Tanauan, Batangas

Tanauan Church

Triumph of Faith in the Midst of Challenges

PUBLISHED February 8, 2014

PHOTOS | WORDS BY MARIANO SAYNO

The Tanauan Church in Batangas, also known as St. John the Evangelist Parish Church, unfolds a captivating narrative deeply rooted in history. Emerging in the 16th century, the town of Tanauan witnessed the evolution of its church architecture, transitioning from wood to stone and eventually finding its current location. The church’s remarkable High Renaissance and Romanesque facade, adorned with statues and featuring a distinctive bell tower, stand as a testament to its architectural splendor. Today, the Old Tanuan Church ruins in Talisay provide insights into a bygone era. The Church not only preserves historical charm but also serves as a spiritual haven, drawing visitors during the town fiesta and the Lenten Season, embodying the revered Visita Iglesia tradition.

Explore the Philippines through my lens as we venture into Tanauan Church with Point of View (POV) photography. Using a body cam, I’ll guide you on an interactive tour, revealing the behind-the-scenes of capturing the shots shared here. Let’s dive into this visual journey together and uncover the wonders through my lens!

Let’s explore the PHILIPPINES through my lens as we journey on a photo slideshow to Tanauan Church. Join me in this visual adventure and discover the wonders captured through my lens! Check out the shared slideshow here.

The Tanauan Church in Batangas, known as St. John the Evangelist Parish Church, has a fascinating history dating back centuries to the Spanish colonial era. Tanauan, one of the earliest lake shore towns established by Augustinian missionaries in Batangas in the late 16th century, has a rich heritage along with Taal, Lipa, Bauan, and Sala. Founded in 1584 at the northern shore of Taal Lake, originally called Bonbon near Tagaytay Ridge, Tanauan’s history is intertwined with the construction of its church and convent made of wooden materials.

Check out the video for more highlights. See what I’ve captured through my lens with Point of View (POV) photography. Using a body cam, I’ll take you on an interactive tour, showing you behind-the-scenes moments of capturing the shots shared here.

Check out the video below for additional features. Explore what I’ve captured through my lens in this cinematic slideshow.

The initial wooden church was later replaced by a stone structure around 1732, as mentioned in a Spanish historical document. This document notes Tanauan’s exemption from annual contributions to the San Agustin monastery in Manila, as the funds were allocated for constructing their church. Unfortunately, the stone church faced a setback with the violent eruption of the Taal Volcano in 1754, which devastated surrounding towns, including Tanauan. Volcanic debris blocked the mouth of the Pansipit River, causing the water level of Lake Taal to rise and submerge the northern and eastern lake shore towns.

In response to these challenges, and prompted by a series of earthquakes preceding the eruption, the inhabitants of Tanauan relocated to their present location, leaving behind the old town.

In 1881, Fr. Jose Diaz constructed a second church for Tanauan. This church, in its current location, was completed in 1898. Sadly, during World War II in 1944, the church suffered severe damage, losing elements of both Romanesque and Renaissance architecture.

In 1948, Monsignor Marino and architect Jose L. Zaragoza undertook the task of rebuilding the church to its original style, attempting to recreate its appearance from its initial construction. The adjacent convent, erected in 1872 and also destroyed in 1944, was reconstructed alongside the church.

Today, visitors can admire the church’s High Renaissance and Romanesque facade. The main entrance, intricately sculpted in Romanesque style, is recessed. The facade boasts six sets of arched windows supported by a triangular pediment, adorned with statues of saints. The church’s entire front appears to be supported by sizable stone bases on which these statues rest. Noteworthy features include the wide-open central nave, circular niches, and life-size tableaus depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross. The bell tower, topped with a Baroque-style dome, extends outward from the building’s facade.

The Old Tanauan Church ruins, originally located in Tanauan, can now be found in Talisay, under the care of Club Balai Isabel Resort. Back in 2010, while landscaping the resort, human bones were unexpectedly discovered, leading to the involvement of the National Museum of the Philippines. Subsequent excavations in 2011 revealed evidence of major wall collapses dating from the 19th to early 20th century. The lower layers exposed articulated human burials and scattered bones, indicating the church ruins were repurposed as a cemetery post-1754 eruption. The excavation also unveiled adobe structures and the stony foundation of walls, providing insight into the church’s masonry.

The best time to visit is during the town fiesta on December 27, coinciding with the church’s feast day. Today, the site continues to meet the religious needs of Tanaueños, serving as a pilgrimage destination for those seeking spiritual enrichment. During the Lenten Season, people from across the country visit the church as part of the Visita Iglesia tradition.

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