Holy Family HIlls: A place for pilgrims and tourists

The serene surroundings and life-size images of the Stations of the Cross, perfect for prayers and contemplation, have attracted pilgrims to Holy Family Hills in Guimaras. —PHOTOS BY HAZEL P. VILLA

SAN LORENZO, GUIMARAS—There is a place here that is perfect for a day of reflection or rest, away from the daily grind, especially on Holy Week.

Holy Family Hills at Barangay Tamborong sits on a 52-hectare hilly property surrounded by vegetation, a river, mango and other trees, as well as farm animals.

Built originally for priests who go on a pilgrimage, the meditation garden and spiritual retreat has life-size statues showing scenes from the Stations of the Cross and the Crucifixion of Christ.

Statues of saints

At a leisurely pace, it would take 30-45 minutes’ walk going from the first station to the 14th.

Also scattered around the property are the statues of St. Michael the Archangel, John Paul II, St. Jude Thaddeus, St. Therese of Lisieux, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Mother Teresa of Calcutta and St. Francis of Assisi.

Holy Family Hills gained popularity as a tourist attraction and a new pilgrimage site only recently. Development work began in 2001 and proceeded intermittently depending on donations, says Mario Escosa, 46, a native of Igbaras town in Iloilo province and one of the four regular caretakers of the place.

The statues began rising in October 2011 and were completed in four months. The crew came from Pampanga province and were led by sculptor Reynold Nolasco, who worked on a budget of P1.5 million.

Donations

Holy Family Hills officially opened to the public in 2012. It is being managed by Household of St. Joseph Shrine Foundation Inc. based in Pasig City.

Its founder, Rev. Msgr. Josefino S. Ramirez, used the donations of Metro Manila-based businessman Erwin Tan in developing the place since 1998.

To reach Holy Family Hills, visitors take a pump boat ride at Parola wharf in Iloilo City (beside City Mall) to Jordan, the capital of Guimaras. The tourism center has accredited tricycle drivers and minivans for rides over rough road.

Before the life-size statues and the Stations of the Cross are seen, visitors will have to pass by the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and a glass chapel beside a flame tree overlooking a giant cross.

There is also a Rosary Garden and life-size statues of the Sacred Heart, as well as the Seven Joys and Sorrows of St. Joseph. The statue of the Holy Family stands at 4.57 meters (15 feet).

Though no entrance fee is collected, Lydio Labordo, 54, the village watchman at the gate, says donations are appreciated to pay for maintenance work.

A small souvenir shop sells knickknacks and snacks.

In keeping with the spiritual nature of the place, Labordo says some tourists who are improperly dressed, such as those wearing skimpy clothing, have been turned away.

The only accommodations available are reserved for priests and other religious personnel, not tourists.