The Peñafrancia Festival is considered as the most popular Marian Celebration in the Philippines. Marian devotees and Bicolanos from different parts of the world unite in faith to demonstrate their great devotion to the beloved “INA” (Mother) and Patroness of Bicol – the Our Lady of Peñafrancia.” But where can these thousands, if not millions, of devotees go, before and after the festivities? Through the divine intercession of the Patroness of the Bicol Region, and collaboration of her devotees worldwide, we now have a closer answer … the Marian World Mission Sanctuary, located in Libmanan, Camarines Sur.

An International Religious Pilgrimage and Tourism Destination

Catering to millions of devotees and pilgrims to the Virgin from all over the world, her pilgrims can now visualize all Marian apparitions in all countries where she miraculously appeared, or countries where there have been long history of Marian devotions. Chronologically arranged from her first apparition in Spain in 40AD to Medjugorje in recent times, all her apparitions and devotions worldwide are enshrined in the oratory chapels in the monolithic domes formed into a giant replica of the Most Holy Rosary, the largest and the only place in the world.  It is an ideal religious pilgrimage and tourism destination for Our Lady of Peñafrancia with millions of global followers like Our Lady Fatima in Portugal, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, and Our Lady of Lourdes in France.

A Response to the Call for Evangelization for Salvation of Souls

Heeding the urgent call of Our Lady of Fatima in 1917 for conversion and penance, the founder of this Mission envisioned the construction of a Christ-centered Sanctuary of the Most Holy Rosary to serve as (1) a new pathway for evangelization particularly in Asia where Christians have remained a very small minority of its 4.8 billion population, and (2) a destination for penitential pilgrimages leading mankind to the heart of the Gospel.  An integral part of this Sanctuary is the Fatima Center to host missionaries to and families from Asian countries to deepen their theological knowledge and Faith and be inspired and spiritually equipped to spread the gospels back to their homes and communities by living the life of Christ and by building more churches in remote places in close coordination with their Bishops and church hierarchies.

The Marian World Mission Sanctuary in the Making

Since its ground blessing by Bishop José R. Rojas, Jr. D.D. on September 8, 2013, visitors from as far as Europe and the United States have started visiting the magnificent Roman Pillars of the Apostles and Our Lady of the Pillar, the majestic Three Crosses on top of the 117-step legendary Bulalacao Hill in Libmanan, Camarines Sur. From a distance, one can glimpse at the on-going construction of the structures of the most unique replica of the Most Holy Rosary, the largest in the world, gradually shaping up through the generous contributions of donors around the globe.  The cornerstone of the Sanctuary is a gigantic Holy Rosary where pilgrims can physically enter. From the Crucifix and Rosary beads formed into domes, it is a mile walk of prolonged meditation on the Life, Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus. By the grace of God and intercession of Our Lady of Fatima, the Mission aims to open the Sanctuary to international pilgrims by its target date May 13, 2027, the 110^th anniversary of her apparitions at Fatima, Portugal.

An Invitation to be Part of the Making of the Sanctuary

As Pope Saint John Paul II urged the Laity “to take an active, conscientious and responsible part in the mission of the Church, for they not only belong to the Church, but are the Church” the Marian World Mission is open to all to participate in the creation of the Sanctuary through sponsorship and donations for the construction of all its structures.  Please see the websites below for details.  This Sanctuary is being made ready to be within the standards of international religious tourism destinations around the world comparable to similar destinations. This includes a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere most conducive to religious activities of pilgrims and missionaries as observed in other well-patronized religious pilgrimage sites.  This also includes government support in infrastructures, road access, all transportation, electricity, water system, modern communication technologies, security, as well as hospital, and healthcare facilities for pilgrim emergencies.

Please visit: www.marianworldmissioninasia.org and www.fatimaofasia.org for more details on the Mission, its vision for long term development for evangelization which includes the Grottoes of the Old and New Testament Biblical events, the  Grottoes of Saints, and the  Pillars of Popes.  Adjoining the Sanctuary would be the Fatima Center, an educational, training and retreat center for international missionaries. It will develop more attractions like the religious pilgrimage river cruises from Peñafrancia Basilica in Naga City to the Sanctuary through an hour boat ride through the pristinely calm Bicol River.

Rosary Globes – Work in Progress

The gallery below shows images of the Rosary globes work in progress. Each globe, which is made of reinforced concrete measuring on outside 6 meters high (about 20 feet) by 8 meters diameter (about 26 feet), is designed for quiet prayer and reflection. There is a small altar surrounded by mosaic walls and a stained glass skylight all depicting religious figures. The religious art works are done by the foremost Bicolano artist Pancho Piano. The construction of the Rosary globes and other infrastructure within the Sanctuary provide employment to the local skilled workers in Libmanan.

The gallery below shows images of work in progress of the Rosary domes, which are oratory chapels. Each dome, which is made of reinforced concrete measuring on outside 6 meters high (about 20 feet) by 8 meters diameter (about 26 feet), is designed for quiet prayer and reflection. There are life-size statues portraying a biblical or gospel event at the center of each dome. They are surrounded by murals and mosaic walls depicting related biblical events or characters. At the oculus of each dome is a stained glass skylight of the Holy Spirt replicating the same image seen at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The murals and mosaic religious art works are done by the famous Bicolano artist Pancho Piano. The statues are done by sculptor, Sam Angelo Cayanan, from Bulacan. The construction of the Rosary domes and other infrastructures within the Sanctuary provide employment to local skilled workers in Libmanan. As of this writing, 13 dome shells out of 60 dome have been built and 2 have completed interiors.

View the Dome Interiors

Opening of the Sanctuary for Pilgrimages

Officially, the Marian World Sanctuary will be opened to the public/pilgrimages by May 13, 2027, on the 110^th anniversary of the Marian apparitions in Fatima, Portugal. Prior to opening, subject to weather conditions, visitors may arrange with the MWM President based in the Philippines, a private tour of the Sanctuary, except areas where there are on-going construction.

How to Travel to the Sanctuary

Following are direction for Pilgrims/Visitors from international and domestic origins.

International Pilgrimages

1. Before departure from originating country, book hotel accommodation with transport services from the airport to the hotel (see suggested hotels below)
2. Send email to Marian World Mission guest relations contact (see below) for arrival dates and plans to visit the Sanctuary
3. From the originating country, take airline flights to Manila International Airport, with connecting flights to Bicol International Airport or Naga Airport
4. From Bicol International Airport or Naga Airport, take pre-arranged shuttle to the hotel
5. Upon arrival, contact the Marian World Mission guest relations to arrange for transport and escort to the Sanctuary (see below)
6. Meet with Marian World Mission guest relations team at the Main Entrance Pillars of Our Lady of the Pillar and the Apostles, for registration and other details

Domestic Pilgrimages

1. Before departure from originating city in the Philippines, book hotel accommodation with shuttle transport services from the airport to the hotel (see hotels below)
2. Send email to Marian World Mission guest relations contact email (see below) for arrival dates and plans to visit the Sanctuary
3. For pilgrims traveling by air: From originating city/town in the Philippines, take either airline flights to Manila International Airport, with connecting flights to Bicol International Airport or Naga Airport; and upon arrival, take pre-arranged shuttle transport to the hotel
4. For pilgrims traveling by land: (a) On private transportation – Drive from Manila to the South Luzon Express Way, Maharlika Highway going to the pre-arranged hotel in Naga City, Camarines Sur; (b) On public bus transportation – Book ticket from Peñafrancia Tours or Isarog Line bound for Naga City, Camarines Sur
5. Upon arrival at the airport or bus station, contact the hotel for shuttle service or take taxi to the hotel.
6. Contact the Marian World Mission guest relations to confirm date and time of visit and arrange for transport and escort to the Sanctuary (see below)
7. Meet with Marian World Mission guest relations team at the Main Entrance Pillars of Our Lady of the Pillar and the Apostles, for registration and other details
8. Visitors/pilgrims shall comply with the MWM Visitation Rules and Procedures

How to contact the Sanctuary Guest Relations

Prior to the Opening of the Sanctuary, visitors may contact the following:  

Art Cantos, MWM President – by phone: 0917-901-5621; by messenger: Art Cantos; by email, artcantos@yahoo.com

Mark Credo, MWM Property Manager – by phone: 0939-399-7377; by messenger: Mark Anthony Bodiao Alibanto, by email: babol_mac@yahoo.com

Upon opening of the Sanctuary, pilgrims/visitors/travel tours and agencies may contact the following:

MWM Guest Relations Management Office – (contact info to be provided)

Suggested Hotels

Prior to the opening of the Fatima Center where visitors may reserve condotel accommodations, visitors may consider staying in the following accredited hotels in Naga City: VILLA CACERES HOTEL, AVENUE PLAZA HOTEL, SUMMIT HOTEL NAGE, and ROBERTSON HOTEL. Please visit their respective websites for reservations or more information.

How to Donate to the Marian World Foundation Inc.

DONATE NOW and be part of the Christ-Centered Sanctuary of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Evangelization and Salvation of Souls. As of this writing, $285,565 have been raised towards their $1 million goal from 173 supporters.

About The Founder of The Marian World Mission

Drawn to pensive moments pondering why in 1917 our Blessed Mother came down from Heaven and asked the visionary children at Fatima to pray the Rosary daily, Armando Garchitorena Remo, Jr. (Jun Remo for short) envisioned a gigantic replica of the Most Holy Rosary for anyone to enter its beads formed into huge domes and discover what the Rosary is all about. Convinced that the Blessed Mother urged him to immediately undertake this enormous project, he and his wife, Elsie, consulted His Excellency Bishop José R. Rojas, Jr. D.D. of the Diocese of Libmanan and committed for this mission a significant portion of their real estate providentially bought in 1978. This was the same year when Karol Józef Wojtła of Poland, became Pope John Paul II, who later became the Pope of Fatima. By the Grace of God and the miraculous intercession of Our Lady of Fatima, the Mission officially began with the ground blessing officiated by Bishop José R. Rojas, Jr. D.D. on September 8^th, 2013, as a special gift to the Mother of God on the Feast Day of her Birth.

Jun Remo, a graduate of a Jesuit school, Ateneo de Naga, worked as bank executive for a Citibank-affiliated corporation in the Philippines. He later had the opportunity to work as a Comptroller in an American company allowing him and his family to migrate to the United States. A resident of Tampa, Florida since 1991, Jun Remo along with his wife, Elizabeth Elsie Joven Remo, a graduate of Colegio de Sta. Isabel, and their children Liezelle, Anne Catherine, John Paul, and Joseph Michael, now in their respective professional careers, formed in September 2012, a Florida-based, non-profit religious foundation named Marian World Foundation, Inc. with the sole objective of establishing the Marian World Mission Sanctuary as envisioned.  After years of planning and preparations, the construction of the Sanctuary finally began on October 8^th, 2016, the month of the Rosary, with the professional help of Architect Arnel Paranal, and Engr. Filomeno Martirez, both graduates of Ateneo de Naga.