San Martin de Tours Nuestra Señora de Caysasay
Patrons of Taal, Batangas founded 1572
San Martin de Tours
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Original image: The San Martin under the care of the Sanchez family of Taal, revered by many as the original and miraculous, describe as slightly smaller than the church image, made of ivory, amor is more intricate. The image stays in the house of the hermano mayor before fiesta, doesn't leave the house of the Sanchez unless accompanied by a brass band. The image stays in Manila and comes back only for the fiesta. Participates the Caysasay festivities, acting as an escort to the Virgin of Caysasay and leads believe to be dismiss from being use for the procession since 2000.
Church image: The San Martin in under the care of certain parishioners serving as camareros, the image that was found in the Bell tower after the apparitions in the 90's, made of wood, armor set is made stainless steel, vintage. Has a canopy carroza that was donated in 2003. Participates the Caysasay festivities serving the same duties like the original until 2007 or 2008.
The town of Taal that was founded in 1572 and was placed under the advocation of San Martin of Tours, at that time the town was located in present day sitio Balangon until the retreat to present day San Nicolas after a Moro attack in 1575. San Martin of Tours, a soldier who later became a bishop of Tours in France, became the titular of the town probably because of his background as soldier. The nearby Taal volcano was treat and the prayers said to Saint Martin might warned people of the impending eruption in the future.
There are also folk stories surrounding San Martin, one story pertains to the mysterious sounds of horse hoops said to be a warning by the saint for an upcoming eruption of the volcano. Another was an apparition in the 90's where a man on horse-back was seen flying over the crater of Taal volcano, after the said apparition the image of San Martin inside the basilica was found missing in its altar inside the church and was later discovered in the belltower of the church. To this day nobody knew how it got there, the narrow passage way up to the bell tower was impossible.
Our Lady of Caysasay
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Original image: A 17th century image of the Immaculate Conception, found in the Pansipit River in 1603, 11 inches tall and made of wood, has detailed hair locks, left eye is big compared to the right, pupils in the left are slint, cat like pupils, squint. Statue has a slightly upward bent to the left, hands are clasped to the breast. The mantle she wears blows into folds in the left. She stands on a moon shape like a quarter melon. The encarna in the face is fading and the wood is expose, the nose has become snub due to contact. Ever since the image is place in a silver base hammered on wood decorated with cherubs, the image is vested in simple clothes, with a gold crown, given by her devotees from all places. Under the care of the Archbishop in archbishop residence in Lipa since the appointment of Fr. Von Comagun, January 2012.
In 1603, the image was found by a chinese fisherman with the name Juan Maningcad, according to some old folks, the image was probably in care of a soldier who accidentally drop in the river or was thrown to the sea to pacify a storm. The image was then transferred to a widow named Maria Espiritu. The image started to leave its urn in the night and comes back in the morning. The widow became worried of the occurrences and called the attention of the priest and others. The mysterious disappearance and come back of the image was witness by many, soon the image was taken to the church and was lost.
In 1611, two women went to gather firewood in the place where the image of the Virgin Mary was found got thirsty and found a well. Suddenly they are a reflection of a statue and when they look up they saw an image of the Virgin Mary on top of a sampaguita bush lighted by two candles on each side and was surrounded by kingfishers. The two women told to the parish priest what they saw and proceeded to the place where they found the lost image. The people then decided to built a chapel, accepting the favor of the Virgin Mary for her image to stay in what is now called Labac, The image of the Our Lady was then called "Birhen ng Casay-casay" in reference to the birds surrounding the image when it was found on top of the sampaguita bush. The Spaniards having a difficulty of pronouncing the word, pronounce it as "Caysasay". In 1639 a new church of stone was built with the help of Chinese masons and was completed a year later.
The Our Lady of Caysasay was canonically crowned in 1954 and was Episcopaly crowned in 1985 and was given the title as "Reyna ng Arsidiosesis ng Lipa". Her shrine in Taal become an affiliate of the Basilica of Sta. Maria Maggiore in Rome last June 2012, second to the Shrine of the Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan. This gives the Shrine the same plenary indulges given in Sta. Maria Maggiore in Rome.
Credits to the following:
Dindo Montenegro
Al-Rey Cuasay Reyes
Manny Landicho
Randy Caponpon del Mundo
"Taal" by Paulina Gahol Orlina
Parish of Saint Martin of Tours Basilica
Shrine of the Our Lady of Caysasay
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