DAVAO CITY — Hundreds of people gathered at the EDSA Shrine early Tuesday morning, November 26, for reasons that remain unclear to many, sparking an advisory from Rev. Fr. Jerome Secillano, Rector of the EDSA Shrine.
As early as 6:00 AM, the crowd was warmly welcomed into the shrine, where they participated in the 7:00 AM mass. Following the service, many chose to remain inside, later attending the 12:15 PM mass. Fr. Secillano noted the unusual weekday attendance, stating that the pews were filled, a rare occurrence during regular weekday masses.
In his statement, Fr. Secillano emphasized the shrine’s openness to accommodate visitors as long as proper decorum is maintained.
“They will be allowed again to stay inside the shrine on the pretext that they are praying and not doing things not proper for a house of worship,” he said.
However, the advisory stressed that certain activities would not be tolerated inside the shrine, including eating, drinking, carrying slogans, shouting, vlogging, sleeping, making noise, debating, or loitering near the shrine’s doors. Such actions, Fr. Secillano warned, could compromise the sanctity of the sacred space.
The rector assured the public that the shrine would continue its normal operations, conducting its usual schedule of masses and services without discrimination against any group or individual.
Fr. Secillano called on everyone to approach the situation with “utmost sobriety and decency,” urging prayers for peace and understanding. He invoked the intercession of the Holy Spirit and the Our Lady of EDSA, Queen of Peace, for wisdom and tranquility amid the unexpected surge of visitors.
The gathering at the shrine comes amid growing social and political tensions, though no official explanation has been given for the influx of “shrine-goers.” Devotees and officials alike are hopeful that peace and order will prevail as the shrine continues to uphold its mission as a place of worship and reflection.
