The living gospel of the Mt. Pinatubo Hidden Temple Shrine - A POINT OF AWARENESS by Preciosa S. Soliven

On the 60-foot high hill shrine considered an open-air basilica is where we welcomed the ninth Easter pilgrimage to the Mt. Pinatubo Hidden Temple Shrine. Together with me was Zambales Governor Vicente Magsaysay who was hermano mayor. As chairperson of the Mt. Pinatubo Hidden Temple Shrine Foundation, I was inspired to address the 200 pilgrims. Speaking from my heart, I spoke spontaneously and comfortably in English and Filipino.

Ang bagong anyo ng Pagkabuhay

"Mahal kong kababayan, nagtitipon na naman tayo sa dambana ng Mt. Pinatubo Hidden Temple Shrine. Pinagdiriwang natin ang muling pagkabuhay ng ating Hesu Kristo Masdan n’yo Siya kasama ng Mahal na Ina! Buhay na buhay, makapangyarihan at ngumingiti sa ating lahat. (I pointed up to the 13-foot statue of Our Lord and His Mother Mary. Their blue robes and wind-blown golden capes sparkling in the sun.) Mapalad na bayang Pilipinas. Bumaba ang Diyos sa gitna nang sakuna nang pagsabog ng Mt. Pinatubo volcano. Ipinatapat pa Niya ang banal niyang dambana sa bulkan. Dalawangput-isang kilometro lamang ang layo. How blessed is our country for divinity has descended to make humanity ascend.

"Mabuhay na sana muli si Hesu Kristo sa ating kalooban at isipan! Nagpakita siya sa kanyang mga apostoles ngunit hindi siya makilala nila. Noong pagkapako at pagkamatay ng Panginoon sa bundok ng Kalbaryo ay nagulo si San Pedro at ang kanyang mga kasamahan. Lahat sila ay nagsi-alis at nagtago maliban lang kay San Juan, kung kanino hinabilin ni Hesus ang kanyang Mahal na Ina.

"The resurrected Lord was not a ghost. He had a solid but glorified body. He joined the picnic with His apostles. He ate the food. During supper, He finally revealed Himself to the apostles. Since St. Thomas came in late, he did not believe that the Lord has come back to life. Thus Our Lord invited him to come near and see His body closely. Thomas saw the wounds of His hands, His feet and the pierced side of His body… As his faith was restored, he humbly fell down on his knees and penitently said, "My Lord and My God…" From then on the apostles’ zest for the holy mission revived.

He would have been the greatest political campaigner… but

"Sa lupang ito naisilang ang ating Panginoon. Diyos na naging tao. For three years according to the holy gospels, He was a Master Teacher, a Healer, and a Miracle Worker. After the age of 12, when Jesus announced that He must be with His Father’s business, the gospel accounts are silent about Our Lord’s activities until He was 30 years old." (The so-called Aquarian Gospels however record his missionary woprk, journeys and various meetings with different religious leaders from the Middle East to Asia).

Suddenly the coming national elections crossed my mind and how politicians are spending so much for campaign materials for print, radio and television. "Kung buhay si Hesus ngayon sa panahon ng kampanya, walang duda na Siya ang magiging pinakamagaling na tagatalumpati. Di katulad ng ating mga politiko sa ngayon, itong pangangampanya ni Hesus Kristo ay hindi pang-sarili. Ito ay para sa Kaharian ng ating Amang Diyos.

"Not only was He a speaker that spoke spiritual truths, His compassionate heart went out to the ailing: the deaf, He made them hear, the blind, He made them see, the dumb, He made them speak. Frequently, He exorcised the devil from the bodies of many. If he were a typical politician, He would use them for publicity. Instead He reminded them not to reveal to anyone who healed them. His fame as a miracle worker spread quickly after His cousin’s wedding at Cana. He converted water into the best wine the guests ever tasted."

One day He found himself surrounded by 5000 people on a hill, just like this Palan hill. Since the crowd has been watching and listening to Him throughout the day, they were hungry. He asked His disciples what food can be given to them. They replied, "only seven loaves of bread and two fishes." He gave orders for them to be distributed. The disciples were amazed that all 5,000 ate well, and leaving 12 more extra baskets of food.

The recent miracles of Palan

Our psychic sculptor Pempe Floriano always stayed for two weeks prior to the major pilgrimages of Christmas and Easter. Last December was the special pilgrimage of the local government officials of Region III. Pempe had to work doubly hard since he noted the sad and dark expressions in the faces of both Our Lord of Love and Redemption and Our Praying Blessed Mother of Mt. Pinatubo. This never happened before. However when our country is in a grave crisis it could. This was precisely the time when former President Joseph Estrada’s impeachment trial was going on.

Around the same time, Pempe and the local villagers noticed multi-colored rocks scattered in front of the shrine instead of the more common four inch gray lahar rocks found along the dried up Sto. Tomas river beds. Right after the rains, to prevent erosion of the hillside, the multi-colored rocks were used for riprapping. When the job was finished the rocks on the river bed disappeared.

Two weeks before Easter, Pempe lived again with the local residents for the usual preparations. This time the first prayer house, the one donated by Bataan Governor Leonardo Roman was being constructed. This would require sand. Again the cement sand appeared miraculously over the lahar-sand, sufficient in quantity for the construction.

One of the workers, Roy, a 35-year old farmer and resident of Palan, narrated to Pempe what he saw in his dream. At the foot of the hill, he saw two angels. While one was holding a basin of holy water, the other one was giving a welcome gesture to the pilgrims. It was similar to church entrances where we normally find angel statues. After all, Palan is an open air basilica designed by the Holy Ones with real angels not visible to all.

The manifestations are never the same

Curious about the effect of the nine-year old shrine on the new and old pilgrims, I requested several to write down the spiritual experiences they have. Many of them had been there two to three times. "Something new was always added. Four years ago, a huge silver dove was mystically requested to perch on the floor. Then three beautiful knights riding horses were done in paper mache."

Pempe recounted that the villagers referred to them as "sundalo ni Hesu Kristo". Tulad sila sa mga sundalong nagbabantay kay Jose Rizal sa Rizal Park!" Before the DILG pilgrims came the knights were requested by the Holy Ones to be sculpted in cement. This took four months. I believe this gesture was a special gift from them. This year I had fringed tents made to shade them from the sun as in the days of King Arthur.

Living the gospel of the mount

Nimfa, a restaurant purchaser recalls, "It was very hot and sunny. Yet despite the heat and dust from the steep downhill pathway, I did not mind it since it is may first visit to Palan. The long wide expanse of lahar enveloped the hill. Suddenly I can’t help but be enchanted when I saw these great golden flowing capes of Our Lord and His beloved Mother as the shrine altar appeared."

"My heart overflowed with joy and fulfillment. I wondered why this forlorn lahar desert was chosen as the site. But to me, it is hope found out of nowhere. It struck our hearts.

"How strange that when I felt more the pain, the exhaustion, I felt closer to God. I finally got an answer to my question, ‘Why am I so unhappy? I am unhappy because I am beginning to lose God – making Him my last priority instead of Him being the first. My life is miserable without God! It is as He said, ‘If you remain in Me you will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing.’"

‘At the end of the path

He is waiting for me.…’

Michelle, a young librarian writes: "This is not my first time to visit Palan but this is the most memorable. This pilgrimage has touched my life in a simple yet special way. I do not say that I have become a better person – no! But one thing is sure, it has strengthened my relationship with God."

"I used to laugh at our traditional ‘fanaticism’ during Lent. Generation after generation of Filipinos patiently mumbling prayer from church to church, during the Good Friday procession, etc.

"The moment I tried to trudge downhill to the shrine the whole life and death of Jesus flashed instantly in my mind. Every step I made allowed me to praise God, accept my unworthiness and be sorry for my sins. I asked help and guide through Mother Mary’s intercession.

"While others complained of the heat and dust, I experienced a calming effect. It made me realize that no matter what happens, someone great is waiting for me at the end of the path."

I was touched by the simple testimonies of faith by the young pilgrims. For instance, many mothers had arguments with their husbands about going on this long distance trip, while others had children suddenly became ill, another had a weak heart. But lo and behold, when they arrived at the shrine they seem to enter a new world free from worry. They were just aware of God’s presence. Upon returning home they cheerfully related to their husbands, found their children recovered from illness, and their body aches gone. Truly they received the blessing of Easter.

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