Los Baños

Inmaculada Concepción Parish

The town got its name from the hot water springs found in its territory. These springs originate from Mount Makiling, a volcano. Los Baños was a visita of Ba-é, then under the Augustinians, who placed Los Baños under the patronage of San Nicolas Tolentino. In 1613, the visita was turned over to the Franciscans, who built a hospital. In 1640, Los Baños was formalized as town under gobernadorcillo Don Juan Castañeda. From 1613 to 1727, the town did not have its own church. The townspeople were content to use the church attached to the hospital. This church, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception under the advocacy Santas Aguas, was burnt together with the hospital in 1727. A new stone church was constructed in 1790 under Fr. Domingo Mateo. Until 1851, the church had a nipa roof when Fr. Manuel Amat renovated the woodwork and replaced the roof with tiles. He likewise built the bell tower and sacristy, had bells cast and the church painted. The following year he had the convento repaired. The tower was destroyed by the earthquake of 1863, and repaired in 1880 by Fr. Manuel Rodriguez and Fr. Gilberto Martin.

Heritage Features: Most of the historic structure remains, however, the church interior is greatly renovated.