Marian statue, bigger than Statue of Liberty

Please read Exodus 20:4-5.

'Nuff said.

Below is the excerpt from the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) article plus the picture (courtesy of PDI).

Marian statue, bigger than Liberty, to rise in Batangas
By Lito Zulueta
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:01:00 07/21/2008

MANILA, Philippines - What promises to be the tallest Marian structure in the world is set to rise in Batangas City, "overlooking the horizon," its builders claim in an architectural plan shown to the Inquirer, "like a beacon of light, a proclamation of love and faith, a steadfast companion and guide for the traveler on earth."

If the words make it appear the structure is a lighthouse, then it may be considered as one. Standing over Montemaria, "the mountain of Mary" near the Batangas coast, the projected Marian shrine is projected to look out over the South China sea and be seen from miles around, especially by ships and vessels off shore.

The shrine is being erected in honor of "Mary, Mother of the Poor" by a foundation promoting the ministry of healing priest, Fr. Fernando Suarez.

But what would make the Marian structure the tallest of its kind in the world is not the church, but the statue atop the shrine. The statue is being made by Eduardo Castrillo, the Philippines’ most prolific builder of public monuments.

According to Castrillo, the shrine would stand 110 meters, but 92.9 meters (or 204 feet) of that would consist of the statue of Mary, Mother of the Poor. When finished, it would be taller than the statue of Liberty in New York, said the sculptor.

The height of Liberty from base to torch is only 46.5 meters or 102.3 feet. From foundation of the pedestal to torch however, it rises 92.9 meters, much like Castrillo’s projected statue.
Smaller-scale sculptures of the Apostles of Christ would grace the top of the shrine, like the statues of atop the St. Peter’s Basilica or the Tria Haec (Faith, Hope and Charity) and icons of western civilization by Francesco Monti atop the University of Santo Tomas Main Bldg.