Saint John the Baptist Parish Church (Calamba)

The church baptistery, where Rizal was baptized on June 22, 1861 by the then parish priest of Calamba Rufino Collantes and his godfather Pedro Casanas, is a recognized National Historical Landmark (Level 1).[2] The declaration was made by virtue of Resolution No. 2 of the Philippine Historical Commission (now National Historical Commission of the Philippines) on August 19, 1976 under Section 4 of the Executive Order No. 260 dated August 1, 1973 and amended by Executive Order No. 375 dated January 14, 1974.[3] The original baptismal font was restored including original church items and reliquaries during Rizal's time.[1] A transcript of Rizal's existing baptismal record is displayed on the left side of the baptistery entrance. The original baptismal records including the canonical books were lost on September 28, 1862 when Calamba Church was burned.[4]

The transcript of Rizal's baptismal certificate issued by Leoncio Lopez originally written in Spanish is shown below:[5]

I, the parish priest of the town of Calamba, whose signature appears below, certify that as a result of inquiries, which with the proper authorization were made for the restoration of the canonical books (that were burned) on the 28th of September 1862 and are found in the file of baptisms, book n 1, page 49, it emerges according to the declaration of competent and sworn witnesses that Jose Rizal Mercado is legitimate son from the legitimate matrimony of Don Francisco Rizal Mercado and Dona Teodora Realonda (that) he was baptized in this parish on the 22nd of June 1861 by the parish priest Reverend Father Rufino Collantes, and his godfather was the Reverend Father Pedro Casanas. And I sign this as true. -Leoncio Lopez.

A small garden, named the "Garden of Gethsemane", is located at the right side facing the church entrance and was designed for devotees who want to meditate or pray. It contained 14 life-size bar reliefs of the Stations of the Cross, a "Well of Repentance" or Balon ng Pagbabalik Loob, and a statue of John the Baptist. These were demolished in 2019.

The church also includes an adoration chapel at the right side of the main church entrance and an adjacent mini-museum. Upon entering the church complex, there is a columbarium on the right side facing the church entrance.