Our Lady of Caysasay Church - Batangas

Famously known as the home of the miraculous image of the Nuestra Senora de Caysasay or The Lady of Caysasay. The church was built at around 1611. Some say that the Church of Our Lady of Caysasay is a mere shrine that house the Holy Image of the Immaculate Conception.

So what makes the 17th century image that important to the people of Caysasay?

According to written accounts, a fisherman by the name of Juan Maningcad went out fishing in the nearby Pansipit River. When he pulled his net he caught a beautiful little image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. When news of it reached the parish priest of the town, he immediately went to see it. Once he laid his eyes upon the magnificent image of the Mother of God, he and those with him knelt down to venerate it.

The miraculous image of the Immaculate Conception

The image was then taken to Taal where a town fiesta was celebrated in honor of it. The image was then kept in a precious urn for safe keeping. However , witnesses claim that every evening the image would vanish only to turn up again in the morning. Then one morning it completely disappeared. Years passed, and in 1611, two women who were gathering firewood saw  the image on top of a tall sampaguita bush. It was near the place where Juan Maningcad fished the image years ago. 

The beautifully painted church ceiling

The image of Our Lady of Caysasay

The altar from the side

As seen from the pulpit

The townsfolk and the parish priest concluded that the image of the Blessed Mary wishes to stay in Caysasay. So they built a chapel on the very spot where the image was found. From that day on the image stayed in the said place.

the church altar

A painting of the church found in San Agustin Museum

When I heard that story from a local. I felt a bit connected with the image. Due to the daily outdoor activities of the image, something played on my mind (jokingly). She could be the patron saint of adventurers like me. No offense but if the image could swim, dive, travel, and climb then I would gladly acquire my own and bring it with me on my adventures.

Getting to Our Lady of Caysasay Church:

1.Take a bus bound to Lemery, Batangas. (Ask first if it will pass Taal Town Proper)

If it does alight near Taal Basilica. Ride a tricycle going to Caysasay Church.

If not alight at Taal-Lemery bypass junction, then ride a jeep going to town. There are also tricycles that would directly bring you to Caysasay Church.

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