Devotion to Divine Mercy Growing in the Philippines

The devotion to the Divine Mercy in the Philippines continues to grow, as seen in the increasing number of diocesan and archdiocesan Divine Mercy Shrines throughout the archipelago.

According to the Association of Catholic Shrines in the Philippines, there are currently 14 shrines dedicated to the Divine Mercy: six in Luzon, three in the Visayas, and five in Mindanao.

In Cebu, a Divine Mercy Shrine is set to rise in Barangay Garing, Consolacion, on a 6.3-hectare lot donated by a former local government official to the Cebu Archdiocese. The shrine will feature a 130-foot statue of Jesus Christ set on a podium 800 feet above sea level. International urban planner and world-renowned architect Felino “Jun” Palafox was commissioned to handle the conceptual master planning, site development, and architectural engineering. Although both parties reached an agreement in January 2020, progress has been slow due to the pandemic and lack of funds. Recently, former Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma, now Administrator of the Archdiocese, appointed Monsignor Roberto Alesna to lead the fundraising efforts for the project.

Also to be added to the list of shrines is the Archdiocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy in Samal Island, a component city of Davao del Norte, also known as the Island Garden City of Samal, located just two kilometers from Davao City, the regional center of the Davao Region. Samal Island has a population of 116,771, including a significant number of indigenous people who are considered the island’s earliest settlers.

Architect and urban planner Felino Palafox designed the master plan, which was approved on July 18 during a ceremony attended by Palafox, Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, and officials of the Divine Mercy Apostolate Mindanao led by Joji Ilagan Bian.

“The master plan reflects a deep respect for the sacred purpose of the site while harmonizing with the natural beauty of Samal Island. The shrine will be a sacred place where people can encounter God’s mercy in silence, in nature, and in deep prayer,” said Bian.

She added that the project was a dream of her late mother, Celina Ilagan, founder of the Divine Mercy Apostolate in Mindanao.

The Divine Mercy Shrine project will be officially launched during the Philippine Apostolate Congress on Divine Mercy (PACOM) 2025, to be held in Davao City on August 28–30, 2025.