Iguig Calvary Hills ~ your one-stop "Station"

The second part of Teh's trilogy, presenting one of the pilgrimage sites in Cagayan Valley - the Iguig Calvary Hills! :)

Getting here: In Tuguegarao City, ride a tricycle to Don Domingo parkingan. Pero siyempre kung malapit ka lang doon, sipagin maglakad baka ma-stroke. Pagdating sa parkingan, maghanap ng van na papuntang Alcala, Amulung o Santa Ana (basta papuntang norte). Ang one-way fare sa van (to or from Iguig) ay nasa Php 50 bawat pasahero. Dahil likas na mababait ang mga Cagayano (hindi ka nila pagtitripang iligaw), maaaring mag-request sa driver na ibaba ka sa kantong papunta sa Calvary Hills. :)

~ The Uphill Entrance ~

Pagbaba ng van galing Tuguegarao, kinakailangan pang tumawid sa kabila upang makaakyat sa Calvary Hills. Napanganga na lang ako noong nakita ko kung gaano ka-steep ang aakyatin papunta sa entrance. Perfect penitensya ito lalo na sa mga katulad kong napabayaan sa kusina. Medyo maulan pa noong nagpunta ako roon kaya doble ingat ako sa paglalakad... So up we go! ^_^

The preamble of sacrifice.
The steep road to the Calvary Hills.

~ First stop: The 4-century old well ~

Pag-akyat ng Calvary, bago mo masilayan ang St. James Church, sa bandang kaliwa makikita ang balon na ito. I salute the local government of Iguig for having this site preserved. :)

Brief description of the 4-century old well.

Sadly, hindi na bumaba si Teh sa mismong well dahil mula sa itaas, natanaw kong sarado ito. Off-peak season kasi ako nagpunta at wala namang tao masyado kaya siguro hindi ito binuksan. Magwi-wish pa naman sana ako... :(

The well with a gray cover. Natakpan ng isang brick pillar... :(

~ Points of Interest before the Calvary Hills Proper ~

An outdoor altar with the great statue of the risen Lord. (14th station?)

The Obelisk Marker.
Served as a beacon light for Galleon traders sailing within the Cagayan River,
and signaled the church construction.

~ Facade of the St. James the Apostle Church (1765) ~

Brief history of the St. James the Apostle Church

The church front and its bell tower.

The 10 Commandment tablets and other signage. 
Makes me realize, the church is also called the Iguig Church.

The church rear on a gloomy afternoon.

~ The Calvary Hills ~

The Calvary's welcome signboard.

Amazed na amazed ako nang makita ko ang itinatagong kagandahan sa likod ng pader sa entrance. Kahit pa naulan noong nagpunta ako rito, nabighani pa rin ako ng view na makikita bago ang mga Stations of the Cross. Love at first sight. :)

Emoting Teh by the river...

Farm by the river. Tila walang hangganan ang mga bukirin.

During Holy Week, sabi ng aking gabay, dito sa gate na ito talaga pumapasok ang mga mag-i-Stations of the Cross. (Kaya last stations agad ang nakita ko roon sa tanging entrance na bukas).

The gate leading to the correct order of the Stations.

Brief description of the Calvary Hills.
(So 'eto talaga ang entrance kasi nandito 'yung description).

Mula sa 12th station, kinunan ko na lamang ng litrato ang mga naunang stations na kayang abutin ng aking lente. Hindi ko na kasi napuntahan ng malapitan ang mga stations dahil lumalakas na ang hangin at ulan. Pero nagsisisi akong hindi ko sila nalapitan dahil na-realize ko, pagsubok lang ni Lord ang malakas na hangin at ulan... :(

The 3rd and 4th Stations of the Cross.

The mid-events of the Stations of the Cross. (5th and 6th)

The later portions of the Stations of the Cross, from the 7th (farthest) until the 11th station (nearest).

Teh gazing at Jesus, lamenting with the statues.

The 12th Station: Jesus dies on the Cross. :'((

Another outdoor altar beside the 12th station.

The 13th station: The body of Christ is taken down from the cross.

Well, for the 14th station, which is 'yung paglilibing kay Jesus, I was not able to see larger-than-life statues depicting that scene. Might as well pray over it inside the St. James Church. But I was thinking, 'yung statue sa bungad kanina (the 4th picture of this post) ang 14th station, dahil it depicts the resurrection of Christ in front of the soldiers, above the empty tomb.

The resurrection of Christ, stunning the soldiers guarding the tomb.

~ The Souvenir Shop at the foot ~

Sa bawat tourist destination tulad ng Iguig Calvary Hills, hindi mawawala ang souvenir shop. May mga t-shirts, mugs, display figures, accessories, and rosaries ang shop na ito.

The kuya storekeeper.

Tuwing first time akong napunta sa isang pilgrimage site, it has always been my habit to buy a rosary as a souvenir. (At dahil walang stock ng t-shirt na sakto sa akin...)

Rosary ni Teh.

Sana pagbalik ko, ma-picture-ran ko na lahat ng stations. Kthanksbye...

Stay tuned for the last installment of Teh's Holy Week trilogy... Have a sacred week of reflection, everyone! :)