Our Lady of Caysasay Shrine

The Our Lady of Caysasay Shrine is a historic Catholic shrine in Barangay Labac, Taal, Batangas, Philippines, located near the Pansipit River. Built in 1639 to enshrine the small wooden image of the Virgin Mary reportedly found in the river in 1603, it is constructed of coral stone in early colonial style. Recognized as an archdiocesan shrine, it is a major pilgrimage center in Batangas and a key heritage site within Taal's historic town.

Visitors can expect a small coral-stone church in a quiet riverside setting in Labac, with a simple colonial facade, modest interior altar enshrining the revered image of Our Lady of Caysasay, and an adjacent archway leading to the Santa Lucia Well. The compound includes a courtyard, devotional areas, and views of the Pansipit River. The atmosphere is that of an active pilgrimage church with areas for prayer, lighting candles, and viewing historical markers.

The devotion began when fisherman Juan Maningcad reportedly found a small wooden image of the Virgin Mary in the Pansipit River in 1603. A temporary chapel was first erected, followed by the permanent coral-stone church built in 1639 under Augustinian administration. The image was canonically crowned in 1954. The shrine survived the 1754 Taal Volcano eruption that destroyed old Taal and has remained a center of Marian devotion in Batangas for over 400 years.

The shrine is the center of devotion to Our Lady of Caysasay, regarded as a patroness of Batangas and protector of the province. It is an important Catholic pilgrimage site, especially during the feast on December 8-9, and forms part of Taal Heritage Town's religious and cultural landscape alongside the nearby Santa Lucia Well, which is traditionally associated with healing waters.