Streets of Santo Tomas, Batangas: Santo Tomas, Philippines Tips

Santo Tomas Things to Do

Santo Tomas is a small municipality in the Philippines, and one that’s known for its strong roots in the Catholic faith. If you’re looking for things to do, then see how you can experience life the way the locals do with the following tips.

Honor Padre Pio in Santo Tomas

Santo Tomas was built on religion. One saint in particular stands out as the patron saint of the city, but it just so happens it’s not Tomas. The National Shrines of Padre Pio offer a sprawling landscape to honor religious history and the saint that bears its name. Padre Pio is a major figure for many Catholics, well-known for being one of three saints who experienced stigmata, or the wounds that Jesus was said to bear when on the cross.

These shrines are here to honor him, and display relics and other mementos from before he passed away in 1968. There are services (masses) here for those who wish to attend, and the admission is free. There is also a place to buy religious items within these open-air shrines. Whether you’re religious or not, it’s worth seeing for the land and the architecture. There’s also the Padre Pio Chapel, which is a small but beautiful place of worship, complete with even more artifacts and religious items from his life and around the time he lived.

Visit Santo Tomas Catholic Church

Churches are revered places in Santo Tomas that represent the faith of the community. However, they’re also places of celebration and friendship. Here, you can see people find their place in the city, as they call to people they know and chat about their lives and families. Come either before or after a mass if you don’t want to sit through a service that may be in a language you don’t understand. Or just come to see the building to understand more about the center of the city. You may even catch a party of well-dressed men and women preparing for a wedding or other religious service.

Marker at Malvar’s Park & Monument

Stroll around this park and see the monument to the last general to surrender to American forces during Philippine Revolution in 1898. The monument was enclosed within a fence by the mayor, and moved to stand in front of the municipal building. From there, you can stroll around the town. Be careful of drivers and traffic on the roads.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in Santo Tomas, Philippines.