PALABO: THE ST. VINCENT FERRER PRAYER PARK

 

PALABO: THE ST. VINCENT FERRER PRAYER PARK

by Resty S. Odon

 

A project that probably no one else in Bayambang had ever conceived before is the St. Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park. The mere thought of a gigantic statue rising in a rustic town like Bayambang – not of Jesus Christ or the Blessed Virgin Mary, but of a patron saint – and one touted to be taller than the Christ the Redeemer in Sao Paolo, Brazil and the Statue of Liberty in New York City was preposterous, the real threat of quakes and typhoons notwithstanding.

 

But in a simple ceremony on June 20, 2018 at its site in Brgy. Bani, the project indeed broke ground for all eyes to see, one of St. Vincent Ferrer, and it was to be made of a steel frame and, what is probably even more head-shaking, it was to be covered in ‘engineered’ bamboo panels from China. With this statue, Bayambang was eyeing to clinch another title in the Guinness Book of World Records after clinching the record for the world’s longest barbeque grill in 2014.

 

Little by little, the work went round the clock to beat the deadline: March 31, 2019, to give ample time for the official unveiling on the succeeding date of April 5, during the quadricentennial of the St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Bayambang and the 600th "birth date in heaven" of the esteemed patron.

 

The 51-meter statue was to be the centerpiece of the Prayer Park, which features a chapel near the base of the statue, fountains in front, candle shed, business stalls, landscaped gardens and wide open spaces conducive to meditation and recreation and an overall design that can be described as sleek, modern, and minimalist, yet awe-inspiring.

 

The contractor chosen for the project was Far East Industrial Supply & Company (FEISCO), whose one notable major project in its portfolio is Manila’s first Skyway. JQS Builders, together with RAA–Architects, Engineers & Consultancy Services, were the architectural/design team, with assistance from Palafox Associates to determine the best location.

 

Modern technology was instrumental in making this project a reality. Two models were considered for the statue: a life-like model and an abstract one, and the latter was the one approved. One of the first challenges faced by those involved at the planning stage was visualizing the placement of the bamboo panels on the statue. This was solved by getting the help of Puzzlebox 3D with its cutting-edge three-dimensional printing technology.

 

Another question that everyone wanted to ask was, "Will bamboo be a wise choice? What about the sun, rain, wind, and possible termite attack?" But everyone was assured that the bamboo tiles, imported all the way from China, had been treated in such a way that "they are stronger than steel," thus the term "engineered bamboo." The bamboo strips had to go through pest and decay prevention, carbonization, moisture balancing, strip milling, strand weaving, extreme pressure treatment, and finishing.

 

The naming of this colossal project has an equally interesting background. Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao, in his State of the Municipality Address of 2017, stated that the idea behind the project was originally that of his wife Mary Clare Judith Phyllis Niña Jose-Quiambao, who thought of building a shrine in time for the twin celebration earlier stated.

 

However, St. Vincent Ferrer parish priest Fr. Allen Romero cautioned against the use of the word shrine, as the term, he said, cannot be used anywhere without Vatican's prior approval. So a meeting was called at the Municipal Conference Room, whereupon Mayor Quiambao suggested that it be named St. Vincent Ferrer Park. After a frantic research for alternative terms using online thesauruses accessed by Google search came other suggestions such as "prayer monument," "prayer garden" (Fr. Romero's suggestion), etc. Pointing out the loss of the monumental nature of the project with the use of "garden" and just with the word "park" added on, one objector suggested that it must be "St. Vincent Ferrer [something else] Park," and thus was born the name "St. Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park," which Mayor Quiambao himself had the honor of suggesting, with the whole body in unanimous approval.

 

Another discussion during the planning stage centered on whether to place or not to place a lighted halo over the head of the statue, in compliance with a national regulation requiring tall structures to have a danger signal light on top for low-lying aircraft. Doing away with the halo won, while complying with the regulation.

 

Initially estimated to have a cost of P80 million, the project's cost bloated to P247 million in the end, a project that required hundreds of workers. The sponsors shouldering 100% of the cost were listed as Stradcom, Kasama Kita sa Barangay Foundation Inc. (KKSBFI), and CSFirst Green – essentially code words for Dr. Quiambao's private funds.

 

It must be noted that the land the Prayer Park occupies has been hobbled by a dispute between the donor of the land, the legal claimant Engr. Abelardo Palad, and a number of residents who claim to have been occupying the property as farmers for several decades. Of course, the gargantuan statue project did not escape criticism from a few members of the public after mistaking the local government as the source of the funding, saying it is a wrongful prioritization of public spending on infrastructure projects.

 

Despite all these, the projected forged ahead.

 

During the groundbreaking ceremony, a time capsule, wherein the message of Mayor Quiambao and other materials relevant to the event were placed, was buried on the site of the ceremony. It will be opened on June 20, 2029, exactly 10 years after the momentous event.

 

“Now we are creating a landmark for people to remember and recognize Bayambang,” Mayor Quiambao announced. In the eyes of Fr. Romero, however, the park is meant to be “a beautiful place where people can go and have peace of mind, where pilgrims from different places can visit, and where people can pray and meditate and venerate our patron.” Vice-Mayor Raul R. Sabangan added that, with the Prayer Park, Bayambang will not only be known as the fifth capital of the Philippines or the record holder for the world’s longest barbeque grill, it will also be known as the religious town where the tallest statue of St. Vincent Ferrer in the entire world can be found.

 

But more than a sculptural and artistic engineering feat, more than an unprecedented privately funded project, the St. Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park is a gift, in thanksgiving to God’s provision and prodigious blessings through the miraculous intercession of St. Vincent Ferrer, and ultimately a symbol of Bayambangueños' deep faith.