WHERE TO GO / WHAT TO DO
1. Do the Taal Heritage Town Food & Walking Tour with Pio Goco
If you’re only in town for the day and want to see as much of it as possible in a limited time, then I highly recommend you do Pio’s tour. It starts with lunch at 11AM at the Goco ancestral home, and takes you to various key points in Taal like Caysasay Church, Galleria Taal, and Agoncillo Mansion. Lasting around 6 hours, it ends with a killer view atop the bell tower of the Basilica at sunset.
2. Step Back in Time at an Ancestral House
These ancestral houses are the main reason why people come to Taal. From the hand-pressed tin ceiling tiles of Casa V, to the intricate stencil work of the Wedding Gift House, to the period costumes of Villa Tortuga, there is plenty to see and appreciate here. Beautiful stuff with much history behind it.
3. Visit the Biggest Church in Southeast Asia
Standing 88.6 meters (291 ft) long and 48 meters (157 ft) wide, the Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours is the largest church in all of Southeast Asia. It is a breathtaking sight, especially at sunrise or sunset.
4. Take Part in a Healing Miracle at the Sacred Well of Sta. Lucia
A sacred pair of wells, the waters of Sta. Lucia Well are said to have healing powers. This was the very spot where an apparition of Our Lady of Caysasay was seen in 1611, the very first recorded sighting of the Virgin Mary in Philippine history. If you believe in miracles, then you can’t miss this.