Pope John Paul II Tower: Bacolod's Sacred Landmark

It's the third week of my month-long vacation in the Philippines. My whole body, most especially my brain, is on a hiatus! As much as I need to write a vacation update, I didn't know how and where to start! Well, I guess I have to stop lazing around for I got a lot of escapades to share.

In case you don't know, I was born and raised in Negros Occidental, a province located in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. My hometown, Silay City, is known to be the "Paris of Negros". 21 km away from Silay is Negros Occidental's capital, Bacolod, also known as the "City of Smiles". The province's growth is in full swing. There's always something new to see every time I come home. Last week, I had the chance visit one of the prominent landmarks in Bacolod, the Pope John Paul II Tower.

I have watched the tower from afar the last time I went home for vacation. I wanted to visit since then, but didn't had the time since Ed and I were too busy with our wedding preparations. This time, I didn't let the opportunity pass.

Pope John Paul II Tower was inaugurated last February 18, 2010. The tower stands on the exact site where the Pope celebrated the Eucharist before the assembly of almost a million people on February 20, 1981. 

The tower has seven floors. Each floor has photos and memorabilia of the Pope. There is a store of religious items and souvenirs on the ground floor. Visitors can either take the stairs or use the lift to go to the 7th floor. As my parents were with me, we rode the elevator going up and took the stairs on our way down to see the mementos in every level.

The tower stands at the reclamation area in BREDCO (Bacolod Real Estate Development Corporation). It is the only tall structure in the area, so the deck at the 7th floor offers an amazing panoramic view of Bacolod! There is Bacolod Baywalk on one side, SM city and the busy downtown area on the other.

I expected the place to be a solemn sanctuary since the tower is dedicated to Pope John Paul II, I was surprised to see the exact opposite at the summit. There were young couples, mostly high school students, who treated the place as a romantic dating spot! It was really disturbing to see teenagers cuddling in a sacred place. 

that's my Dad and a couple snuggling 

We left the viewing deck as the sun was about to set. We took the stairs from the summit to the ground floor and saw keepsakes and religious paintings on our way down. Even the Papal Chair, used as the pontifical throne by Pope John Paul II  during his pastoral visit to Bacolod, is displayed on one of the floors.

Pope John Paul II Tower is a must-visit landmark in the city. I just hope the management can do something about the improper behavior of some teen visitors. When I come home next year, I want to visit again and see the tower the way I wish it should be. As the tower's Vision-Mission states: "The Pope John Paul II Tower is a pilgrimage center that embodies and perpetuates the ideas, life, advocacies, commitment and holiness of Pope John Paul II-an ardent Promoter of the culture of life and the culture of love."

Entrance Fee:

P20 for regular visitors

P10 for students

Location:

Pope John Paul II Tower

Reclamation Area, BREDCO

beside SM City Bacolod

Bacolod City, Negros Occidental