A Blast from the Past: Edsa Shrine

The main idea of a "Shrine of Peace" is to serve as a memorial about the People Power Revolution that came as an inspired thought to Jaime Cardinal Sin two days after President Ferdinand Marcos fled to exile in Hawaii. The Cardinal was riding in the vehicle together with Bishop Gabriel Reyes, then Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, passed to the way to Camp Aguinaldo where they were to celebrate a Thanksgiving Mass. They came upon the intersection of EDSA and Ortigas, and Bishop Reyes pointed it out to the Cardinal Sin as the spot where intrepid but gentle nuns and young men and women stand in front of the tanks and offer flowers to the soldier.

At that corner , on an empty lot had stood two huge billboards of the Family Rosary Crusade, featuring the image of the Blessed virgin Mary with a message inscribed in it saying, "The Family that prays together, stays together" and also "A world at prayer is a world at Peace". The felicitous coincidence could not but evoke the reality of Our Lady's presence at EDSA during the People Power Revolution.

At the chapel of the perpetual adoration the Blessed Sacrament is dramatically exposed through the monstrance sculpture done by Castrillo.

At the other side chapel named after the first Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz, there is a wall mural depicting the saint's life painted by artist Ben Alano.

Various works of art symbolizes the spirit of freedom and peace at the shrine's promenade area(like the photo above). at one end is the "Flame of Freedom," a sculpture done by artist Manny Casal of three hardy men bearing a cauldron of flame over their shoulders, representing the Philippines' three major islands, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Throughout the plaza are the 14 station of the Cross as rendered in bronze by the national artist Napoleon Abueva.

The main chapel spans the breadth of the entire intersection and is accessible from either avenue. At each side are chapels, one, the San Lorenzo Ruiz chapel and the other chapel of Perpetual Adoration, Natural lighting is obtained from all sides, except the main altar hall, which draw light from the skylight above. This skylight is diffused by a strained glass ceiling designed by artist Eduardo Castrillo.

Within the main chapel, a floating glass sculpture of the Risen Christ by Ramon Orlina overlooks the main marble altar also created by Abueva. The upper walls are muted murals that depict and interpret the four-day revolution by 15 artists from Angono Rizal, led by Nemi Miranda. The Art works "Doves of Peace," also by Casal, rest gently on the holy water fronts by the entrances.

The Architect of the shrine is no less than, Architect Manosa, he designed it in such a way to evoke the freedom of movement and celebratory spirit of the original EDSA revolution. The shrine is to open out the streets with the image of Our Lady Queen of Peace, as sculpted in bronze by the late artist Virginia Ty-Navarro, forming the apex of the structure. The promenade is accessible through cascading stairs and ramps from EDSA and Ortigas Avenue. The center of the Plaza faces the convergence of the two main roads and has become the site of the Eucharistic celebration held each year to commemorate the People Power Revolution.

At the corner could be found the Carillion Bells, which are crafted by some people from Holland from bullets and cannons of the Second World War. At given intervals during the day, the bells chime familiar patriotic and religious tunes, mostly evoking sentiments of the people power revolution.

These works by Filipino artist, the architects, sculptors and painters form a unique collection that pays tribute to the indomitable spirit of the Filipino people. These works inspire, elevate, comfort and cheer, and in their unifying purpose, bring the people who visit, pray and celebrate in the Shrine closer to God, the source of peace.

Reference: wikipedia