Shrine of Healing (Dambana ng Paghilom)

“Because remembrance is also a form of justice.” For its architect, the miniscule footprint of Dambana far outscales the value the project had for him as he ponders his craft. The stark architecture, from its simple geometries and spare material palette, quickly guide the visitor’s eye to three symbols within the circular void, that of the boulder, the cross, and the blindfolded icon of Mary, Mother of God. “The decision to leave it open was deliberate,” says Nazareno. “There was initial pushback from our clients regarding this move, but it was vital to our spatial narrative that it be kept open. The deaths of its occupants happened in darkness and secrecy. This space had to be the opposite and be a place of light and revelation.” Surrounding its smooth concrete walls are a bed of loose gravel one-inch deep, which, according to Nazareno is symbolic of the anguish and turmoil that burdened the dead and the bereaved. “The journey to healing is often an uncomfortable one,” the architect shares. Soon the audible crunch of the 2-meter-wide expanse of gravel underfoot gives way to smooth concrete. A blade-thin metal frame marks one’s entry into the space, a circular void that is at once limited and boundless. It was conceived to be a sanctuary of remembrance and solace, a structure of stark architectural purity for those whose turbulent lives were unjustly taken, a solemn, peaceful home beneath an open sky for the bereaved to gather, grieve, and heal. The memorial opened on May 1, 2024, an emotional moment that saw hundreds of mourners, two senators and several foreign diplomats gather under intense media and police scrutiny. The resulting structure that emerged from our drawing boards aims to astound with its spareness and lack of ceremony. In effect, the Dambana ng Paghilom stands out as a centrally located cubic volume that is monumental not in size but with its austerity and embrace of the elements.