Historical Roots of Chinese Devotion to the Our Lady of Caysasay
In 1603, when Taal was still located in what is now San Nicolas, a fisherman named Juan Maningcad caught an image of the Our Lady of the I...
Taal
A History of the Minor Basilica of San Martin de Tours in Taal, Batangas
The story of the Minor Basilica of San Martin de Tours began in the settlement now known as San Nicolas, Batangas. Before the devastating ...
The Rise and Fall of Burdang Taal, a Historical Perspective
The fine hand‑embroidery known as Burdang Taal in the town of Taal, Batangas stands as one of the Philippines’ most refined textile‑craft...
The Transfer of Batangas' Capital from Balayan to Taal in 1732
In 1570, Spanish maestro de campo or master of camp (equivalent to Colonel in the present day) Martín de Goiti, the expedition commander...
Burdang Taal: The Rise and Retreat of Batangas Embroidery
The embroidered textiles of Taal, Batangas — collectively known in local parlance as Burdang Taal — occupy a distinct place in Philippine...
Subversion Cases filed by the Clergy Against Prominent Citizens of Taal, 1895–1896
In the years leading up to the Philippine Revolution, the town of Taal in Batangas became the site of a legal crackdown by Spanish colonia...
Vicente Ilustre: Taal’s Illustrious Lawyer
Vicente Encarnacion Ilustre was among the Province of Batangas’ most illustrious sons, having been born in Taal, Batangas on September 6, ...
Jose W. Diokno, Born in Manila, Son of Batangas
Jose Wright Diokno, nationalist senator and human rights lawyer, was born in Manila on February 26, 1922 1 . He studied at De La Salle Col...
The Golden Batangueño Heritage of Adobo sa Dilaw
Adobo is one of the most recognized among Filipino dishes. It has, in the present day, even caught the attention of international chefs an...
Puerto de Taal: The Forgotten Port that Fed a Province
Before the 1754 eruption, the pueblo of Taal was not only the capital of Batangas but also a functioning port town. Old maps like Murillo ...
Balangon: First Spanish Settlement in Batangas
The Spanish presence in Batangas began soon after the Conquistadores Martín de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo, who were sent by Miguel López d...
Focus on the St. Martin de Tour Basilica in Taal, Batangas
The hilltop silhouette of the Basilica of St. Martin de Tours in Taal, Batangas, is the product of more than three centuries of faith, rel...
Taal Longganisa: Garlicky Excellence not Well-Known Outside Batangas
[CULTURE: FOOD] The Philippine "longganisa" is a type of sausage Filipinos have enjoyed since the Spanish colonial era. The name...
Late 19th Century Taal as Described by the UK-Born Priest Rev. J.E. Tenison-Woods
From an 1888 paper 1 written by the noted priest-cum-geologist Reverend Julian Edmund Tenison-Woods, we are able to obtain a very vivid d...
The Old Batangas Practice of Using Poison to Stun Fish in the Pansipit River
[Batangas Culture] Back in the late 1940s, it was the practice of some people to catch fish from the Pansipit River 1 using a mild poi...
Photos of Taal, Batangas Early in the American Colonial Era
The photos below were digitally extracted from an article published in the October 1903 edition of the Journal of the United States Cavalr...
How American GIs Helped Revive Batangas’ Balisong Industry
The first balisong or Batangas fan-knife, one of the lasting symbols of the Batangueño, was created by one Perfecto de Leon of the barrio ...
Why the Capital of Batangas Moved from Taal to Batangas in 1754
In 1754, the seat of the provincial government or the capital of Batangas was in the municipality of Taal. Not the present location of Ta...
Testimony of Conchita Alas Lualhati on Japanese Atrocities Committed in Taal, Batangas in 1945
[TRANSCRIPTION] This page contains the testimony of Conchita Alas Lualhati on Japanese atrocities committed in the town of Taal, Batangas...
2nd Testimony of Hilario Laro on Japanese Atrocities Committed in Taal, Batangas in 1945
[TRANSCRIPTION] This page contains the testimony of Hilario Laro on Japanese atrocities committed in the town of Taal, Batangas in 1945. ...