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