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| (Image Source: The Poor Traveler) |
Batangas City is considered as one of the fastest-growing cities in the Philippines and is often dubbed as CALABARZON's Industrial Port City considering that it houses one of the country's busiest passenger and container facilities (Batangas International Port), one of the country's largest oil refineries, three natural gas plants and a variety of other industries. Just like any other city or town in the province of Batangas, the provincial capitol has a number of well-known churches where each of them is remarkable in its own way and has a story, and the Montemaria Shrine is one of them.
A widely concealed and cherished faith-based tourist destination situated in Barangay Pagkilatan, the Montemaria International Pilgrimage and Conference Center is a legacy project of its founding chairman Batangas Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas. Headlining of what to see and visit within the pilgrimage and retreat/retirement complex is the Mother of All Asia Tower of Peace, a gigantic monument to the Blessed Virgin Mary who symbolizes peace and unity in Asia and across the globe. It is highly regarded as the tallest Mother Mary statue in the world because of its height of 98.15 meters (322 feet) measured from the ground to the tip of the cross on top of its crown. Such height makes the gigantic statue of Mary taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York, USA and the Statue of Christ The Redeemer in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
The top of the Mother of All Asia Tower of Peace may give local and international tourists a majestic view of the beautiful scenery around them or even a perfect venue for a memorable wedding. Aside from the gigantic statue of Mother Mary, the Montemaria Shrine also sports the Sto. Niño Chapel, Chapel of St. John Paul II, retreat and retirement facilities, Cenacle Restaurant and Event Center and a souvenir shop. Due to the continuing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic and imposition of strict community quarantine protocols, traditional masses within the Shrine are being staged with limited capacity as mandated by the Inter-Agency Task Force. On the other hand, those who wishes to attend mass at Montemaria are recommended to do it virtually via its official Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Those who are willing to go and visit Montemaria Shrine from Manila should board either a DLTB or JAM bus bound for the Batangas Grand Terminal. It will probably take three to four hours, depending on traffic and road conditions, to get to Batangas City. Upon reaching the Grand Terminal, take a jeepney to SM Batangas then take a jeepney to Ilijan when you have reached the SM Batangas Transport Terminal and tell the driver to drop off at Montemaria Shrine. There is no entrance fee when you enter the shrine. If you reach the shrine through your private vehicle, there is a parking space reserved for it. That's all you need to know about the Montemaria Shrine in Batangas City. Once the effects of the pandemic are being eased, then maybe you may add the concealed Queen Mother shrine of Batangas' provincial capitol as part of your travel itinerary with emphasis on health and safety or as an avenue where you and your colleagues can refresh, chill and pray for the complete safety of the Earth from challenges in the foreseeable future.
