I came across the St. John the Baptist Church while searching the net for interesting places to visit in Calamba. Being right across the Rizal Shrine, I found no reason not to check it out, being obsessed by old church architecture and all.

The church is made of unpainted adobe walls with a curving pediment, two belfries tower over both its sides giving it a symmetrical appearance. The whole structure is surrounded by huge trees and gardens filled with somber concrete statues depicting scenes from the Gethsemane Garden.

“Tambay muna tayo sa bahay ni Rizal (Let’s hang out at Rizal’s pad for a while).” I never thought I’d get to have a conversation where that phrase would actually be used.

We were chowing down mouthfuls of Chicken Joys and Jolli Spaghetti one afternoon in Calamba after doing a shoot in a Coke bottling plant. I was thinking since we’re in Canlubang already, why not check out its sights? It’s been years since I last visited the Rizal Shrine, the actual home of our National Hero, and it’s also been some time before I last read up about it on the net.