Brand New Simala

Over the weekend, I had the chance to visit the Monastery of the Holy Eucharist aka Simala Church in Baranggay Lindogon, Sibonga, Cebu. If you guys can still remember, a huge controversy rocked this church a few months back due to an incident made public by an ex-employee. Despite the controversy, the monastery is still considered one of the most popular (and most talked-about) religious structures on the island today. Take a look at some of the recent developments and changes in ‘Simala.’

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The Monastery of the Holy Eucharist aka Simala Church in Baranggay Lindogon, Sibonga, Cebu.

Let’s take a look at the same church two years ago.

After two years, the church now looks like this.

People waiting for their turn to kiss and pay homage to the image of Mama Mary.

The ‘ground’ floor of the original building now looks like the third floor of a  five-storey building.

I can imagine how grand it would look after the final coating.

Closer look. There’s the huge statue of Mama Mary.

To the right is a gigantic image of Sto. Niño de Cebu.

Braving the heat. I swear I almost passed out because I had to stay in the afternoon heat for at least two hours.

View of the sea from the balcony. Quite nice.

The awesome facade of Simala Church.

Gigantic statue of Mama Mary near the top.

Heavy human traffic just after the 10 am mass.

Nuns selling religious books and children’s books.

Bracelets sold just outside the church.

We’re almost there! Thank God!

The line is getting longer and longer. And this was taken at lunch time.

Someone left more than just her/his prayers in Simala. Hehehe.

I wonder what this small area is for. The guy in front of me said that it was for a machine which will take wheel chairs to the top. I say the space is too small for a wheelchair.

The balcony. The view is awesome.

Inside the church, you can still see bamboo scaffolds like this one.

The altar. Lovely.

Intricate painting on the celing done by hand.

The candle-lighting area.

Statue of Jesus Christ near the candle burning area.

Thank you letters! Wow. So many of them.

These are testimonial from Maritime students and graduates.

Shoes and sandals are not allowed inside the next chamber.

Even Pacquiao sent this petition.

Glass case containing wheel chairs donated by those who had been ‘healed.’

More testimonails from devotees.

Crutches on display.

To make sure that everything runs smoothly.

The structure is a work in progress. So, sights such as this, are quite common.

The main chamber where the image is stored.

The place is filled with a lot of people. Despite the number, the place is so quiet you can almost hear other peoples’ prayers.

Displayed: Mama Mary’s pervious dresses.

Beyond the chamber is a gallery of saints and other religious figures.

The figures were placed in huge glass cabinets.

A huge wooden ensemble. Wow. Really nice.

The Baby Mary or Niña Maria is one of the most photographed images in the gallery.

Another statue of Mama Mary and Jesus.

This one is wearing a traditional white dress.

The hat looks like a Korean hat.

A Crying Mary.

The one in the middle looks like it came from Japan or China.

A nun looks at the the images on display.

Visit the new SIMALA today!

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33 thoughts on “Brand New Simala

  1. Hi Billy, this monastery is amazing. heard of this church. in fact passed by the town last year when we took land trip from Amlan. didnt realize that the place is so fantastic!

  2. WOW!! what a change!!! Magnificent…
    It incourage me to visit there again, hopefully
    Thanks you very much Ley, despite ur in the sun for 2 hours,
    kalooy ba,

  3. Thx 4 the update Leyland. The miracle is where do these priests got the money to build such a grandiose structure? Simply amazing!

  4. This is looks more like business to me than religious piety. But no offense Ley. I just can’t believe how they put those well chairs to mislead people. I still can’t believe that people continue to come here even if this place is built to make more money that to please God.

  5. Are the statues in glass casing approved by the church? I mean, the 3 non-familiar statues standing together, and Baby Maria. First time I’ve seen these unlike the Mater Dolorosa, the Lady of Mt Carmel, the Lady of Fatima or the Virgin of Guadalupe among others which I can readily identify. First time too I’ve seen the Sto Nino placed above the front of a church which is not in his honor. This is a moniestery.. er monastery, right? The long queue but an ironic half empty chapel implies some message.

    Still this place looks good for tour or visit only and not for veneration.

    1. people go to ‘Simala’ for varied reasons. we can only guess why people go there. and whatever the reason, it is no longer our right to discuss.

      not to sound like im defending them or something, let me tell you what exactly happened.

      after the 10:30 am mass (which ended at around 12,) people lined up to touch/kiss the image behind the main altar. everyone left the main chapel and lined up. that explains why the chapel is almost empty. the next mass is at 1 or 1:30.

      lastly, yes, this place is a nice tourist attraction and all. but you can’t say that it serves ONLY that purpose. it’s like an insult to those who believe in this place and those who’ve found answers and have had their prayers ‘answered’ by coming there.

  6. @ jude if you criticise, do it lovingly. Of course you offend the devotee’s including myself. We’re a Catholic believers. For what HE gives us, we have to offer HIM back. We owe everything to HIM, including your life. So be HAPPY.

    1. @myrna: i am devotee too of our dear mother mary and I’m 200% catholic. but nowadays God is being used by a lot of peole and businesses to make more money that is where we have to draw the line in our faith. i had no problems with these monasteries and shrines as long as their intentions are real and that they will help us christians/catholics to grow in our faith. but look around you when you go to simala…isn’t this more a like a tourist attraction than a religious place of worship? look how grandeur is the place and yet when you get out of the monastery you see poverty in its different form. this is true anywhere in the world and philippines is not an exception. i am just being true to our faith as a catholic. remember not all who preach and talk about God are God’s emmissaries. there are those who use God to satisfy their own ulterior motives and you can see them everywhere these days. peace!

  7. Dear Jude,
    Like you I am a Marian devotee too!
    When I visit a Marian Shrine I dont mind
    the grandeur or the obscurity of the place
    for this just will distract me in my purpose
    of going there, to venerate Mother Mary.

    If the sight of the shrine leads us to question
    its “appropriateness” , then maybe we have to
    purify our intentions of going there!

    Or perhaps we are there “at the right place
    but on a wrong time” or vice versa.

    Good day to you!

  8. i admit nice ang place pero with all the unresolved controversy surrounding this place, i dont think i can still look at it as a place for divine worship of our beloved Mama Mary. i totally agree with jude 100%. and please lang, dont look at him as someone nga maoy negative diri sa comment section kay sa tinuod lang he’s just telling the truth. mas maayo pang musimba o muadto sa lugar nga dili ingon ana ka grandyoso basta lang limpyo ang binuhatan sa mga tawo didto.

  9. i was here last yr… it was nice and solemn then amid accusations…. afterall, its about your belief in GOD is what matters the most..

  10. ah, so Simala is not the actual town, but Sibonga is.. I probably just closed my mind in learning about this place for some personal reason… putting my prejudice aside hehe, it’s magnificent! i love the shot for your main photo in this post.. you mentioned about the controversy, I have no idea what that is.. so what was that about?

  11. I really don’t like the idea of all this fanciness for a monastery out of all things! Its too flamboyant. Plus really selling merchandises right at the entrance of the Church?! Posting testimonies in front of the Church for proof?! Showcasing Mother Mary’s clothes?!

    Have you ever seen some of the oldest, world-recognized, monasteries with connections to Christianity dating back centuries? They look nothing like this! Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Mount Sinai, Egypt is one of the holiest places in the Christian world, a UNESCO World Heritage site, it does not look or function like Simala. Same with Mount Athos, tourists aren’t even allowed!

    Filipinos need to realize to stop spending so much money on religious objects. Since when did material adoration become a sign of holiness? In my Catholic school here in North America during a prayer session, one of the things mentioned as how in the Philippines, many people are donating to the Church rather than the poor. Spending money on beautification of Churches should not be the main priority of any church, the main priority is helping the poor and suffering.

    I’d like to see Simala donate wheelchairs, crunches and educational supplies instead of organizing what looks like an tourist attraction, complete with a gift shop.

    No offense to those believers, but those nuns should set their priorities: Help Poor and Suffering. Donate all that money. Make people realize that God and Mother Mary is not an object set in one place, but present everywhere. You don’t need a line up to pray to Mother Mary, all you need is your conscience. Church beautification should be like at the bottom of the list. If you ever come to North America, churches here are one of the most basic and boring looking ones, that is because the Churches in here spends most of its money on community aid rather than beautification.

  12. Hi Ley! Thanks for the Simala infor and photos.
    We are going to Cebu this month. Career-rin namin talaga ang SIMALA.
    Bahala na si God! He will lead and guide us naman.
    Eh paano ba pumunta sa Simala?

    I read that we have to take a bus going south at the South Bus Terminal? Tapos pag nasa Sibonga na, we will take tricycle to bring us to Simala? Tama ba? Confused lang ako, kasi sabi you have to negotiate with the tricycle driver the “fare”? wala bang standard fare matrix ang tricycles? hene. Baka kasi hindi kami mag ka intindihan ng tricycle driver.
    Approximately how many kilometers would the tricycle ride to Simala?

    Maraming salamat.
    I enjoy reading your blogs. God bless you Ley!

    1. that’s right mam. i think fixed na ang rates sa rides. if you’re not sure, ask around na lang when you’re there. it’s around 20 mins from the main road. fare should be around 20.

  13. I am visiting cebu in two weeks, my niece wants to visit the shrine and I am not sure what will be my purpose of wanting to go there.
    i do agree with Jude it is more like a tourist attraction! seem like some big investment to built this place.But again we have to respect individual’s faith! if believing and going to this place make people happy and motivated then praise the lord!
    Sonyun,you are absolutely right! about helping poor people! help community! the problem is that in catholic religion there is no birth control so more poor people born than middle class people.
    I am helping people as much as i can but it feels is not enough and never enough!
    I grew up as poor and believe me I pray every opportunity to our lord ! to reach my dream and give me a better life and that I will be able to help my family and other people. I truly believe that he hears my prayer and blessed me more! I thank him every day and if i am going to this shrine my purpose is to thank for what i have.
    And I have to be honest, the building is beautiful! so it is worth seeing.

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