Hello Hive!
This post is my unofficial entry to OCD's newest contest that aims to highlight different communities under its incubation program. If you're interested to join, start to think of any post that would fit in architecture and design and check out the link above for the mechanics.
This is the first time I'll be posting in Architecture+Design community as I felt this particular post belongs in here. I already posted in Photography Lovers community the view of Temple of Leah, but I haven't toured you around the whole structure. This post is intended for that. By the way, if you're interested in those photos, which are truly stunning, you can find them through the link below:
If you're not convinced, let me share at least a few photos of the view first before we proceed to the structures that made Temple of Leah a tourist attraction here in Cebu.
Constructed at the side of the mountain in Busay that has a breathtaking view of the city, Temple of Leah has become one of the most visited tourist attractions in Cebu City in recent years.
I would like to correct my statement in my previous post that Temple of Leah is a mausoleum. It's not. Unlike the Taj Mahal of India which is a mausoleum, Temple of Leah is a shrine that holds the memories and collections of Leah Albino-Adarna. It was created as a symbol of love and devotion of Teodorico Adarna to his wife Leah. I think that's what made those two structures similar.
For those who haven't visited the temple, some would say that the structure is a bit too extravagant and gaudy even if it's a grand gesture of love of a man to his wife. Also marred with rumours and uncorroborated claims, the temple is one spot in Cebu you shouldn't miss. If you're curious about what a Php 80 million temple looks like, Temple of Leah is waiting for you.
Let's take a tour, shall we?
Temple of Leah is seven storeys high in a land area of 5,000 square meters. The construction started last 2012 and the structure is not yet even finished. The gate leads to the parking lot where the spacious main courtyard can be seen. A marble fountain is located at the center of a granite courtyard.
The temple is Roman-inspired with Doric columns made of granite. Grecian statues also adorn the whole temple. Two golden lion statues serve as "guards" in the two sides of the main staircase leading to the inner part of the shrine where the nine-foot bronze statue of Leah is located.
Brass horn-blowing angel statues serve as ornaments at the portico of the inner shrine. I'm not sure as I'm not really an architect nor a designer, but it seems that the temple is an amalgamation of different style inspirations throughout history, with Greek and Roman styles as the standouts.
The bronze statue of Leah is the main attraction of the shrine, as it should since the whole structure is dedicated to her.
A bronze plaque at the podium below the foot of Leah's statue that was signed by Teodorico Adarna himself says:
“Beloved Wife and Mother: Leah V. Albino-Adarna was chosen Matron Queen of her Alma Mater, the University of Southern Philippines. This nine-foot bronze statue portrays her composure and regal bearing when she was crowned. May the beholder discern her innate beauty, poise and genteelness.”
The grand chandelier at the center of the shrine is also an eye-catcher together with the stained glass behind the statue.
A brass plaque on the wall at the left side of the statue says:
“I constructed this temple in the year 2012 A.D. as a symbol of my undying love for and ceaseless devotion to Leah Villa Albino-Adarna, my wife of 53 years. I adopted an architectural design that can withstand time and still be appreciated for a millennium so this temple will become a landmark of Cebu, where future generations of the Adarna clan can come and trace their roots and heritage."
The temple has many chambers that housed Leah's vast collection of books, China wares and jars, and memorabilia. Sadly, they're not open to public viewing, but you can still see them at the windows of the side wings of the temple.
I guess that's all for this post. I hope you enjoyed the tour. See you in my next post! Hopefully, I can go back to travel-related ones because it's almost two months already that I haven't posted in Haveyoubeenhere community. Anyway, thanks for the support! Always.
Kim Ybañez
Welcome to Kim's small corner in Hive. He is a chemical engineer by profession, but a blogger by passion. He is a wanderlust and an adventure seeker. Join his quests as he visits secluded destinations, climbs mountains, tries new and exotic dishes, and explores his country (The Philippines). He's also a trying hard photographer so stay tuned as he shares his photos and his thought process while creating them.
If you like his content, don't forget to upvote and leave a comment to show some love. You can also reblog if you want to. Also, don't forget to follow him to be updated with his latest posts.