Where divinity descends humanity ascends

(Part V, last of the series “Learning to Live Again”)

The Praying Mother of the Hidden Shrine of Mt Pinatubo was brought to Zambales in January 1992. Her arrival at the Shrine was covered by the Subic Bay News of January 31, 1992, which reported:

“Unique job orders – Public Works Center (PWC) men and equipment recently anchored a four-ton statue of the ‘Our Praying Mother of the Hidden Temple Shrine of Mt. Pinatubo’ on its pedestal located in what will become a shrine near a remote resettlement area in Palan, San Marcelino, Zambales. The statue, a 9’x7’x2' concrete work of Filipino sculptor Pempe Floriano, was brought to Palan early this month to be mounted on a pedestal on top of a 60-foot hill. It now stands facing Mt. Pinatubo which is 13 miles away”

Mt. Pinatubo Hidden Temple Shrine, a parting gift of US Navy Admiral Mercer

The 60-foot high hill of Palan, which was chosen mystically, is one of the small hills facing the volcano 21 kilometers away. These figures were estimated by Captain John Lehman’s chief engineers (who made up the old US Naval Public Works Division of Subic). The Gordons hesitated to ask Admiral Tom Mercer’s help to weld the two mystically sculpted monuments of Our Lord and Blessed Mother to a one and a half meter high pedestal (each statue weighs six tons and four tons respectively). Dick and Kate were amazed when the admiral readily nodded to my request during the Christmas party of the naval officers in 1991.

Who would have thought that my husband Max and I would be drawn to the desperate plight of almost 60,000 Filipino workers who suddenly lost their well-paying jobs when the calamity prematurely closed the last two remaining American military bases in Clark Field, Angeles, Pampanga and Subic, Olongapo, Zambales?

Cadiz, Negros shrine adjacent to Escalante massacre site

Around 1984 to 1990, Max and I have been helping our dear friend Punay Kabayao-Fernandez, a mystic artist from Cadiz, Negros Occidental set up quietly two other major shrines. Right after the Escalante massacre, the Holy Ones requested that the statues of Our Lord and His Mother as well as that of St. Francis of Assisi be made for Punay’s ancestral home and estate, in Faraon, Cadiz. This is two hours away from Bacolod and 20 minutes from Escalante.

Trinity of shrines message - ‘Ecumenical Brotherhood’

The second shrine was requested in 1986 right after the “EDSA Revolution” to be set up at our O.B. Montessori headquarters, the Shrine Avenue of Eisenhower St., corner Annapolis St., Greenhills. Adjacent to Club Filipino, the complex of four buildings has 23 holy monuments including the mural of Angelique Victoria on the façade of the eight-storey college building, and the 12 life size statues of the Temple of the Holy Family as well as the Vestal Virgin along Eisenhower Street. St. Francis of Assisi with three messenger doves faces Annapolis St., while in the Ristorante La Dolce Fontana is to his left. Inside is his large fresco together with St. Claire is painted thrice. Two hundred animals surround them.

Inside the courtyard is the grotto of the Lord of Sacrifice sitting on a bench with the World Mother. The Angel with the Pointing Hand stands on top of the grotto. On the second floor is the small prayer room with the wooden statue of Our Lord of Wisdom and Compassion and Our Lady of Liberty, where healing miracles occur. The faithful is invited here to pray and reflect in privacy.

Both shrines mark the major national disasters of the country. Our Lord and His Blessed Mother specified their titles and how the holy monuments should look.

Including the Mt. Pinatubo Hidden Temple Shrine, all the three shrines are meant to be ecumenical, a fact which makes many Catholic prelates uncomfortable, even if ecumenism was globally initiated by the late Catholic pontiff, Pope John XXIII. To this day, miracles keep occurring in all three shrines to numerous pilgrims, whether they are Aglipayan, Muslims, Protestants of any denomination, Buddhists, etc.

Miraculous spring water

Throughout the years, the miracle spring water, which surges from the mountain side continues to heal, as the pilgrims pour out their childlike faith to God, inspired by the smiling faces of Our Lord and His Mother. They come from all parts of the country even during the lahar season.

During the first Easter Sunday mass of 1992, the 200 pilgrims including the army band in their smart white dress uniform walked up the 101 steps of the hill. Everyone was amazed to hear Fr. Ledesma exclaiming that the climb made him feel strong. (This typical of elderly or arthritic pilgrims.) His sacrifice was very much appreciated by the Holy Ones. SBMA Chairman Richard Gordon and his wife Katherine, Punay, Jojo Ruiz, my husband, Max and I led the pilgrims in prayer “battling” with the unusually strong winds.

Battalion of giant angels, guardians of the shrine

While the London Symphony orchestra tape played “Jerusalem” the sky was darkening. Then suddenly, the dark clouds opened up and large shafts of light flared around the sky.

Truly it was grand Easter spectacle of lights. Ging-ging, a sensitive young clairvoyant was very excited. Days before she was getting the message, “Pupunta ka sa malayo, sa bundok” (You will be traveling far. Out to the mountains). She pointed to the bright luminous sky. “The sun and the moon are close together.” Many witnessed the awesome sight including me. Certainly, it was not the usual spinning sun. (Miracles are not exclusive to one religion. Anglicans, Muslims, Buddhists also witness them.) Then the images of the Blessed Trinity appeared: Our Father, Our Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit in the form of a big dove. Together with them, the veiled face of Mother Mary appeared. (This was caught on the video film.) By this time the symphony orchestra was playing “Ave Maria.”

Right after this, our clairvoyant school illustrator, Annie, together with Ging-ging and Punay saw a battalion of giant angels. Each platoon had a color. Annie noted violet, blue, and yellow with gold. They were all marching with a roaring rhythm holding silver swords since they were the guardians of the shrine, according to the mystical messages Punay was receiving since Holy Thursday.

The manifestations are never the same

I requested several to write down the spiritual experiences they had. 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 villager referred to them as “sundalo ni Hesu Kristo.” Tulad sila sa mga sundalong nagbantay kay Jose Rizal sa Rizal Park!” Eventually the knights were requested by the Holy Ones to be sculpted in cement. This took four months.

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 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.”

Note: This is the 19th anniversary of the Palan Shrine. You may join us this Easter Sunday at Palan. The convoy of vehicles will leave at 6 a.m. in front of the O.B. Montessori headquarters, #3 Eisenhower St., Greenhills. Italian priest, Fr. Andrea of the Order of the Canossians will say the mass. You may dial 7229720-27 for inquiries.