Located in the northern outskirts of Danao City in Cebu is the Ramon Durano Foundation Compound. This is one of the last legacies of Ramon Durano, the powerful patriarch of the Durano Clan in Cebu (of which Department of Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano is a member). We’ve also featured the Ramon Durano Sports Complex here in Vista Pinas before.

The compound, called “Foundation” by the locals, is a 2-hectare religious monument in Brgy. Guinsay which houses a Catholic church (seen in the satellite image as the rectangular building at the southern end). But what’s more interesting is the lavish tableau of busts and statues of various popes, saints, and events that occupy the rest of the compound. Quite visible in the satellite image in Google Maps are the 14 small white buildings each depicting a Station of the Cross. There’s also another set of 14 small huts near the eastern edge of the compound and I’m guessing that these depict the alternate version of the Stations.

Photo by leylander from the My Cebu Photo Blog.

Supposedly there is a bust for every Catholic pope from St. Peter up to possibly Pope Paul IV who reigned from 1963 until 1978. In addition, there are statues depicting the Holy Family, the Nativity scene, Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, among others. There’s even a rock there labeled “Calvary Rock,” which they say came all the way from Jerusalem.

To better appreciate the Foundation Compound, you’d best see these two travelogues: “The Guinsay, Danao Experience” by leylander and “Cebu Journal (part 5)” by David Kravetz. Both contain numerous photos of the compound, which would definitely delight the Christian iconologist.

Download KML file (for Google Earth)