At 98.15 meters or 322 feet from the ground up to the tip of the Virgin Mary’s cross on top of Her crown as its centerpiece, Montemaria International Pilgrimage and Conference Center or simply known as Montemaria Shrine, towers over Montemaria, Batangas, Philippines. Dubbed as The Mother of all Asia – Tower of Peace, the tallest statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the world, Montemaria is a pilgrimage center dedicated to Mary as a symbol of unity and peace all over Asia and the whole world. The name Mother of All Asia was adapted from Pope Benedict XVI’s prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan, Mother of The Church in China and All Asia.
Considered as a retirement and tourism village, the 8-hectare destination is the brainchild of Montemaria Asia Pilgrims, Inc. (MAPI), a stock nonprofit and faith-based organization dedicated to create a friendly community and attract devotees and pilgrims all over Asia and the whole world. Overlooking the Verde Island Passage, the statue stands tall to welcome all domestic and international seafaring vessels entering and seeking refuge in the serene calm waters of Batangas bay.
Ranked as the 9th tallest statue in the world, the Tower of Peace began construction in 2013 and was completed in 2021 — in time for the celebration of the 500th year of Christianization and globalization of the Philippines. Renowned sculptor and National Artist, the late Ed Castrillo, was commissioned to do the hands and face of the Blessed Virgin Mary which began construction in 2008 and was completed in 2010. Mama Mary’s crown has 12 stars representing the 12 apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, while the center’s 12 foundations represent the 12 tribes of Israel. It is so tall its height is equivalent to a 33-storey building which represents our Lord Jesus Christ’s life-years here on earth. The faith-based tourism destination is a legacy project of Batangas Governor Dodo Mandanas, MAPI’s founding chairman. Today, the Montemaria Shrine boasts of another attraction — its glass walkway/bridge which began construction in 2023 and soon to open before Christmas of 2024. It is 118 meters long and 45 meters in height — a dizzyingly high challenge not for the faint-hearted. But if you’re the adventurous type of a person with no fear of heights, you may find this glass walkway/bridge an exciting dare to try on for a fee of around 250 to 300 pesos.
(Source: www.montemaria.com.ph; gma)
