Fragments of Faith

 

Architect Glen Celo and the Chapel of Beauraing

A man 2,000 years ago claimed to be the Son of God. His teachings turned the status quo on its head, rejecting and correcting what the world saw as normal. He called for repentance and forgave sinners—an audacious act considered blasphemous since only God can forgive sins.

As tensions mounted due to Jesus Christ’s preaching and his parables that exposed the hypocrisy of the religious establishment, Jews and Romans conspired to kill the Messiah. They sentenced him to a punishment reserved for the most heinous criminals, as well as political insurgents, rebels, and enemies of the state.

Crucifixion was excruciating, humiliating, and dehumanizing. It was designed to inflict the most pain and suffering possible.

It’s a story told time and time again—the passion of Jesus Christ, his last days on earth as a man. The cross stands as a solemn and sobering reminder of what love truly is. But what we may overlook is that Jesus not only suffered physically but emotionally as well. Crucified to bear the penalty of our sins, Jesus lost his connection to the only family he had—his Father.

After his sweeping declaration, “It is finished!”, the connection between Jesus and his Father was cosmically severed. The Son lost a Father, and the Father lost a Son.

Station of the cross done in mosaic.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

John 3:16—perhaps the most familiar verse in the Bible—is a beautiful, liberating, and life-changing truth. But it came at a cost: suffering and sorrow.

The pain of losing a loved one can shape our faith in God. After all, He knows what it is to grieve. For many, loss draws us closer to Him, who understands our sorrow intimately.

For Bacolod-based mosaic artist Lisa de Leon Zayco, suffering played a key role in her recent work: the Stations of the Cross, the Crucifix, and the Tabernacle that now adorn the Our Lady of Beauraing Chapel in Barangay Granada, Bacolod City. It was through suffering that she also grew closer to God.

Lisa was in the process of creating the Stations of the Cross when her son passed away from cancer. Much like the path Christ walked to Calvary, Lisa, too, experienced her own journey of hardship and sacrifice. Even the Our Lady of Beauraing Chapel is rooted in loss and tragedy. Two key figures in its conceptualization and development passed away before its completion in November 2023.

The Chapel of Beauraing located at Brgy. Granada, Bacolod City.

The chapel’s legacy dates back to the 1950s, when it was part of the now-closed Sta. Fe Resort, once owned and operated by the Villanueva family. In many ways, it is a spiritual successor to the resort’s former chapel. Oscar Villanueva Jr., or “Nonong” as he was fondly called, lamented the loss of that chapel for years. Annabel Villanueva recalls that Nonong often wondered where locals would go for Mass, since most churches were far from the area. The spiritual needs of the community became his burden, and he envisioned a new chapel for nearby residents.

“Unfortunately, in 2021, he passed away from COVID,” Annabel laments, “so he never really realized his dream.”

Her older brother, Generoso, was determined to see Nonong’s vision come to life. He became the driving force behind the chapel’s completion, while the rest of the family contributed in any way they could to fulfill Nonong’s dream.

Tragedy struck again when Generoso passed away—just a month before the chapel was inaugurated in November 2023.

A silent meeting of hearts.

“The chapel is really a tribute to both our brothers. Oscar Jr., because he started the idea,” Annabel shares, “and also for Generoso, our big brother, who really pushed for it.” 

There seems to be a divine hand at work in making the Our Lady of Beauraing Chapel a reality. From its financing to its consecration, God’s will was evident. Everyone involved had a deep concern for the spiritual well-being of Bacolod residents in the area. It was both a family and community effort, supported by the parish of Granada. Lisa de Leon Zayco’s work on the Stations of the Cross became a significant part of her walk with the Lord.

While mosaic tiles are commonly used for the Stations of the Cross, Lisa’s work is distinct because of how she cuts the tiles—irregular, fragmented, almost without shape or form. Each of the 14 Stations, along with the Crucifix and the Tabernacle she created, carries jagged pieces of her heart.

Ironically, it was this brokenness that first drew her to mosaic art.

“It’s like softening something that is so hard. Something so unfeeling can have feelings,” Lisa says. “That's also the reason why I cut my tiles that way. I don’t like to be boxed in. I don’t like to be boxed in with certain shapes that have to be. Like say, mosaics have to be squares and all. I wanted the flow.”

Stepping inside the chapel, one is immediately struck by the vibrancy of Lisa’s work. The Stations of the Cross, the towering Crucifix above the altar, and the Tabernacle housing the communion elements are awe-inspiring. The mosaics are dynamic and colorful, yet they also carry a somber depth. The visuals, reminiscent of water and grass, add an organic element to the sorrowful origins of the chapel.

The Hands behind the Beauty.

Lisa’s mosaics call to mind the intricately crafted Carosas, or processional floats, that grace the streets during Good Friday—each individual piece carefully assembled into a grand whole, strengthening a believer’s faith in God. Her portrayal of Jesus’ final moments captures the anguish he endured. Though static, her work conveys movement through shape, color, and even the pebbles embedded in some stations.

To follow Christ is to embrace suffering. As he suffered, so must we. As he lived and died, so do us. As he walked the Way of Sorrow, so must we, in order to grow spiritually.

“Doing the stations is like going through the passion yourself. It’s because you become one with Christ,” Lisa reveals. “Every time I do a station, I make sure I pray. I pray a lot. I pray a lot for the Lord to move me, to move my hands.”

Looking back, Lisa sees divine intervention in her work on the Our Lady of Beauraing Chapel. She admits that, on her own, she wouldn’t have been capable of completing the project.

“I’m just in awe because I know it was not me,” Lisa says. “And I give back that glory.”

In July 2024, while finishing the Stations of the Cross, Lisa’s son, Paolo, tragically passed away. Her grief and suffering found expression in her art, which has become a cornerstone of the chapel. The mosaics are more than just fragments of tile; they are reflections of human brokenness, painstakingly arranged into something beautiful, meaningful, and honoring to God.

The journey of sorrow, the embrace of grace.

Among all the Stations, two hold the deepest significance for Lisa.

“I was always moved with the 4th and the 13th. Always moved,” Lisa shares.

In the Stations of the Cross, Mary, the mother of Jesus, appears in the 4th and, in most interpretations, the 13th.

“Maybe because being a mother moves you to see your son suffer. And it practically kills you to see your son pass away.”

There’s a saying: “…that in all things, may God be glorified.” This applies not just to what we do, but to our thoughts, emotions, and experiences—whether joyful or sorrowful. Even in suffering, God is glorified.

The Apostle Peter wrote that believers should not be surprised by trials, but rather rejoice in sharing in Christ’s sufferings, that they may also rejoice when his glory is revealed.

“Last year was very difficult for me, including this year,” Lisa tells us. “Yet, with all the pain, my faith also grows. Even if I can't understand it. I’m just happy to be here.”

For artists who believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, art is an act of worship. Lisa de Leon Zayco’s work proclaims the story of redemption.

“I want them to feel that Christ died for all of us. And that there’s hope. There’s always hope.”

“Sometimes we can’t understand it,” Lisa reflects on her suffering. “But there will always be something good that happens. And it’s really a test of faith.”

Article and Video Script writer: John Mari A. Marcelo

Photos and Videos: Unit A Creatives