In Albay’s Ligao, the Lenten road leads to Kawa-Kawa Hill

MORE THAN TRADITION Pilgrims take the 500-meter uphill climb to join the Way of the Cross at Kawa-Kawa Hill in Ligao City, Albay on Good Friday to pray, reflect and see the life-sized statues that tell the story of Jesus Christ. —LIGAO CITY TOURISM OFFICE

LIGAO CITY–More than 6,000 pilgrims made their way up the slopes of Kawa-Kawa Hill and Natural Park here during Holy Week, taking part in the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) as part of their annual tradition and sacrifice.

The “kawa” (cualdron) shaped hill in Barangay Tuburan has grown into a major pilgrimage site in Albay that it drew thousands of pilgrims and devotees seeking to commemorate the Passion of Christ in a setting both solemn and scenic.

For many, the 500-meter journey around the summit, lined with 14 life-sized Stations of the Cross, was more than a religious obligation.

“It is not just a tradition but it’s a transformation, you come with burdens and leave the area with peace,” said Mary Rose Garcia, a teacher from Baao town in Camarines Sur said in an interview on Good Friday.

Matthew Gozon, 29, from Metro Manila who brought his family for the first time, said coming to the site on Good Friday was “a way to reconnect” with his faith “and reflect on the sacrifices of Christ.”

“It’s humbling to walk among so many people who share the same faith,” he said.

Ready to assist

To accommodate the influx of visitors to this city, local authorities implemented traffic rerouting measures and selected designated parking areas to ease congestion around Barangay Tuburan.

Police officers and volunteer marshals were deployed to help manage crowd flow and ensure public safety; and medical stations were set up at key points around the hill, with personnel from the City Health Office, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Red Cross on standby to assist pilgrims affected by heat or fatigue.

“There are free cottages which serve as resting and picnic areas for pilgrims,” said Cecille Regino, Tourism Operations Officer II, told the Inquirer in a message on Friday.

Sanctuary

Despite the large turnout, the event remained peaceful and orderly.

Ligao Mayor Fernando Gonzalez, who owns Kawa-Kawa Hill and Nature Park, expressed gratitude for the respectful observance.

“Kawa-Kawa Hill and Natural park is not only a site of natural beauty; it’s a spiritual sanctuary where devotees can do their Way of the Cross in a place of respite. We are proud to be stewards of such a sacred tradition,” Gonzalez told Inquirer in a private message on Friday.