The Backpack Adventures

It's Holy Week once again, it's another opportunity for our family to go on another Visita Iglesia . Just a recap, last year (2018), we did the Cavite Loop Visita Iglesia . Now, for this year 2019, our plan is to go around the province of Batangas and visit as many old churches as we could. Batangas - Las Pinas - Muntinlupa Visita Iglesia Day 1: April 17, 2019   As part of our annual Visita Iglesia / family reunion, we booked in A-zone Beach Resort in Lian, Batangas. During that time, we booked the whole resort for 12,000 pesos. We also paid 25 pesos per head environmental fee. In exchange, we got to enjoy Lian's part of Nasugbu Bay.  Road to Barangay Binubusan, Lian, Batangas A-Zone Resort - Lian, Batangas The pools of A-Zone Resort We spent our 1st full day here. Since we arrived around noontime, we rested a bit and avoided the heat of the noontime sun.  Sunset at Matuod Beach Dinner time at A-Zone Resort Cooking time for uncle and cousin  That afternoon, we took the o

It was a decade ago when I first visited Taal Basilica . Since then, I have revisited it several times during pilgrimages and school field trips. I got to recently revisit Taal Basilica during my Cuenca - Taal Road Trip 2021 with my wife and daughter.  Taal Basilica Revisited 2021 Taal Basilica History For those who are unfamiliar with Taal Basilica , here's a brief history of the basilica for you guys. Also known as the  Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours , Taal Basilica was built in 1575. It was named after the town's patron saint - St. Martin of Tours.  Taal Basilica stands around 148 feet high and 315 feet wide making it the biggest Catholic Church in Asia. Taal Basilica - Taal, Batangas It witnessed numerous eruptions of Taal Volcano and was also damaged several times by the earthquakes that caused these eruptions. It also stood as a silent witness to the town's historical events like the end of Spanish Colonization, the Philippine Revolution, the American occupat