The Backpack Adventures

According to local folklore, Silang Church miraculously appeared overnight in the quiet town of Silang. Researchers, on the other hand, believed otherwise. They said that the church was probably constructed through forced labor or polo y servicio sometime in 1585. Silang Church Silang Church Details Silang Church - Silang, Cavite Silang Church is considered one of the oldest in the province of Cavite. It is located in the municipality of Silang. The church is also known as the Our Lady of Candelaria Church or Diocesan Shrine And Parish Of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria . Silang Church NHI Marker Silang Church facade One unique feature of the church is its multi-leveled wooden altar. The altars' beautifully carved wooden platform houses the numerous carved images and statues of Jesus, Mary, and other countless Catholic saints. Beautifully made multi-tiered wooden altar The  retablo  as seen from inside the main entrance Side retablos of Silan...

Standing 315 feet long and 148 feet high, Taal Basilica is the biggest church in the whole of Asia. It is located in Calle San Martin in the heritage town of Taal in Batangas. Also known as Basilica de San Martin de Tours it was named after their patron saint, St. Martin of Tours . Taal Basilica Taal Basilica details The original church structure was built in 1575 under the supervision of Fr. Diego Espina in the area that is now San Nicolas. However, it  was destroyed in 1754 during the largest eruption of the Taal Volcano .  The ruins of the first church can still be seen in San Nicholas.    The church  was damaged over and over again by powerful earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The present church is actually the third church of Taal .  Taal Basilica - Taal , Batangas The second church was erected further away from the volcano but was still destroyed during the devastating earthquake of 1852. The present church was constructed in 1856 and w...

Our adventure today takes us about 70 kilometers south of Km 0 in Manila. Taal is known as the Balisong and Barong Tagalog Capital of the Philippines . Aside from balisongs (butterfly knives) and Barong Tagalog, Taal is also known as the home of Taal Basilica , the largest church in Asia.  Taal Taal Details The name  taal  means  "indigenous"  because of the Bornean settlers who established the first settlement in the area. It is said that their language was the origin of the Tagalog dialect. However, during their time Taal was still called Bonbon. The historic Taal Basilica as seen from Taal Park Time and nature had not been that kind to Taal . Due to the eruption of the Taal Volcano in 1754, the town was moved from its original lakeside settlement to its present location. Mrs. Quiblat wearing the traditional Saya  Earthquakes and war also ravaged the town throughout time. Time and again, the untiring people of Taal rebuilt their t...