Backpacking Philippines: Laguna: Mabitac Church on a Hilltop (Nuestra Señora de Candelaria)

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Flight chronicles of the backpacker Tutubi, with travelogues, pictures/photos/videos, travel guides, independent and honest reviews, affordable, recommended resorts and hotels (including inns, guesthouses, pension houses, lodges, hostels, condotels, bed and breakfast and other cheap accommodations), commuting guides, routes (sometimes street maps and GPS coordinates/waypoints) and driving directions to answer "how to get there" questions, information and tips on tourism, budget travel and living in Philippines, Exotic Asia and beyond!

Backpacking, independent travel, and flashpacking are cheaper than the "cheapest package tours" and promotional offers around but you can also use travel information for family vacations, even romantic honeymoon destinations.

More than the usual tourist spots and "places to see," this blog advocates heritage conservation, environmental protection, and history awareness for Filipinos, foreigners, and ex-pats wishing to explore Paradise Philippines and Exotic Asia!

Laguna: Mabitac Church on a Hilltop (Nuestra Señora de Candelaria)

Mabitac, a town said to named after a legend about the town that's full of traps, called bitag in Filipino, and is the border town of Laguna province with Rizal's Pililla town. It's bounded by the towns of Siniloan and Famy, favorite getaways of newbie mountaineers wishing to trek the slopes of Mt. Romelo and it's various waterfalls.

Mabitac is a small town but it prides itself with the church on top of hill accessible via a 120+ steps: Nuestra Señora de Candelaria (Our Lady of the Candles)

Due to earthquakes, only the belltower of the old church remains and no attempt at restoring the old church was made.

Mabitac Church bell tower with a sacristan beside the old church bells

Mabitac Church, as mentioned above, is located on a hill top that visitors will be treated to a refreshing view of the surrounding green sceneries like the one of Mabitac town proper below.

Near Mabitac Church is the National Historical Marker commemorating the Battle of Mabitac, previously known as the Battle of Hinukay, that occurred during the Philippine-American War where the Americans faced defeat at the hands of the ragtag army of Filipinos mainly due to superior positioning.

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How to get to Mabitac, Laguna:

Commute: Board a HM Transport bus, with terminal on EDSA, Cubao near Victory Liner, going to Sta. Cruz/Calamba or Green Star Express with terminal on Taft Avenue near corner Gil Puyat (Buendia) and LRT Gil Puyat station then drop off at the terminal in Pagsanjan. Board a jeepney bound for Siniloan. At Siniloan Public Market, transfer to a tricycle to take you to Mabitac town.

An alternative and easier bus to Mabitac is Raymond Transportation with terminals in Cubao (near Victory Liner) or Legarda St in Manila near Nagtahan. Buses going to Infanta and Real towns in Quezon pass by Mabitac Junction where you only need to take a tricycle going to the town proper.

Driving Directions from Makati: from SLEX take Calamba exit then head straight to Calamba. turn right at Calamba junction and follow this road and highway where you pass by Los Banos, Bay, Victoria, Pila, Sta Cruz, Pagsanjan, Lumban, Kalayaan, Paete, Pakil, Pangil, Siniloan then Mabitac.

Directions by car from Quezon City, it's faster to take the Rizal route by going to Marcos Highway, turn right at the junction Masinag Wet and Dry Market, on reaching Antipolo intersection turn left going to Baras (straight ahead leads to Antipolo Church while a right turn leads to Hinulugang Taktak) where you'll pass by Teresa, Morong, Baras, Tanay, and Pililla towns of Rizal province before reaching the Laguna town of Mabitac.

From Lucena and Lucban, Quezon: there are jeepneys plying the route Lucena to Sta. Cruz that pass by Pagsanjan, Cavinti and Luisina. In Pagsanjan, Transfer to jeepneys going to Siniloan then transfer again to a tricycyle to take you to Mabitac.

Commuting from Cavite: board the Pagsanjan or Sta. Cruz vans at Pala-pala terminal in Dasmarinas, Cavite (near Robinsons Dasmarinas and SM). Board a jeep to Siniloan then a tricycle to Mabitac.

Related Posts:
Pagsanjan Falls
Laguna Visita Iglesia
Waterfalls of Famy and Siniloan

Labels: Calabarzon, Churches, Laguna, Visita Iglesia

posted by GingGoy @ 8:20 PM,

13 Comments:

At Feb 2, 2009, 9:44:00 AM, Sidney said...: Hehehehe...are you sure about the steps...my blog says 96 steps... ;-0

And the celebrate the Feast of the Three Kings every January 6.
At Feb 2, 2009, 11:03:00 AM, x said...: i love old bell towers! they have character. hehe.
At Feb 2, 2009, 2:51:00 PM, Anonymous said...: nice post and a gud information from u.hope i can visit those places sometimes.thanks for dropping by.keep in touch.
At Feb 2, 2009, 3:02:00 PM, Anonymous said...: nice post and a nice information for the readers.hope i can find some time to visit these places.all the best for ur work.
http://neps4u.friendzworld.com
At Feb 2, 2009, 9:23:00 PM, GingGoy said...: sidney, i don't know excatly that's why there's a + sign. when i first went there few years ago i passed by the stairs, tried to count the steps but lost count when i got distracted. the other times i went there the tricycle then our jeep went on top of the hill and parked on the church grounds :P

acey, i love the bells more. i remembered i want to take pictures of paete church's old bells

nepoleon, thanks too for the visit :P
At Feb 2, 2009, 11:34:00 PM, Nyl said...: nice church..for me it's enticing to see and explore old historical places. there's a sense of wonder just how our old forefathers fought for their lands.
At Feb 2, 2009, 11:36:00 PM, mgaputonimimi said...: parang ang laki laki ng church ng makita ko un nakatalikod na sacristan...

sana makapunta ako sa church na yan...
At Feb 5, 2009, 12:08:00 PM, Anonymous said...: That's a real old historical tower. Nice view of the pretty town :)
At Feb 9, 2009, 1:31:00 PM, Anonymous said...: hello guys,
it's actually 126 steps to be exact. And that is the truth.
At Jul 16, 2009, 6:06:00 PM, Anonymous said...: im from Mabitac laguna, the EXACT step is 126steps.

-PAO BANAAG
(http://paobanaag.multiply.com)
At Apr 16, 2010, 3:39:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I'm from Mabitac, Laguna, if you are a first timer in our town Mabitac especially in our Parish Nuestra Sr. De Candelaria and you count the stairs of the church correctly, May chance po kau mag wish ng 3 and it will be granted for sure.
Thanks po...
Just try...
Just visit ...
At Aug 28, 2010, 8:17:00 PM, itchie said...: Planning to do this tomorrow,Sunday; together with Sta. Maria and Churches on the way to Paete. Thanks for the idea.
At Jan 6, 2012, 3:20:00 PM, Maisel Cura said...: Hi, good day!FYI: every year we're celebrating "THREE KINGS" onp the 6th day of January. It's a tradition and a wonderful scenario that most people will surely like!!! Happy three kings, everyone!

As for me, there are 127 steps going up to the church since they have add a new one; stairways to heaven.

Laguna: Mabitac Church on a Hilltop (Nuestra Señora de Candelaria)

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