Photo from Facebook page of Greg Refraccion
ORANI, Bataan — A beautiful religious shrine known as Santuario Diocesano Dela Sagrada Familia that stands at the foot of Mount Natib in Barangay Tala here is being readied for the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines on March 2021.
This, according to the donor of the shrine former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales.
Gonzales, also former secretary of the Department of National Defense, said the shrine was a product of eight months of labor with more than 200 workers mostly from Barangay Tala benefitting during the lockdown caused by the coronavirus disease.
On a ravine, some 30 meters below the concrete road, lies the grotto of the Virgen Milagrosa Del Rosario de Orani, the miraculous patron saint of the town. As of now the grotto can be reached through wide concrete steps. For the convenience of the elderly, Gonzales said an elevator will be installed.
He said he and his family searched for various areas in the country where to build a shrine, only to find the right place right in his home province. Gonzales is from Puerto Rivas in Balanga City.
“When I saw this ravine, I knew that the Blessed Mother should be here. Until now, hindi ko maipaliwanag kung bakit dito inilagay ang shrine but I am more and more convinced that the Blessed Mother wants to be here. Dinagdagan pa ni Bishop Ruperto Santos na paminsan-minsan naglalayas ang Mahal na Birhen ng Orani at nagpapasyal towards the mountains,” Gonzales said.
He said the bishop wanted a Holy Rosary walk from the topmost area of the shrine down to the grotto.
“Sabi ng mga pari, in this place kahit lumalakad ka lang para ka ng nagdarasal. When you look at the mountains, the trees, the beautiful surroundings, the weather, you feel you are already sa kalagitnaan papunta sa Diyos,” Gonzales mused.
He said that from afar can be seen Manila Bay, the Mall of Asia, “the trees and everything beautiful.” From the shrine comes into full view a big cross inbetween the dense trees.
“We did not build this. Nilalakaran lang ginawa namin, the rest is God’s. Every aspect of the place would remind you of the magnificence of what God created for us,” the former secretary said, adding that visitors have just to pray and need not pay any entrance fee.
500 hectares slated
Gonzales said the present site of the shrine is 1.7 hectares but it will be expanded: “Ang shrine only 1.7 hectares pero ang buong proyekto sa vision ni bishop ay 500 ektarya kasi kailangang proteksiyunan ang kabundukan. Kapag nawala ang kakahuyan, mag-iiba ang character ng shrine.”
Bishop Santos wanted another shrine in the middle of the forest with the Blessed Virgin and her son, Jesus adjacent to each other.
Along the route, concrete steps will be constructed so motorcycles cannot enter. “Dapat lakad lang para maproteksyunan ang gubat dahil dadaan sa ilalim ng gubat,” Gonzales said.
He said that the bishop wanted a place where the youth especially can meet and so a convention center will be constructed in Mount Sta. Rita, an area near the mountains.
“Ang gusto namin mapanatili ang character ng shrine which is religious, pagpapasalamat sa Diyos, pag–appreciate na ang lahat sa paligid ay gawa ng Diyos,” Gonzales said, writing off any cable car installation at the site.
He added that residents of Tala are emotional in the protection of the environment.
“Ang focus natin ay Holy Family – Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Kahit sino ka, saan ka, iisang family tayo. Bataan is a family,” Santos said.
Lawyer Marie Gonzales, daughter of the former secretary, said the shrine was constructed during the lockdown.
“Talagang parang mensahe mula sa itaas, talagang plano ng Panginoon sa panahong ito. Naisip siguro ng Panginoon na sa panahon ng Covid–19 kailangang magbigay ng pag-asa o pagpapatibay ng loob. For me and other people, parang mensahe talaga mula sa itaas,” Marie said.
The elder Gonzales stressed that one of the most important institutions of our country is the Church: “Kapag ang gobyerno ay hindi tumatanaw sa mga batayan ng major policies sa pagpapatakbo ng pamahalaan, sa nakikita ko walang patutunguhan, Kailangan may foundation. Sa Pilipinas ang pinaka–importanteng batayan ay ang ating pananampalataya.”
Gonzales and family are donating to the Diocese of Balanga headed by Bishop Santos more than 500 hectares of land, purchased from individual owners, and everything in the shrine.
Fr. Perry Medina said Bataan will soon gain the title “Pilgrimage Center of the Philippines” with various shrines and pilgrimage sites in the province. Aside from having seven pilgrim churches – Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Balanga City, Pilar, and Orion – there are shrines in Morong, Abucay, Hermosa and now, in Orani.
