The Making of the Biggest Dome

The King Dome

Long before the 75,000-seater indoor cathedral — the biggest indoor arena in the world — dazzled us with its ethereal magnificence, it was but a blueprint in the Appointed Son’s mind. The actual site from where it stands today was an ordinary piece of land bereft of glory until the Almighty Father’s divine intervention turned it into a splendid centerpiece of His sanctuary, a crown jewel of His chosen spiritual city — the New Jerusalem.

But before plans of building this vast megastructure dovetailed perfectly piece by piece, it had gone through innumerable challenges which, in hindsight, became blessings in disguise.

Year after after, the Father’s provisions have never been found wanting. He continues to inundate His Kingdom Nation with bountiful blessings that there is no room enough to receive them. Indeed, when it rains, it pours — a heavy downpour of incredible manna from above.

So here is a précis of the King Dome’s remarkable milestones year by year unfolding into an illustrious edifice of monumental feat.

2012

This project of epic proportions began in 2012 on its ground-breaking ceremony. After careful and meticulous planning and conceptualization, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy approved the architectural perspective of the project.

One major snag was the structure’s height limitation set by CAAP due to its proximity to the Davao City International Airport. Despite the odds, the Appointed Son did not retract in his faith to get it started. It was him, first of all, who laid the foundations of faith that propelled this project forward.

2013

The cumbrous first phase of construction kicked off with the massive soil extraction from the entire 18-hectare lot where the King Dome will rise, going as deep as 40 feet below the ground to prepare the foundation works for the infrastructure. Workers tirelessly dug out soil, night and day, and relocated humongous piles of it to the site where SM Lanang is situated now.

The pile driving analysis testing to evaluate bearing capacity and structural integrity commenced as well as the casting of concrete for isolated footings to support individual columns or pillars.

2014

The extraction of soil continued at the King Dome vicinity. Rebar works for the isolated footings to increase its tensile strength began, making it less resistant to shifting due to temperature, humidity, and other factors. Pile caps and strap beams that are fundamental for the building’s foundation were built.

Among the highlights of this year include the construction of:

(a) the King Dome road network,
(b) the water storage tanks (also known as cisterns for consumptive purposes), and
(c) the King Dome’s very first steel column.

This year did not go by without any hurdle. Though the project has consistently moved forward, inclement weather conditions derailed the work-in-progress. Typhoons and year-end monsoons that brought torrential rains had taken its toll on the labor force, resulting in workers draining buckets of rainwater from the flooded isolated footings.

2015

This year marked the construction of the King Dome perimeter fence and the mechanical, electrical, and control systems associated with major King Dome tunnels, particularly the Pastoral tunnel.

Laying the foundations of the tunnel system entailed much scrupulous maneuvering, made possible by the unity and dedication of the Kingdom workers.

2016

A noteworthy event that transpired in 2016 was the arrival of the steel columns.

This year, engineers worked on the construction of the King Dome stage along with the concrete pouring process of the 2nd floor concourse, bleachers slab installation, and construction of the underpass building.

2017

2017 was a laborious year wherein workers and hired personnel alike took pains in the construction of the King Dome bridge along with the 3rd floor concourse and its concrete pouring process.

Furthermore, the King Dome plaza bleachers were erected as its paving process kicked off. During the last quarter of the year, engineers carefully planned the shoring preparation for the arrival of the mega trusses.

2018

The infamous controversies that shook the Kingdom Nation in 2018 never deterred Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and the Kingdom Nation from continuing this monumental project for the glory of the Almighty Father through the Son.

Slowly but surely, the mega trusses were fit up and erected followed by the erection of the secondary trusses, both on the left and right wing. The year ended with the cleats successfully installed on the left wing.

2019

The installation of C section purlins on the left and center wing were completed to shape the structure walls and floor joists, making them suitable for propping up the beams necessary for flooring.

Indeed, the biggest Dome continued to progress as secondary trusses were also erected at the center. To ensure extra strength and support, cleats were installed both at the center and the right wing.

The remaining half of the year was spent on the roof system and the installation of the aluminum cladding wall frame.

2020

2020 was an unprecedented year, not only for the Kingdom Nation but also to the world at large.

People were down on their knees as every nation, rich or poor, was ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdowns were imposed. Businesses ceased. The economy nosedived. The world came to a standstill.

While the world plunged into the throes of fear, uncertainty and despair, the Kingdom Nation flourished. The global crisis became a testament of the Almighty Father’s faithfulness as He not only doubled but tripled the blessings.

Naysayers thought that the pandemic would halt the ongoing construction of the King Dome. Little did they know, it was made an opportune time for all sons and daughters of the Almighty Father to rise to the occasion and deliver outstanding results. Faith truly works in ways far beyond human comprehension.

In the midst of the pandemic, the King Dome curtain glass wall frame was installed. The roof gutters were also completed along with the installation of the roof’s final layers.

The last quarter of the year was focused on the installation of the marble tiles at the King Dome plaza and the continuous work of the bleacher slab.

The entire year posed such a formidable challenge. Yet the Kingdom Nation saw victories after victories, blessings after blessings, through faith and trust in the Father Almighty who is the lone source of power through the Son.

2021

The King Dome plows ahead, leaping over one hurdle after another until
we were putting on its finishing touches.

The first quarter of the year made way for the installation of the King Dome roof downspout, an essential element of the gutter system.

The King Dome exterior now showed off a stately facade after the successful installation of the glass curtain walls and aluminum cladding which emits flashes of multicolor hued lights at night. As the exterior was 100% completed, the architects and engineers were focused on the intramural of the entire megastructure.

At the King Dome Plaza, on the other hand, water pipes, submersible pumps and nozzles were installed for the grand dancing fountain sporting an impressive LED lights display that mesmerizes onlookers with its kaleidoscope of colors. The accompanying sound effects while the fountain does its tricks are nothing short of superb, making the whole audio-visual demonstration an awe-inspiring experience.

The electrical-mechanical building, referred to by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy as the heart and lungs of the King Dome, plays a vital role for the operation of all the electrical connections. This building houses the chillers, the air conditioners, and the generators that are all indispensable for the electromechanic activity of the biggest indoor cathedral in the world.

Before the year ended, the two giant LED screens were installed. The Appointed Son of God likened the two LED screens to two big eyes — the windows of the soul and spirit — where people can look into and find a new spiritual life through the message of the Son. This is contrary to the carnality being projected in the world that corrupts the mind and soul. These windows depict the beauty of the Almighty Father’s creation, His goodness, our praise and worship, and all the marvelous things that He has done for us through all these years.

Love Beyond Measure

In what was like an allegory, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy noted that the King Dome is like the Ark of Noah. We, Kingdom Citizens, are the people on board the Ark. We constitute the Ark of Salvation — being the soul and spirit of this megastructure. The flowing water surrounding the plaza is symbolic of the New Jerusalem — being the water center of the world in these last days.

For sons and daughters of the Father Almighty, there is more to this exquisite structure than meets the eye. It is the blood, sweat, tears, sacrifice, and uncompromising faith of the Father’s spiritual warriors — the faithful flock led by the Appointed Son. Our unparalleled unity is the shibboleth that sets us apart and distinct from the rest of the nations — always ready to lay down our lives for the greatest cause.

It is always what we can do for Him, not what He can do for us. That stems from the purest of intentions — our unconditional love and loyalty to the Almighty Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, through His Appointed Son.

It is the kind of love that galvanizes us to work towards a common goal. For everything we do, from the least to the greatest, is always for the glory of the Almighty Father through the Son. It is called love beyond measure.