Earth Chapel
blessing set
The earth chapel, at the University of Negros Occidental–Recoletos grounds in Bacolod City will be blessed today, the Feast of St. Joseph – Patron of the Universal Church, with Fr. Cornelio Moral officiating,
Bro. Jaazeal "Tagoy" Jakosalem, a UNO-R press release said yesterday, said yesterday.
The structure, conceptualized and built by three Negrense artists, is made of mud, bamboo, rice hay and stalk, cogon grass and recycled materials like wine bottles, discarded tiles and wood slab.
Visual artist Marisol Alquizar designed the chapel; Bro. Tagoy Jakosalem, a Rekoleto friar and the official presenter of “The Climate Reality Project”, did the interior and the incorporation of renewable energy into the structure; while social-realist artist Nunelucio Alvarado designed the crucifix, a colorful mosaic, as the centerpiece of the chapel, the press release added.
Volunteer students, who are active members of the Tsinelas of Hope project, helped in putting up the structure, it also said.
The chapel is the first solar-powered religious edifice in the country, with LED lights used to illumine the interior and green-colored wine bottles serving as recyclable stained-glass windows, the press release added.*