White cross among the green trees serves as focal point of photo of two visitors at the shrine. Photo by Ernie Esconde
ORANI, Bataan — More than 2,000 visitors at the Santuario Diocesano Del Sagrada Familia in Barangay Tala here were already registered as of 11 a.m. Sunday and it was expected that the number will balloon to more than 5,000 in the afternoon.
Christian Provido, one of the ushers, said this was the biggest crowd so far recorded in a day to come to the 1.7-hectare shrine at the foot of Mount Natib. “Pinakamarami ngayon,” he said.
The visitors pay respect, pray, and pose for picture-taking at the grotto of the Virgen Milagrosa Del Rosario at a ravine some 30 meters deep from the barangay road. From the base of the stairs can be seen at a distance among the thick trees a big cross.
Provido said from the entrance, the grotto is accessible by hiking through the 180-step concrete stairs and to exit through the other stairs of 312 steps.
Former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, donor of the land and the shrine, has said that to help the elderly, an elevator will be constructed.
No entrance fee was collected but ushers and usherettes were strict in asking visitors follow social distancing and wear face masks. Guests were required to register and their hands disinfected with alcohol.
“Hindi lang sa sobrang ganda kundi unique talaga. Maraming puno, maganda talaga na kahit sino puwedeng pumunta. Babalik kami rito kahit araw-araw,” Shandon Canare of Quezon City said.
Gonzales, also former secretary of the national defense, in a past interview with Bishop Ruperto Santos, talked about the expansion project of the shrine being prepared for the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines.
“Ang shrine sa ngayon ay 1.7 ektarya pa lamang pero ang proyekto sa vision ni Bishop ay aabutin ng 500 ektarya kasi kailangang proteksiyunan ang kabundukan. Mag-iiba ang character ng shrine kapag nasira ang kabundukan,” Gonzales said.
