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“If we can’t bring the Pope to go around the Philippines, we will bring the Philippines and its elements close to the Pope,” Rev. Alex Bautista, designer of the altar said at the press briefing on Monday. He is also the chair of the Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church in the Diocese of Tarlac.
According to Jocelyn R. Uy of Philippine Daily Inquirer, “the altar at which Pope Francis will say Mass at Rizal Park on Jan 18 will not be decked with flowers but with colorful plants that can be found in backyards in rural Philippines.”
The wooden altar will have a marble top that came from Romblon. It will feature anahaw patterns to symbolize the strength of the Filipino people. A white linen cloth, spun from Bulancan’s piña fiber, will cover the altar table.
The report continues: “The canopy will feature Bulacan’s arts and crafts, while the altar will be adorned with San Francisco and Pandan plants.”
Apart from serving the liturgical purpose, Bautista explains that the concept is to “have Filipino character and reflect the simplicity of the Vicar of Christ.”
Meanwhile, the stage where Pope Francis will say mass in Tacloban is inspired by the bahay kubo.
Photo: Screengrab from Philippine Daily Inquirer
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