My Sidetrip: Caleruega Church

by lakwatserong tatay

This is one of my so many stories that is draft status...hehehe....Happens last May of this year, together with my teammates when we had our team building activity at Tagaytay, this is one of the places that I visited together with some of my teammates as part of my sidetrips at Tagaytay.
Caleruega is located in Nasugbu, Batangas, that is a famous place for retreats and wedding ceremonies. This is a house of prayer wherein you can do a lot of activities like renewal workshops, recollections, youth camps, marriage and family encounters, leadership seminars, outdoor activities and so many more. If your an outdoor enthusiast, this is also the starting point if you want to climb and hike Mt. Batulao....

Trippers photo opps at Evercrest

Here is the start of our journey to Caleruega....it was a bit rough and dusty road going to this destination...although going to Caleruega, the view wer really stunning....^_^

views going to Caleruega

photo opps even riding a tricycle

When we were there, we saw number of tourist rooming around, taking photos anywhere on the place. Indeed the place is a good location for a peace and quiet surrounding were you could medidate or wanting to be a loaner or emo...^_^.

Welcome.....

Caleruega entrance

souvenir items...

souvenir shirts

According to what i have researched, Caleruega Church is a very in-demand when it comes it wedding ceremonies, that you have to book a year ahead of the schedule in order for your wedding to reserve the spot because it was really hard to get some available dates, if you want your wedding to be held here. The actual church is just small but the area surrounding was large with green hills and magnificient landscapes in different directions.

photo oppss again...^_^

What's inside Caleruega Office....

so we're are we going...^_^

Actually i was really excited to go to this place, because this would be my first time to see it with my one eyes and i've heard so much about this church. The scenic place it self makes me really excited to be there, so when i had that chance to be near on this place, i've researched and planed it, to visit at least two spots near Tagaytay.

one of the perfect place for prenuptial pictures...

photo opps where everywhere...^_^

Bricks and stone walled structure were everywhere at Caleruega grounds....and every spot here is perfect for photo souvenir, maybe that's reason why this Caleruega is always fully booked for pre-nuptial up to wedding ceremonies, and it has so many places where you could be alone and emo...^_^

Walkways at Caleruega

One of my favorite subject in taking photos were flowers, orchids and some unique trees, that you could see anywhere on this ground, and for that reason, you would really appreciate this place, the nature itself, and add also the breeze of the air, even though your not in Baguio, you would feel it too because Caleruega is located on a hill.

Flower fauna is everywhere....

Caleruega is actually a house of prayer and renewal. But i've realized this is really best for lovers out there, that would want to be married and to be there perfect place for their sweetest day ever.

metal scuplture infront of church

Here are some of my photos around Caleruega church....^_^.

photo opps @ caleruega church

According to their website, the entirety of the chapel is filled with symbols.

Its façade is a reproduction of the original chapel in Caleruega, Spain. Its hut-shaped roof is in remembrance of the temporary sheds that the apostles wanted to build for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah during the transfiguration (Mt 17:1-8). The seal of the Dominican Province of the Philippines is depicted in stained glass in the upper portion of the chapel’s façade. The seven grapevines entwined in the steel doors of the chapel not only portray Jesus as the vine and we as branches (John 15:5), but also symbolize the seven sacraments. The main altar is a carved tree trunk representing the “stem of Jesse,” mentioned in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah: then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit (Is 11:1). The tabernacle is a gentle reminder of the burning bush through which God revealed Himself to Moses in Mt. Sinai (Ex 3:2). The birds carved on the communion table are representations of  God’s providence in Matthew 6:26: Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap…and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. The stained glass depicts the Transfiguration of Jesus witnessed by Peter, John, and Luke. With Jesus are Moses and Elijah, two significant instruments of God in the Old Testament (Mat 17:3).

my pictures inside the church

Here's one of our group souvenir shot at the back of Caleruega Church....thanks ichan....^_^

trippers photo opps....

How to go here:

If you are going Caleruega via private transport, just follow the usual routes to Tagaytay City, it is either via SLEX (South Luzon Expressway) or Coastal Road - Aguinaldo Highway - Cavite.

Via SLEX, take Carmona exit and drive down to Governor's Drive and Siland up to the entrance of Tagaytay city. Other route is Sta. Rosa exit going to Tagaytay City, via Coastal Road, drive south to Aguinaldo Highway passing thru Bacoor, Imus, Dasmariñas and Silang, Cavite.

From Tagaytay City, Rotonda, follow the Rd. (Aguinaldo Highway) that leads to Nasugbu, then turn left at the Evercrest Golf Club right after the Arc of Welcome Nasugbu. This will lead to a "Caleruega" sign pointing to a road to the right. Follow the sign and Caleruega is at the end of the road.

For commuters: There are buses from EDSA Taft going to Nasugbu or Balayan, they will pass thru Tagaytay City and Evercrest Golf Club. Get off Evercrest and take a tricycle (Php20) from there.

For more information:

Caleruega Chapel
Close to Nature, Close to God
Address:  Brgy. Kaylaway, Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas
E-mail: caleruega_philippines@yahoo.com
Contact nos.: (043) 706-0348 / 0921-830-4226 / 0921-270-9890

Entrance is Php30 per person.
Check out their website: http://www.dominicans.ph/caleruega/index

Latwatserong Tatay x-plored Caleruega

Truly Caleruega Church is a photography's haven. I promise my self to go back and will spend more hours and be able to see this place at night.....^_^...Bring much better camera than i used on this visit, and to have better skills in taking picture so i could show it more, what the Caleruega could offer.

After visiting, we headed back to Tagaytay and visit the most highest part / hill that can be found in Tagaytay, the People's Park in the Sky....watch out for this story....^_^.