The Architecture of the Chapel​

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The shape of the main body of the Church as seen from a bird's eye view is that of a dove in flight towards the east with the sanctuary as its head and the entrance as its tail. The wings on the sides are suggestions made out of the pointed eaves. This configuration envelops the sanctuary and everything that is within. The steel structure fronting the carport depicts the bamboo "engramada" the local version of the welcome arch usually popped up during barrio fiestas. This embellishments and the stone tablet at the entrance commemorating the church consecration by Archbishop Oscar Cruz reveals from the outset the theological understanding of its purpose.

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THE ALTAR:  The chapel was built around the altar and rightly so since the altar is the focus of the Church's liturgical life.  The aisle is at an angle so that the altar is aligned towards the eastern orientation where the sun rises as demonstrated by many Catholic churches in the past. The Altar Table is basically made of Romblon marble but incorporated with a "solsolan" from a solid piece of tree trunk which the farmers use to pound harvested rice to segregate the chaff before winnowing. It is also a reminder for the congregation when they ask for the daily bread as they pray the Pater Noster. Within the space of the sanctuary are the important elements, the priests' Chair or "Cathedra", the crucifix and the Gospel Ambo or the lectern and the most Holy Sacrament the Eucharist which is kept in the Tabernacle.

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THE TABERNACLE: Which contains the Holy Eucharist is appropriately located in the center of the sanctuary because it is the "beating heart of the Church". As Pope Paul VI pronounced it, the tabernacle being an extension of the altar of sacrifice connect other important features of the sanctuary which is the altar table and the Corpus Christie or the Crucifix. The play of volumes and spaces within, can only lead the eyes to these three main elements of the sanctuary, the altar table, the Crucifix and the Tabernacle. And if the Eucharist is to be expressed as the center of the community then where is it better to locate than in the middle of the sanctuary?

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THE RELICS: Sacred Relics of saints deposited on the altar of the church as is the practice of the early Christians are found embedded and brass framed on the altar table. It's a way of giving honor tot he triumphant victims so that they may be in the same place as our Lord who is a victim Himself. The Sacred Relics were sourced personally from the MONASTERIO AGOSTIMANO de S. Lucia in Rome. These are as follows: St. VIncent Ferrer, St. Francis of Assisi, St. John the Baptist, St. Anthony de Padua, Sts. Cosmas and Damian, St. Benedict, St. Dominique, St. Padre Pio, St. Peter and St. Paul and St. Therese of Lisiuex.

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THE CRUCIFIX: Since the Mass is a holy sacrifice, it is then intrinsically and inseparably connected to the Crucifixion, thus the main icon of the liturgy is the crucifix. The main icon of the Lord's body upon the Cross symbolizes the whole meaning of the Mass. This serves to remind the faithful of their obligation to share in Christ's suffering. The body of the image was done in a single piece of "baticulin", a specie of wood found in the Philippines and has the natural color of a dead man's skin so there was no varnishing or painting needed on the sculpture. The Bible says that Jesus was crowned with marine thorns shaped in the form of a basket and forced into the scalp of his head as revealed in the studies of the shroud. This material abounds most on the shores of a river in our barangay called Banoang River or Limahong Channel, the same materials that one may see in the Chapel of the Resurrection Crucifix.

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THE ANGELS: The three important elements, the Altar, the Tabernacle and the Crucifix are given further importance and a higher level of reverence in its central location within the Church as emphasized by the position of the Archangels St. Gabriel, St. Judiel, St. Sieltiel and St. Uriel. The Angels serve as special 'guards' to the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar which is the tabernacle containing the Eucharist. The entire area of the sanctuary is watched by the fifth Archangel St. Michael in his position, high above the door of the sacristy St. Rafael, whose role is to guide travelers and heal the spiritually impaired Pilgrims journey as they enter into the house of God for a much deserved rest, while St. Barachiel, to the rear right of Our Lady of Guadalupe, watches over the pilgrims with a breadbasket ready to feed the hungry and to give consolation to the weary.

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THE RESURRECTION: Is symbolically depicted in the 7' tall cast bronze statue of Christ (at the upper left wall of the santuary) as to ascend into Heaven, the biggest of its kind in the entire region.

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The iconography of the structure is then achieved and embellished through the artistic expressions of the interiors done by various artists and craftsmen who came forth and were inspired to contribute their share of time and talent under a powerful divine inspiration.

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PAINTINGS (MURAL, STATIONS OF THE CROSS):  Following tradition from Ancient churches as repository of art works as with specific purposes, the chapel of the resurrection houses a pair of 2m x 5m long murals depicting the events that led to the barangay's unified effort to build the church both from the standpoint of organizing the people as the church and harnessing all the talents to put up the edifice. This could be the biggest oil painted mural on treated sawali in the entire region if not in the entire country. The artist, Norman Dreo, accepted the challenge and made studies and compositions based on stories and photographs gathered over a span of 2 years.

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CHURCH ART AND STRUCTURE: The church draws its inspiration from heaven, thus the art within as expressed by human hands attempts to shine forth to dedicate itself towards the promotion of the Gospel, and the infinite beauty of God inspiring us in a tangible way a glimpse of the ultimate joy of salvation.

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