40,000 pilgrims hike Albay’s Kawa-kawa Hill for Holy Week

Thousands of pilgrims hike the Kawa-kawa hill in Lugano City, Albay to pray and reflect at the life-size stations of the cross every Lenten season. Photo by Michael Jaucian, Inquirer Southern Luzon

LIGAO CITY — About 40,000 pilgrims coming from different provinces in Bicol and other regions in the country flocked to Kawa-kawa Hill during Holy Week to pray and perform the 14 Stations of the Cross, a Christian tradition which represents the path Jesus Christ took on the way to his crucifixion.

The hill at Tuburan village, also known as “the hill without a hilltop” because of its cauldron shape, is a favorite Lenten destination.

The pilgrims have to climb the hill through steep roads and stone stairs to see the life-sized stations of the cross, beginning with the Last Supper and ending with the resurrection of Christ.

“We have recorded 40,000 individuals who visited the pilgrim site starting Maundy Thursday and 7 a.m. on Good Friday,” Albay 3rd District Rep. Fernando Gonzalez, owner of the Kawa-kawa Hill and natural park, said.

He said the number of tourists was expected to surge to 100,000 through Black Saturday until Easter Sunday.

Aside from the stations of the cross, there is also a Carmelite church at the hills for pilgrims to visit. A sunflower plantation and Bambusetum are also favorite spots in the area.