Batangas | Marian Orchard & Hermitage of Our Mother

The Sacred Heart Tower

Our road trip to Marian Orchard/Hermitage of Our Mother was supposed to be my pre-Holy Week post but because of some weekend getaways (and laziness afterwards), I wasn't able to do so. Anyway, I wasn't aware of these sites before, not until I saw/read Manong Unyol's post. I got curious so when I went home (I am a Batangueña, by the way) one weekend, I decided to go on a side trip and check out these places.

Though adjacently situated, Marian Orchard and Hermitage of our Mother are two different religious sites located in Barangay Malabanan in Balete, Batangas. The first one a sort of legacy the owner built and shared to the public while the latter, a retreat site/prayer house (also open to the public) owned by a priest who is based in Laguna. Both sites are conducive to prayer and meditation as well as some soul and self-searching; a place to go to during holy week, though most probably, it would be crowded during that season.

Marian Orchard is a Catholic-themed park built on a 5-hectare land surrounded with trees and plants of various kinds. It features a prayer garden, a chapel, an observation tower, fountains and shrines of various saints. Near the prayer garden, it also has this small native hut where one could just sit and relax and breathe clean fresh air. The towering pine trees and flowering (flower photos here) plants all around it add to the serenity of this place. If you're a nature lover and loves to have a quiet and peaceful time away from the city, this may be a place for you to go.

Here are some of the photos I took as I go around this park.

a welcoming view at Marian Orchard

My friend and I climbed this tower (The Sacred Heart Tower), it's a steep climb (almost a vertical ascent) and up on the third level, the wind blows hard, it felt like I would be blown away (even if I'm a heavyweight :P). But the view at the top is magnificent, you can see Taal Lake/Volcano and its neighboring towns/barangays, worth the steep climb actually.

observation tower/The Sacred Heart Tower
a resembling image of Brazil's Christ the Redeemer

Let the children come to me...

Marian Orchard - The Chapel

"The Ruins" at Marian Orchard :P

water-less fountain :P

Garden of Saints

Saint Joseph Shrine

Mama Mary Shrine

path leading to the garden of saints

entrance to the Prayer Garden

native hut for resting  (inset) and the surrounding pine trees

fruit-bearing trees/plants at Marian Orchard - papaya, cacao, rambutan, chico, etc.

~ oo00oo ~

Hermitage of Our Mother, as I said, is a retreat site adjacent to the more popularly known Marian Orchard. This religious site is open to the public for free. It has several small chapels where prayer vigils are held from time to time (this according to the site's caretaker). The site has also this small steel tower where you can climb up for a chance to see the magnificent view of Taal Lake and Volcano. (Actually, it has a better view of Taal than the one in Marian Orchard.) Also in this tower is the wishing "banga" (earthen jar/pot), a popular wishing jar to the young and the young once who visited here. Below are some of my photos of Hermitage of Our Mother:

entrance to the Hermitage of Our Mother

one of the small chapels in Hermitage of Our Mother

Taal Lake and Taal Volcano, view from up the steel tower

Christ the Redeemer, as seen from the Hermitage of Our Mother

Pray in Silence! Then wish, pray, throw coins...the Wishing Banga!

~ oo00oo ~

How to get to Marian Orchard/Hermitage of Our Mother?

By Bus: Take a bus bound to Lemery/Batangas via Tanauan/Lipa (NOT CALABARZON) from any of the bus terminals located in the following: along EDSA near Cubao/Kamuning area (Alps or Jam bus lines); in Taft-Buendia (Jam bus line, forgot other bus lines with terminal here). Tell the driver or the conductor to drop you off at Levitown, Marawoy (landmark: Caltex Gas Station) then take a tricycle going to Marian Orchard/Hermitage of Our Mother.

By Car: Drive through South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and on to Batangas Star Tollway. At the Star Toll Way, take Lipa-Tambo Exit, turn right and follow the road (J.P. Laurel Highway) going to Lipa/Tanauan then turn left at Lipa-Balete Road (landmark: Caltex Gas Station). Marian Orchard/Hermitage of Our Mother is around 10-15 minutes drive from this junction.

Marian Orchard/Hermitage of Our Mother

Barangay Malabanan, Balete, Batangas
Operating Hours: 7:00AM - 5:00PM

Parking Fee: P25; Entrance: P25/person (Marian Orchard only)