45,000 faithful flock to Albay’s Kawa-Kawa Hill

Ligao City, Albay (Google maps)

LIGAO CITY–About 45,000 people made the Lenten season hike at Kawa-Kawa Hill and Natural Park in this city to do the Catholic tradition of the Way of the Cross (Via Crucis) on Maundy Thursday.

Mila Monson, Ligao City tourism coordinator, said the number of tourists that visited the religious site broke previous records since Kawa-Kawa Hill was opened to the public around 10 years ago.

“Last year we have 41,000 and as of 5 p.m. (Thursday), we have 45,550 and we might hit 50,000,” she said.

The hill, which displays the 14 life-size sculptures depicting the passion of Christ from the Last Supper to the Resurrection, is situated on a 25-hectare lot in Tuburan village and is owned by Albay 3rd District Rep. Fernando Gonzalez. It is tagged as the pilgrim site during Lenten season in Albay province by Bishop Joel Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi.

For pilgrims like Yvette Joyce Nieva, 17, from Guinobatan town, and her friends, trekking the hill is their way of sharing and commemorating the hardships of Christ.

Gonzalez said “we are expecting more of the faithful to come tomorrow in order to pray and do the via crucis.”

She said senior citizens or persons with disability who would like to climb the hill would be assisted and will be given free rides on electric tricycles waiting at the site. /jpv