A pilgrimage site best known for towering devotion is about to get a frosty twist.
AbaCore Capital Holdings, Inc. is adding a new attraction to the sprawling Montemaria International Pilgrimage and Conference Center, an indoor winter-themed playground called Ice World.
An icy attraction in tropical Batangas.
The listed firm recently broke ground for the 2,000-square-meter attraction designed to host up to 300 guests at a time. Once completed, Ice World will plunge visitors into a chilly fantasyland filled with adrenaline-pumping ice slides, whimsical ice villages, and interactive ice sports meant for kids, parents, and the young-at-heart alike.
It’s part spectacle, part strategy.
Montemaria has been steadily evolving beyond a traditional pilgrimage site into a broader lifestyle and tourism destination. Ice World is the latest piece of that puzzle — blending entertainment with spirituality to keep families lingering longer on the hilltop estate overlooking the sea.
The development aligns with the vision of turning Montemaria into a place where faith meets family bonding.
“We designed Ice World to complement Montemaria’s unique environment while offering fun, interactive experiences for visitors of all ages,” said Guoan Wu, president of Montemaria Resort.
The groundbreaking ceremony also unveiled a new Montemaria souvenir shop stocked with religious keepsakes and locally crafted items highlighting the destination’s cultural and spiritual identity.
Visitors can also dive into the newly launched 9D Marine Adventure, an immersive ride inspired by the nearby Verde Island Passage, widely regarded as the “center of the center” of global marine biodiversity.
Towering over it all is Montemaria’s centerpiece: the Mother of All Asia – Tower of Peace, a 98-meter monument to the Blessed Virgin Mary and among the tallest statues of Mary in the world.
For Antonio Victoriano F. Gregorio III, chairman and president of AbaCore, said that faith may anchor Montemaria but memorable family experiences will help it grow.
