The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Kawit, Cavite has been named a finalist in the World Architecture Festival, placing a Philippine-designed place of worship among the world’s most notable architectural projects.

The church, designed by Dominic Galicia Architects, will be presented at the festival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this November.

Its design is anchored on the Vesica Piscis, an ancient Christian symbol formed by two overlapping circles that represent the union of the spiritual and physical realms. This geometry shapes the church’s overall plan and structure, from its layout to its front and rear elevations.

Built on a 19,000-square-meter site at the entrance of a mixed-use development in Evo City, the church features a 25-meter-high vaulted interior that can accommodate up to 1,000 worshippers. Supporting spaces, including an adoration chapel and parish offices, complete the symbolic form.

Natural light serves as a defining feature of the building. Oriented along an east-west axis, the church captures shifting daylight—from morning light streaming through a stained-glass window to afternoon sun casting prismatic patterns through rosary-like openings—culminating in a multicolored illumination of the altar near sunset.

Festival organizers said the project highlights how architecture can transform light into a spiritual and sensory experience, underscoring the growing global presence of Filipino design.