The Mother of All Asia in Batangas is a towering religious destination in Pagkalinawan, Batangas, that is a monument, sculpture, and shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary “as a symbol of unity and peace in Asia and the whole world.”
And while it was conceptualized primarily as a place of worship, the establishment has since attracted not only the faithful, but tourists interested in checking out the place’s impressive built and architecture.
The tower alone makes it one of the most iconic structures in the country, making it an instant landmark. At 322 feet (or 98.15 meters), the Mother of All Asia is the 9th tallest statue in the world—eclipsing in height the famous Statue of Liberty in New York and the Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.
It’s also the tallest statue of the Virgin Mary in the world, surpassing the Virgin of Peace statue in Venezuela. The statue is so tall, it’s visible from many kilometers away.
Its height though isn’t the only thing that sets it apart from other towering structures. It one-ups the rest of the other tall statues by being the only livable statue in the world. You read that right—you can live in the actual Tower of Peace, whose height is equivalent to a 33-storey building.
Having livable spaces shouldn’t come as a surprise though, considering that the long-term plan for the area is to “create a walkable friendly community with covered pathways interconnecting all the buildings and religious theme park attractions, landscaped gardens, and waterways planted with different species of shade and fruit bearing trees.” Sounds awesome, if you ask us.
Constructed atop an elevation of 148 meters above sea level, the statue overlooks the Verde Island Passage, reputed to be “the center of the center of marine biodiversity of the world,” and welcomes all domestic and international seafaring vessels entering and seeking refuge in the serene calm waters of Batangas Bay.
What makes the Mother of All Asia even more majestic is that it’s part of the Montemaria International Pilgrimage & Conference Center, a massive pilgrimage and retreat/retirement estate, which measures about 130-hectare.
Construction of the Tower of Peace began in 2013 and was completed several months ago, just in time for the celebration of the 500th year of Christianization and globalization of the Philippines. Unfortunately, lockdown restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the site’s closure to the public for the time being.