Minor Basilica of the Infant Jesus and Immaculate Conception of Batangas | Basilika Minore ng Inmaculada Concepcion MarkerMinor Basilica of the Infant Jesus and Immaculate Conception of Batangas | Basilika Minore ng Inmaculada Concepcion Marker is a Marked Structure, NHCP; Registered Property, Province of Batangas; Registered Property, City of Batangas, Batangas located at Batangas City, Batangas, Region IV-A.
The former Father Provincial, Fr. Pedro Cuesta, demolished the old church which he found too small for the increasing population of the town and started the construction of the new one on the same site in 1851. He also built the strong fence of the atrium to enclose the church and convent.
The church was damaged by earthquake in 1863 and repaired and reinforced with walls and buttresses. After the roof fell in 1880, it was repaired in 1884 by Fr. Bruno Laredo. The convent built in 1693, of reef stone and huge molave post withstood all the earthquakes until Fr. Melchor Fernández constructed a new one in 1792. It was later used as a school building by the Saint Bridget College. Later on the second floor of the convent was demolished and was converted into a parish pastoral hall.
The church has undergone several restorations. The second and third stories of the belfry was completed in 1934. In 1936, old windows were changed and 23 chandeliers were added. The facade collapsed during the April 8, 1942 earthquake and was repaired between 1945 and 1946. In 1954, the exterior was painted with general repairs in 1957. The exterior was beautified and the frescoes were retouched on the occasion of the centennial celebration.
On February 13, 1948, the church was declared a Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. The Declaration was made upon the request of Lipa's Bishop Alfredo Verzosa.
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Marker Text:
Basilika Menor ng Inmaculada Concepcion
Ipinatayo ang unang simbahan ni P. Diego Mojica, pastor na Augustino ng Calapan, Mindoro, noong 1581 at inialay sa Immaculada Concepcion de Nuestra Señora bilang parokya. Inilagay noong 1601 ang pundasyong bato ng ikalawang simbahan na ipinagawa ng mga pari noong 1682-1721. Idinagdag noong 1693 ang kumbentong may artileriya upang maitaboy ang mga tulisang-dagat. Giniba pagkaraan ng 179 na taon at muling ipinatayo ni P. Pedro Cuesta noong 1851. Binasbasan noong Pebrero 2, 1857, itinalaga bilang Basilika Menor noong Pebrero 13, 1948 at nagdiwang ng ikasandaang taon noong 1957.
Date Unveiled: January 15, 1984
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The Roman Catholic Church of Batangas City, known as the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, has been rebuilt, restored, enlarged, destroyed, and yet again rebuilt many times over in the four centuries since a “visita” was established at this site near the mouth of the Calumpang River at the end of the 16th century. The present building was constructed according to the plan drawn by one Agustin Lopez of Manila dated 11 February 1883. The plan is preserved at the Archives of the Archdiocese of Manila.