DOT commissions EDSA architect to build First Mass Shrine

By BONG PEDALINO, PIA Southern Leyte
February 3, 2012

LIMASAWA ISLAND, Southern Leyte  –  A well-known architect who created the famous People Power monument at Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Manila has been commissioned by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to build a sculpture depicting the First Mass in this island-municipality.

This was learned from Limasawa Mayor Melchor Petracorta in a recent interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

According to Petracorta, renowned Architech Nene Miranda was tasked by the tourism department to make the First Mass image with a height of 32 feet at the public plaza in barangay Magallanes near the public stage.

The perspective of the upcoming artwork was already finished in the last quarter last year, Petracorta said, adding that this was due for implementation this year, hopefully in time for the annual observance of the First Mass celebration on March 31.

The DOT set aside a budget of P7 million for this undertaking, the Mayor also said.

Based on historical accounts, the group of Ferdinand Magellan, a Portugeese navigator under the services of Spain, sighted the island while they were on their long, uncharted voyage to look for spices in the East.

It was a Holy Thursday when they landed in Limasawa island, and on the succeeding Sunday, an Easter Sunday, March 31, 1521, they celebrated the Holy Eucharist in the shore of what is now barangay Magallanes, and afterwards planted a Cross on top of the highest hill.