Tagum’s Christ The King Cathedral: Big in Size, Big in Faith

Davao del Norte

Ida Damo

What would it take to build an edifice fit for the King of Kings? 12 years of building time? A huge parcel of land that it stands on? A set of rosary so large that it can easily land in the pages GBWR? Or a community united and committed in building this structure no matter how long, how costly and how arduous it would take?

It is actually shaped like a castle complete with towers that befits the royalty that it praises. Its huge shape looms over the horizon and stands majestically against the sky.

Before entering the church, your eyes would be drawn to the fountain made by the Mindanaoan artist Kublai Millan. It commemorates the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fish.

It’s an apt miracle for the community effort that went into building where your steps would lead you, to the doors of the cathedral.  

As you cross its threshold, you look around and are dwarfed by the ceilings and altar so immense you might just be a speck in a sea of churchgoers.  Though His house is big, Christ the King is never loomed over. Every prayer, uttered or spoken so softly in our mind, is heard.

Even the colorful fiberglass images of the Holy Spirit, Christ the King and the fourteen (14) Stations of the Cross are in keeping with the vastness of the cathedral.

Outside, the road to Calvary is on a hill with large sculptures representing the characters of Lent. It recreates the path Jesus Christ took to resurrection and the enormity of his sacrifice.

During Lent, huge masses of people from all walks of life and all over, go on a pilgrimage here.

The massiveness doesn’t end.  At the back of the gigantic building is a humongous rosary leading to a statue of Jesus Christ with arms outstretched.  Each bead of the rosary weighs 15 kilos and is made from Magkono or Ironwood.  Total weight of the rosary is 2,815 kilos.

But let not the sheer size of the cathedral and the rosary intimidate you.  For a community labored to build the Lord’s house--- a community of the faithful that prays together and for each other to a loving God.

The cathedral is but a structure. It is YOU who matters. What kindness you do to the least of your brother or sister creates a colossal wave that reaches the heavens.