caleruega Church. The boy kept offering the bag of uncooked sweet potatoes (kamote) he was carrying while the girls shyly walked behind him. They had the same features and I thought to ask if they were siblings. They were twelve siblings in all and the teen-age boy whom we bought our drinks from on a makeshift store a few steps away from the gate was one of their older brothers. They all had the same sweet innocent smile even if poverty was quite obvious in them. I told the little boy that he should've cooked the sweet potatoes so I could buy them. He just answered, "you can still buy it uncooked." Such persistence from an innocent boy.

We bought some snacks from the store their elder brother was manning and as we ate our snacks, we talked with the kids. At their young ages, there's already some maturity in the way they answer shyly our prying questions. I asked why were they selling those sweet potatoes instead of playing, the little boy answered that they need the money to help their family. What were their parents doing anyway?, someone asked. He answered, "He's at the farm working and sometimes, we helped him too." 

As our ride has arrived, I asked them to smile for the camera but little boy decided to hide behind his bagful of sweet potatoes, his older brother told him to stop it. So, here's the result:

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My World#64 Caleruega Church, The Church on the Hill

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Skywatch#25 Caleruega Church

It was a hot and sunny day when we arrived in Caleruega Church. It took us almost two hours to get there but the travel was all worth it. We first saw this structure upon our arrival and for me, it felt like I was somewhere in Mexico. I was hoping that there would be less people in the area considering its distance from Manila but the hope was for a naught. Nonetheless, the beautiful day made it possible for us to explore Caleruega and its surroundings more.

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Skywatch#24 Basilica of St. Martin de Tours Part 2

There were overcast skies when we got to Basilica of St. Martin de Tours or what is commonly called Taal Basilica. I just wish it was a sunny day

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My World#63 Basilica of St. Martin de Tours, Taal, Batangas

This is one of the churches that I'd really like to visit again someday soon. It is impressive not only in its size but also in its design inside and outside. I shall post more photos of this church in my next posts.





Basilica of St. Martin , Bishop of Tours is the largest church in Asia, stands 96 meters long and 45 meters wide. The Augustinian Missionaries started construction in 1756, It was destroyed when Taal volcano erupted in 1754 and it took a century for the church to achieve its present form. San Martin de Tours is the patron of Taal, whose feast is celebrated every November 11. Its façade is baroque and consists of a single mass of stone shaped into rich complex designs. The church, however, is a fusion of styles with arched openings, alternating segmental canopies and arches of assymmetric shapes. The church was made into a basilica on December 8, 1954. It was declared a national shrine on January 16, 1974 by a Presidential Decree No. 375.
(credit: wikipedia)


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My World#61 Basilica of Immaculate Conception, Batangas City

Phiplippine Churches #5 (Part 2 of Basilica of Immaculate Conception)

In my previous entry for My world, I showed the facade of Basilica of Immaculate Conception, one of the oldest churches located at Batangas City. For this post, I am going to show some pictures I took inside the church.

Altar of Basilica of Immaculate Conception

Aisle with the tainted glasses by the elevated platform at the doors of the Basilica. The platform was provided for the church choir.  For a closer look of the tainted glasses, go here.

One of the frescoes painted on the ceiling of the Basilica.

The Pieta at the side altar of the Basilica.

One of the wall paintings of the Basilica.

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My World#60 Basilica of Immaculate Concepcion, Batangas City

Philippine Churches#5

The holy week is nearing fast and one of the traditions still being practised in the Philippines is to attend at least seven churches especially on Holy Friday. So, I shall be featuring more Philippine churches for this month in relation to this practise.

The  Basilica of Immaculate Conception is located at Batangas City. It is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines and was constructed in 1581.

Throughout the years, the basilica has undergone several renovations. Its convent was added with its own artillery to fight off sea pirates.

This is the marker (in Tagalog) located near the door of the basilica.

This is statue of an archangel which is located at the right facade of the church.

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