See the centuries-old architecture of Taal, Batangas, and photograph it, when you join Filipinas Heritage Library’s  “Photographing Architecture” on July 25, 2009.

This fun shoot promises that you’ll get to photograph the old infrastructure of this quaint Batangas town. Professional photographer Jay Alonzo, who’ll guide you through the trip, will teach you how to capture the overall design and intricate details of a structure and reflect its character in digital or film form.

Aside from being a good chance to practice your photography, the trip will enable you to get to know Taal more. One of the most prosperous towns in nineteenth-century Batangas, Taal is home to the largest Catholic church in the Philippines–the Basilica of St. Martin of Tours, commonly known as Taal Basilica. The Caysasay Church, where the miraculous 400-year-old image of Our Lady of Caysasay is enshrined, can also be found in Taal.

Owing to many of its prosperous residents during the Spanish time, Taal has many fine examples of stone houses or bahay na bato. The trip will bring you to the ancestral homes of Marcela Agoncillo, the main seamstress of the Philippine flag; Doña Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio, one of the heroic women who assisted the revolution; and Don Gregorio Agoncillo, a banker and known supporter of the Katipunan.

A short lecture will be held at the Filipinas Heritage Library before the trip to Taal. Alonzo will do on-the-spot critiques during the trip. The best photographs during the trip will be shown in a group exhibit at the Filipinas Heritage Library’s Alcove Gallery.

Workshop fee is P3,000. Those who join the trip must have basic knowledge in photography and a camera. Due to limited slots, interested participants must register before July 11. For inquiries, call (+632) 892 1801 or send an SMS to (+63917) 559 4417. You can also e-mail cruz.ct@ayalafoundation.org.