Well of Sta. Lucia

Well of Sta. Lucia is where Our Lady of Caysasay appeared to some of the residents of the area. The water from the spring is said to have miraculous healing power.

On the way to Caysasay Church, a young girl approached us and started narrating the history of the place. We figured, she already placed herself as our instant tour guide.  The girl (in yellow shorts) actually know how to be a tour guide. She told us about the miracles that brought fame to this town.

The two men in-charge of giving miraculous water were nice enough to tell us that water coming from the well on the right is for curing sickness of the body. While the water coming from the well on the left is for curing sickness of the head.

Because we were so happy to see, and bring home a bottle of this miraculous water, we forgot to light the candles we bought for thanksgiving and wishes.

Address: Sacred Well of Sta.Lucia 

Barangay Labac 

Taal, Batangas

San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps

When you google tourist spots in Taal, Batangas, San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps is part of the list. San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps, is made of granite with one hundred and twenty five steps. This  staircase connects the town center, leading to Basilica de San Martin de Tours and Our Lady of Caysasay Shrine, a small chapel which houses the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary. San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps is dedicated to the memory of San Lorenzo Ruiz.

If you wish to explore this famed 125 steps, I suggest you do it before 9am. We visited the place at around 11am, it was very hot that most of the kids didn't join us. They just stayed in a barangay outpost. Bring a bottle of water to quench your thirst or you may wish to have a small talk with the reidents by buying from their sari-sari stores.

Our Lady of Caysasay Shrine

The Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay, located in Barangay Labac along the banks of Pansipit river, is made of coral stones. This chapel houses the miraculous image of Our Lady of Caysasay, discovered at the Pansipit River by a fisherman, Juan Maningkad, in 1603.  It has mysteriously and continually disappeared and re-appeared in its chosen haven, so a provisional chapel was erected in 1611 near the spot where it was found. Henceforth, the image was called the Virgin of Caysasay.

Our Lady of Caysasay (Nuestra Señora de Caysasay) is a Marian image is believed to be miraculous for granting impossible petitions to those who seek her help. .

Casa Villavicencio

All we wanted was to take a few shot at the facade of Casa  Villavicencio. I rang the bell and asked the people in-charge for permission to take photos. Having just visited Taal Basilica, we were so blessed to have been accommodated by no other than the owner himself, the fourth generation Villavicencio, Mr. Ernie Villavicencio. 

Casa Villavicencio was a wedding gift of Eulalio Villavicencio to his wife Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio.   The house and its owners played a major role in helping shape the Philippine history for they helped feed and cure the soldiers.  And the house became a secret meeting place of revolutionary leaders.

Before touring us around the house, we watched a documentary video about the forgotten heroine of the Philippine Revolution - Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio, the Godmother of the Revolutionary Forces.

Upon climbing the second floor of the house this wide window and so many furniture made in narra welcomed us. Everything about Casa Villavicencio speaks of beauty, elegance and rich history.

The view from the living room

Mr.  Ernie Villavicencio and his wife Maria Rosario Ria Saldana Benedicto began restoring Casa Villavicencio in 1994. Although it took them many years to achieve the restoration, it brings them pleasure to have the youth of today learn about the culture and history of Taal.

This used to be a secret  passage  going  to  Taal  Church.

Visit Casa Villavicencio at  33 Marella St. Taal, Batangas

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