When we were planning for the first two days of our Northern Mindanao adventure, we tried our best that it would be packed yet chill. Somehow, the idea was to be able to enjoy the attractions while still being relatively relaxed, in a way preparing ourselves with the more hectic schedule of the Aura Adventures itinerary that would start on the third day. As it would turn out eventually, it would just not be the packed yet chill trip that we wanted. It would likewise be a meaningful one.

With the aid of Google Maps, we made our way from the airport to our first stop in the City of El Salvador, which happened to be dedicated to the glory of the Savior after whom the city was named —the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Divine Mercy.

The weather was gloomy with light showers when we arrived in the shine, and we were already at the entrance when we realized we made a terrible mistake. We were wearing shorts and there was a dress code in the shrine that specifically prohibits the wearing of short clothing. It was a Monday though, the usually considered rest day of priests and church offices after a typically hectic Sunday. That explained why there was barely anyone in the shrine and as such, the guard at the entrance told us that for as long as our shorts do not go above the knee, we were good. Very considerate, indeed. We then walked our way through the peaceful and almost empty roads of the shrine, helping ourselves to see what the shrine is popular for.

Peace and silence: where God speaks to the heart.

The Archdiocesan Shrine of the Divine Mercy in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental, was completed in 2008. Located in what has been dubbed as the Divine Mercy Hill that faces Macajalar Bay, the shrine features a landscaped expanse with religious images and structures. In its core is a 50–meter tall statue of Jesus Christ with a 250–step stairs leading to its heart. A very popular place of prayer and devotion, it welcomes thousand of pilgrims every year, especially during the Holy Week and the Feast of the Divine Mercy.

The statue of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.

The stairs going to the heart of the statue of Jesus was closed when we arrived as it was drizzling and the stairs were slippery. We did not mind. After all, regardless of where we stood on the shrine grounds, the place was filled with so much beauty already; beauty that provokes the soul to feel grounded in a deep sense of gratitude.

After we took some photos, we made our way to the main church at the back of the statue of Jesus. We no longer went inside the church given our shorts attire and just uttered our silent prayers outside, then continued appreciating the beauty surrounding us. It was a spiritual irony: beauty in the face of gloom.

More shots at the top of the Divine Mercy Hill.

From the main church, we made our way through the shrine complex until we reached the are of the white cross. Beneath the cross was a place where pilgrims may light candles and utter prayers. A vendor sold us some candles. We lit them while uttering prayers of thanksgiving for the safe travels that brought us to Mindanao, and prayers of supplication that we remain safe on the days that lay ahead and that our families left at home would likewise be in the care of God’s loving mercy.

May Your light be our guide.

Be still and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10

The shrine remained relatively empty until the time that it was time for us to go. It was as if providential that we were given the stillness that our spirits needed—the emptiness from our usual preoccupation and predisposition that would allow us to be preoccupied with and predisposed towards the work of God in our lives.

Our plan to have a packed yet chill trip started by standing still in the presence of God, in a place dedicated to His eternal mercy. A beautiful space, still and empty, welcomed us back in Mindanao. We experienced the pause every life’s pilgrim on earth needs just before we embarked on our Northern Mindanao adventures that would bring us farther from home but further into the beauty of God’s handiwork. Our trip could not be more meaningful than that.