MONTEMARIA INTERNATIONAL PILGRIMAGE & CONFERENCE CENTER
NESTLED AT THE HEART OF THE 130-HECTARE TOWNSHIP IS THE MONTEMARIA INTERNATIONAL PILGRIMAGE & CONFERENCE CENTER, A FAITH-BASED TOURISM DESTINATION AND A LEGACY PROJECT OF BATANGAS GOV. THE 8-HECTARE TOURISM DESTINATION PROJECT IS OWNED AND BEING DEVELOPED BY MONTEMARIA ASIA PILGRIMS, INC. (MAPI), A STOCK NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION REGISTERED WI
TH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION. ITS CENTERPIECE IS THE MOTHER OF ALL ASIA – TOWER OF PEACE, WHICH IS CONSTRUCTED ATOP THE PLATEAU’S HIGHEST POINT WITH AN ELEVATION OF 148 METERS ABOVE SEA LEVEL, OVERLOOKING THE VERDE ISLAND PASSAGE, REPUTED TO BE THE CENTER OF THE CENTER OF MARINE BIO- DIVERSITY OF THE WORLD, AS SHE WELCOMES ALL DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL SEAFARING VESSELS ENTERING AND SEEKING REFUGE IN THE SERENE CALM WATERS OF BATANGAS BAY. THE MONTEMARIA INTERNATIONAL PILGRIMAGE & CONFERENCE CENTER LONG-TERM PLAN IS TO CREATE A WALKABLE- FRIENDLY COMMUNITY WITH COVERED PATHWAYS INTER- CONNECTING ALL THE BUILDINGS AND RELIGIOUS THEME PARK ATTRACTIONS, LANDSCAPED GARDENS AND WATERWAYS PLANTED WITH DIFFERENT SPECIES OF SHADE AND FRUIT BEARING TREES. THE MOTHER OF ALL ASIA – TOWER OF PEACE
THE MOTHER OF ALL ASIA – TOWER OF PEACE IS A MONUMENT DEDICATED TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY AS A SYMBOL OF UNITY AND PEACE IN ASIA AND THE WHOLE WORLD. IT IS THE TALLEST STATUE OF MARY IN THE WHOLE WORLD WITH A HEIGHT OF 98.15 METERS OR 322 FEET MEASURED FROM THE GROUND UP TO THE TIP OF THE CROSS ON TOP OF HER CROWN. IT ALSO RANKS NO. 9 AMONG THE WORLD’S TALLEST STATUES. ITS HEIGHT IS EQUIVALENT TO A 33-STOREY BUILDING WHICH REPRESENTS OUR LORD JESUS’ LIFE YEAR ON EARTH. IT IS ALSO THE ONLY LIVABLE STATUE IN THE WORLD WITH A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF 12,000 SQUARE METERS OR 1.2 HECTARES, MORE OR LESS. THE CROWN HAS 12 STARS THAT REPRESENTS THE 12 APOSTLES OF JESUS CHRIST. CONSTRUCTION OF THE HANDS AND FACE OF MARY WAS COMMISSIONED TO RENOWNED SCULPTOR AND NATIONAL ARTIST, THE LATE ED CASTRILLO, WHO STARTED WORKING ON THE PROJECT IN 2008. UPON COMPLETION OF THE HANDS AND FACE IN 2010, THEY WERE TEMPORARILY INSTALLED AND DISPLAYED UNTIL 2017 AT THE CLOISTERS’ FACADE FACING TOWARDS THE NORTHWEST DIRECTION OF CHINA. CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWER OF PEACE BEGAN IN 2013 AND WAS COMPLETED IN 2021 JUST IN TIME FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE 500TH YEAR OF CHRISTIANIZATION AND GLOBALIZATION OF THE PHILIPPINES . THERE ARE 4 OTHER DESIGNS AND ANOTHER LOCATION THAT WERE STUDIED AND CONSIDERED BEFORE THE 5TH AND FINAL DESIGN WAS APPROVED AND CONSTRUCTED ON ITS PRESENT LOCATION. THE MONUMENT HAS 12 FOUNDATIONS THAT REPRESENTS THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL. IT ALSO REPRESENTS THE 12 MAJOR RELIGIONS BEING PRACTICED IN ASIA. A PERSON HAS TO CLIMB A TOTAL OF 420 STEPS FROM THE GROUND LEVEL TO REACH THE CROWN BUT THAT IS IF THE PERSON OPTED NOT TO USE ANY OF THE 3 ELEVATORS INSIDE THE MONUMENT. THE NAME “MOTHER OF ALL ASIA” WAS ADAPTED FROM POPE EMERITUS BENEDICT XVI’s 27 MAY 2017 PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF SHESHAN, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH IN CHINA AND ALL ASIA.
