MPTC to mark 500 years of Christianity in PH by lighting up 8 crosses over Cebu

Eight 40-meter-tall crosses will be illuminated up atop the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) in line with the 500^th-year celebration of Christianity in the Philippines.

According to the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the crosses will be illuminating the 8.5-kilometer expressway, rising 100 meters over the Mactan Channel and most of Cebu City this coming April.

MPTC’s subsidiary, Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) has begun construction on the eight structures inspired by Magellan’s Cross and symbolizes Cebu being the cradle of Christianity in the region.

The installation of eight crosses on top of the CCLEX pylons—to be seen on top on all four sides of each of the twin towers—will be brightened by hundreds of LED strip lights prior to the quincentennial commemoration next month.

These will be lit at night, dramatically proclaiming once again Christianity’s influence in Asia’s first Christian nation.

On the evening of April 15, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma will lead the blessing of the CCLEX’s crosses as part of the Archdiocese of Cebu’s 500 Years of Christianity celebration— a day after the reenactment of the first baptism mass at Magellan’s Cross.

“The crosses above CCLEX are a symbol of celebration. The crosses, having no corpus or body, is ecumenical (universal, all-embracing),” said Fr. Mhar Balili, secretary general of the Archdiocese of Cebu’s 500 Year of Christianity celebration.

MPTC President Rodrigo Franco expressed pride over the structure that would make the company a part of the celebration.

“With the cross-shaped structures lit up above the twin pylon of CCLEX, we are honored to become part of the commemorations of a historical chapter in the lives of our countrymen,” Franco said.

Furthermore, CCLEC President and General Manager Allan Alfon assured that they are doing their maximum efforts to complete the project on time.

“Despite the constructional challenges because of the health and safety protocols being observed due to COVID-19, our team is doing its best to complete this most anticipated infrastructure project in Cebu and the rest of the Visayas region as soon as possible,” Alfon noted.

MPTC Chairman Manuel Pangilinan said that they have always seen the “socio-economic impact of CCLEX to the entire Visayan region.”

With a working budget of P30 billion, the CCLEX interconnects mainland Cebu and Cebu City with the town across the famed channel, notably Cordova in Mactan island.

As of January 2021, the overall Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract of CCLEX is at 68.21 percent while construction progress alone is at 59.68 percent.

The project’s concrete pylons on the side of Cebu City and Cordova have been completed and reached their full structural height of 145 meters over Mactan Channel. With the continuing dismantling of the self-climbing formworks, the crosses on top of the pylons are now visible.

Once completed, the CCLEX will have two lanes in both direction that will give the around 50,000 motorists daily a safe, quick and scenic passage—easing traffic congestion in the Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.

Photos from Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC)

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