Have you ever wondered how it would feel to be face-to-face with Mama Mary? Well, even if that’s not necessarily on your bucket list, here at the Montemaria International Pilgrimage & Conference Center, that experience is, quite frankly, the highlight of your visit.
Churches and shrines are common in many destinations around the country. This time, we’re bringing you to Monte Maria Shrine in Batangas City! While this facility is still developing, its most outstanding feature is the massive Statue of Mary, Mother of All Asia, said to be the world’s tallest statue of the Virgin Mary. Read on for a quick guide on Montemaria to prep for your upcoming trip!
WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE?
How to Get to Montemaria Shrine
Located in Barangay Pagkilatan in Batangas City, Monte Maria Shrine is a three- to four-hour drive from Manila. If you are marking Batangas City center as your starting point, it’s actually a 40-minute drive away. Here’s how to get there from Manila by private car and by public transportation.
By Private Car
If you’re traveling by car from Metro Manila, we suggest using a trusted navigation app, like Google Maps or Waze, to make it easier for you. But for reference, here’s a route you can take to get there.
- Take the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) until you reach the Calabarzon Expressway or Star Tollway.
- Continue driving along Star Tollway and take Batangas (Balagtas) Exit.
- Make a slight left onto Balagtas Flyover and continue driving along President Jose P. Laurel Highway.
- Turn left onto Ebora Road, then turn right onto Gamboa Road.
- Make your way to Batangas-Tabangao-Lobo Road. Continue driving and follow the signs to Montemaria Shrine.
By Public Transportation
If you’re planning to commute, here’s the route you can take:
- From Manila, board a bus to Batangas Grand Terminal. DLTB Co. and JAM Liner have these routes, so just go to the closest bus terminal to you. You can also check out our Manila to Batangas Bus Guide for other options.
- At the Grand Terminal, ride a jeepney to SM Batangas.
- Find the jeepney terminal at SM Batangas, then take a jeepney bound for Ilijan. Ask the driver to drop you off at Montemaria in Barangay Pagkilatan.
Where to Stay in Batangas City
If you’re visiting from outside Batangas like us, then you may want to check out the many accommodation options within the province that you’ll be able to find online through booking websites. You might want to check out some of these top hotels based on online user reviews.
For Klook users, make sure to use our promo code PHBEACHKLOOK. And if the code doesn’t work, you can always redeem your discount voucher via this link: philippinebeaches.org/klook. You can also use AGODATPT on AGODA for up to 10% off on accommodations.
Top Hotels on Klook
- PONTEFINO HOTEL
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - MEACO ROYAL HOTEL BATANGAS CITY
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - DAYS HOTEL BY WYNDHAM BATANGAS
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - BICOTELS HOTEL
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - THE ALPA HOTEL AND RESTAURANT
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here!
Top Hotels on Agoda
- BATANGAS COUNTRY CLUB
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - LUKS LOFT HOTEL & RESIDENCES
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - THE WHARF TRANSIENT HOTEL
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - YELLOWBELL HOTEL
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - SM TRAVELODGE
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here!
For a more detailed list that you can refer to, check out our Top 10 Hotels in Batangas City article.
Find more Batangas Hotels!
Things to Do & Attractions
As we mentioned, Montemaria is still an ongoing project. According to their website, a hotel, resort, waterpark, and other recreational facilities are in the works. In the meantime, here are the things to do and attractions within the complex.
Mother of All Asia – Tower of Peace
Officially named Mother of All Asia – Tower of Peace, this statue of Mary is the most iconic feature of the Montemaria Shrine. Measuring around 98 meters high, it is so huge that you can see it even when you’re in the middle of the ocean. This was how we first saw this gigantic Marian statue. Prior to visiting Monte Maria, we went to Verde Island, and from the boat, we got a glimpse of the statue standing tall on top of a mountain.
But this isn’t just a statue. It was also built as a residential building with a total of 21 stories. There’s also a viewing deck on the 15th floor, right by the hand of Mary, which guests can access by paying a fee to enter. Frankly, this is what most tourists make the trip to Barangay Pagkilatan for.
If you’re planning to visit Montemaria by driving a private vehicle, we must warn you, the walk from the parking area to the entrance of the viewing deck is long and uphill. It was around noon when we went here, so just imagine how hot it was! With the intense heat we’re experiencing nowadays, it’s important to protect yourself from the harmful UV rays, so always wear sunscreen, use an umbrella or a hat, and stay hydrated!
If you want to go to the viewing deck, you’ll pay for the entrance fee at the ticket booth. Then, you’ll be given a ticket that you have to present to the staff at the elevator. After verification, take the elevator up and get off at the 15th floor. And when you reach the view deck, you’ll get a panoramic view of Batangas Bay, featuring Tingloy, Verde Island, and even parts of Oriental Mindoro. Aside from enjoying the view, people also take photos with the bust of the Marian statue behind them.
By the way, if you’re hungry or thirsty, you can grab a quick drink or snack at this store right by the ticket booth before or after you go up to the viewing deck.
Montemaria Viewdeck Entrance Fee: P150/head
Mirror Deck
Another attraction within the premises of Montemaria is the Mirror Deck, which is on the rooftop of a café. Unfortunately, the café wasn’t open when we visited, and we don’t know for sure if it’s already operating. But the mirror deck is open to tourists for an entrance fee of P80. You’ll pay the entrance fee at the table right by the door of the building. Then, climb up the stairs to get to the deck.
The whole floor is covered with mirrors, so you can take cool photos. But before heading out to the deck, grab foot covers and wear them on top of your footwear first. Hannah and I tried to remake the shots displayed by the entrance, but it was a bit of a challenge because the glass floor was HOT. But we still tried our best to get a few photos for the ‘gram!
Mirror Deck Entrance Fee: P80/head
Miracle Walk (Glass Bridge)
The Miracle Walk is the newest attraction in Montemaria — another view deck with a glass bridge. And while it’s already operational, it is exclusive to members only, so we weren’t able to experience this attraction.
Chapels
You’ll find two chapels within the estate: the Santo Niño Chapel and St. John Paul II Chapel. Hannah and I weren’t able to see the chapel during our visit, but here are some photos our teammate Py took from a previous visit to Montemaria.
They hold mass here on weekends and public holidays. If you’re planning to visit during holy week, you can check their schedule of activities here. In the future, you can also check out their website for updated mass schedules and activities.
Side Trips from Montemaria Shrine
Now, if you’re visiting Batangas City as a tourist, it’s likely that Montemaria Shrine isn’t the only thing on your itinerary. Here are a few side trips you can take around Montemaria to add even more value to your weekend getaway.
Batangas – Tabangao – Lobo Road Baywalk
Okay, here’s a disclaimer! This isn’t the official name of this side trip, since it doesn’t really have an official name, but it’s how we’ve made sense of this stop.
On the way to Monte Maria from Batangas City, you’ll find this baywalk-like area along the Batangas – Tabangao – Lobo Road. While it may not give you a front view of the shrine, it is quite a sight to see this massive statue of Mama Mary standing atop the mountain and standing so close to the ocean. It also makes for a beautiful background for your own photos.
If you’d like to make a stop here, you’ll find the Google Maps pin of an area that’s close to the supposed baywalk: JL PRINTING / LOADING STATION. At this point, you are just 15 minutes away from the actual Montemaria Shrine.
Batangas City
When you visit Montemaria, you can spend the rest of your day exploring Batangas City. If you love coffee, you can go café hopping! There are a lot of homegrown coffee shops around the city that are worth trying.
Since Hannah and I both love coffee and Batangas is, after all, known for its kapeng barako, we made it a point to try out a few coffee shops within the city. One of our favorites is Kalye Barako. We loved their coffee, and their location was a bonus! We’ll tell you more about this and the other coffee shops we visited in a separate article, so watch out for that.
You can also make a stop at a beach like Faelan Beach, which we discovered on our way to Montemaria. They have tables and cottages for day tour guests, and there are also rooms if you want to stay overnight.
Verde Island
Verde Island is located in the Verde Island Passage, which is considered the “center of the center” of the world’s marine biodiversity by a Smithsonian study. During our trip, we went to Verde Island for an overnight stay. It is just a boat ride away from the city. We will make a separate guide for Verde Island, too, so stay tuned!
Lobo
Lobo is another destination you can explore from Batangas City since it is a neighboring town. Among the attractions here are its pebble beaches and Malabrigo Point Lighthouse.
San Juan
You can also make your way to San Juan to check out their beaches. You can find multiple resorts in Laiya if you plan on staying the night or a weekend at the beach.
We have a separate article dedicated to the Best Beach Resorts in San Juan, Batangas that you can check out.
If you are looking for other beach suggestions in Batangas, you can read our Best Beaches in Batangas article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an entrance fee?
If we’re talking about the whole Montemaria International Pilgrimage & Conference Center, there isn’t really an entrance fee per se. You can visit the facility for free, provided that you walk in on foot and admire the statue of Mama Mary from the ground.
Considering how the Montemaria area is quite out of the way, I think very few people would visit the shrine without bringing a vehicle of some sort, which does entail parking fees. Similarly, since the statue of Mama Mary is the highlight of this facility and there’s just something so intriguing about being face-to-face with a larger-than-life image of her, you will most likely be paying the P150 entrance fee to the view deck.
Just keep that in mind when preparing your budget for your visit.
Is there a designated parking area?
Yes! They have a huge parking area, so parking space won’t be a problem if you travel by private car. But note that the parking area is a bit far from the entrance to the view deck, so if you’re traveling with seniors or someone with mobility issues, make sure to drop them off at the view deck entrance first before parking your vehicle.
Montemaria Parking Rates: Car, P50; Motorcycle, P20; Big bike, P30; Bus, P500
If you have any questions about Montemaria, just leave a comment below and we’ll try to answer all of them. And if you have other questions about Batangas or you have suggestions on attractions we should visit next, feel free to sound off in the comments too!
Tips and Reminders
- Protect yourself from the scorching heat, especially during summer. With the extreme heat index recorded in recent years, using a sunscreen is not enough. Bring extra protection — sunglasses to protect your eyes and a hat for more shield against the sun.
- Bring a reusable water container. You can practice sustainable tourism not buying single-use plastic items like bottled water. Bring your trusted water tumbler. This helps you save a bit of money too!
- Apply the “Leave No Trace” principle. Take nothing but photos, kill nothing but time, leave nothing but footprints.
Montemaria Shrine Contact Information
- Official Website: www.montemaria.com.ph
- E-mail: inquire@montemaria.com.ph
- Office Landline: +63 (43) 706 4667 | +63 (43) 702 3545
- Church/Pilgrimage Booking: +63 905 494 4276 | +63 917 117 9793
- Facebook Page: Montemaria International Pilgrimage & Conference Center (@montemariabats)
Batangas City Emergency Numbers
It’s a good practice to have the local emergency hotline numbers of the destination you’ll visit. Here are some of the hotlines of Batangas City:
- PNP Batangas City
Landline: +63 (43) 723 2030 - Bureau of Fire Protection
Batangas City
Landline: +63 (43) 425 7163 | +63 (43) 301 7996
Mobile: +63 915 602 1984 - CDRRMO Batangas City
Landline: +63 (43) 702 3902 - Philippine Red Cross Batangas City
Landline: +63 (43) 723 3027 - Batangas Medical Center
Landline: +63 (43) 723 0911 - City Health Office
Landline: +63 (43) 723 8890
Updates Log
2025.08.02 – First uploaded
Related Article: 2GO BATANGAS to BORACAY – Ferry Schedules & Fares
Photos by: Mariah Cruz, Hannah Manalo, and Pycan Leynes
More Tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Comments