Lifted from http://www.cbcpnews.com/papalvisit/?p=1454
TACLOBAN City, Jan. 11, 2015 – A classic altar with touches of Filipino design is ready for Pope Francis in Tacloban, along with three papal chairs that he can choose from.
The altar is classic with the usual 3 meters x 1 x 1 rectangular size but with some distinct Filipino elements, such as in the columns of the table that bear bamboo designs, said Fr. Alvin Nicolasora, the one in-charge of the papal mass altar.
The committee decided against an elaborate altar table design because after the papal visit, the said altar will be used in the church located in the lower grounds of the Gonzaga House in Brgy. Arado, Palo, Leyte.
Popular icons
According to Nicolasora, the altar table and papal chairs are financed and donated by the Philippine Chamber of Furnitures, led by Nicholas De Laange of Designs Ligna.
The entire stage that will hold the altar will generally be made of collapsible metal riggings with an overlay of designs, all at minimal cost.
The design, which features a 40 feet tall and 30 x 12 meter-wide stage that will have sawali (split bamboo mats) as stage riggings, was approved by the Vatican and created by an architectural firm commissioned by the Archdiocese of Palo.
The altar backdrop will be plain, but meaningful due to the icons placed against the altar, ones that are frequently used in popular devotions.
At the very center will be the wooden cross that is used in the Palo Cathedral on Good Fridays and on either side of it are the miraculous image of the Sr. Sto. Niño of Tacloban, the one on display at the retablo of the newly rededicated Sto. Niño Church and the image of Our Lady of Hope, donated by famous sculptor Willy Layug.
‘Bahay-kubo’
Nicolasora said aside from the altar that will be guarded before and after the papal Mass, the Blessed Sacrament will be secured in a tent and later on transferred to the Palo Cathedral after the papal Mass.
The roofing of the altar takes a more native look. In a web log, Dan Lichauco, partner in charge of the construction of the stage, disclosed that stage is “made with an apex to mimic a bahay kubo. We wanted to show the strong Filipino character without being over-decorated.”
He added: “The stage preparations will be underway as early as 10 days prior,” with the stage leaving Manila on Jan. 7 and “should be set-up by the 14th if all goes well.”
Nicolasora emphasized the simplicity of all the necessary things for the altar and even the sacristy, which although air-conditioned is made from collapsible material.
Special linens
He said this is in keeping with the Pope’s call that the preparations should be at simple and at less cost.
According to Nicolasora, the Archdiocese has to obtain new items for the altar such as the chalice and 500 ciboria that will be needed for Holy Communion.
Nicolasora, a priest in-charge of St. Jose Maria Escriva Mission Station in Tacloban City, said these items and possibly the liturgical garbs that Pope Francis will use in the concelebrated Tacloban Mass will be kept on display in a museum after the event.
As of now there is a repository of similar liturgical garments and consecrated items kept in a museum at the Archdiocesan Chancery in Palo.
The linens, he added, might be sourced from Iloilo, sewn by patients recovering from leprosy. The institution is run by nuns and the linens will be sanitized before shipment. (Eileen Nazareno-Ballesteros/CBCPNews)