Sa Kabukiran : The Main Hall

The main hall of the Kubo measures around 80 sq. meters. Upon entering the door which divides the foyer and the main hall, one is immediately welcomed by the main hall’s high ceiling that is covered with nipa. This high roof ceiling is designed to look like a tunnel at the end of which is the space that allows illumination from natural light. I sometimes call this space as the light at the end of the tunnel. This ceiling design was inspired by Cindy’s painting of mommy represented as a blue butterfly heading towards the light. This main hall is designed to tell the story of mom’s journey from this world to the next. Her life has been transformed, not ended. The tunnel of light depicts her journey from this earth to that kingdom where there is no more darkness but only light. Unlike the foyer which is surrounded by colored glasses, the main hall contains only clear glass to allow natural light to flood into every corner of the main hall. Light in its purity and natural state signifies God himself who is light. In the Psalms, we encounter a passage where it says: “in your light, we see light itself…” Mom has now come to this light. She has gone home to the father. There she will prepare a place for all of us. There, she will continue to pray for us, as she had always done in her earthly life.

The main hall is surrounded with panels made of intricate callado wood carvings which are located just above the doors and clear windows. These have also been made from Betis. The callado wood carvings depict images of foliage and flowers that seem to be heading towards the light. The callados at the end of the hall include the carved figures of a butterflies highlighted with a touch of gold. Mom’s transformed life is now symbolized by a butterfly. Like the butterflies depicted on the wood carvings, mom, too has taken flight towards the light. The carved callados are meaningful to us. During her lifetime, when mom would sit at the garden, she would instruct her maid to cut bougainvilla flowers and foliage and put them in a bottle. Even with Alzheimer, she never forgot to appreciate beauty and the simple things which always made her happy. So the carvings also in a way symbolize how happy she is now surrounded by God’s own love and mercy in heaven.

The main hall also has three concrete posts covered with bricks. These are accentuated by three lamps. These three lamps mounted on the posts represent the three virtues she always had in life: Faith, Hope and Charity. She was a woman of faith, praying very often, surrendering herself to the will of him who knows best. Her hope never failed even in difficult and trying times. And her charity to everyone was heroic. On top of the post at the end of the hall is a mosaic cross also made by Cindy. Symbolically, this tunnel of light becomes the vision of those who have lived under Christ’s own victory through the cross. Two chandeliers hang over the main hall. Their lights look like candles with copper tubes encircling them. When I bought those chandeliers, the saleslady told me that they are called Atlas chandeliers because the encircling copper tubes resemble the image of the world. I said: “ that would be perfect.” That chandelier is like a “light of the world” chandelier. Like the chandeliers, Mom was for us, a light of the world, a salt of the earth, a brilliant light that we will never forget.