A Quick Visit in Mabitac: Passing the Battle Tableau to the Hilltop Church

Mabitac is located in the northern part of Laguna, nestled in the lush mountains of Sierra Madre and it is the first town in Laguna from the province of Rizal via Manila East Road. The town got its name from Tagalog phrase "ma bitag" meaning many traps.

Last year, I decided to make a quick visit in Mabitac because someone told me that it is a peaceful town with an interesting historical background and an old church in the hilltop. Although it was raining hard during that time, I am eager to explore this small town. So I ride a jeepney from Paete going to the town of Siniloan. After that, I took a three minute tricycle ride to the tableau of Battle of Mabitac.

The shrine of Battle of Mabitac

Mabitac was a site of a battle during the Philippine American War where Filipinos won their victory against American forces on September 17, 1900. During the midst of  the Second World War in 1942, Japanese forces entered and occupied the town. In 1945, the Philippine Commonwealth Army along with the guerillas defeated the Japanese forces in the Second Battle of Mabitac. Today, the shrine of Battle of Mabitac is an evidence that the town is rich in historical heritage and the fact that Filipinos shown courage and bravery in order to defend our country to the foreign invaders.

Nuestra Senora de Candelaria Church

The one hundred twenty six steps to the hilltop church.

The panoramic view of Mabitac from the hilltop which offers lush vegetation and houses.

From the shrine, I walked in the ascending slopes to the hilltop in order to visit the Nuestra Senora de Candelaria Church. The church was first built in 1613 under the Franciscan missionaries. Due to earthquakes, only the belfry remained in the original structure of the church. You can climb the 126 steps to the Kalbaryo Hill where the church is located. In addition, you can see the panoramic view of the town where you can see the lush and verdant trees, the small and simple houses and the rice fields and mountainous terrain that border the town.

After the visit in Mabitac, I decided to leave the town due to rainy weather and visit the next destination. Therefore, Mabitac is a place where you can experience the bounties of nature and the richness of cultural heritage and history.

Date of Travel: December 18, 2011