THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS IN CALVARY HILLS OF CAGAYAN VALLEY

Location: Ajat, Iguig, Cagayan Valley, Philippines

Calvayry Hills in Iguig of Cagayan Valley

Calvary Hills is located in Barangay Ajat of the Municipality of Iguig, a municipality next to Tuguegarao City of the province of Cagayan Valley which is 19.3 kilometers from the city center of Tuguegarao for 35 minutes drive via Cagayan Valley Road/Pan-Philippine Highway/AH26.

Calvary Hills marker

This religious site is now considered the Mount Calvary of the Far East initiated by Rev. Fr. Rogelio Cortez and constructed in 1982. It is located in a sprawling 4 hectares of rolling hills overlooking the Cagayan River which resembles the Jordan River. This site features the 14 Stations of the Cross and larger than life-size concrete statues depicted Jesus Christ suffering before His death at Mount Calvary and likewise the giant statue of the Resurrection is now considered a major Pilgrimage tourist destination.

THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS

1st Station: Jesus is condemned to death

2nd Station: Jesus carries His cross

3rd Station: Jesus falls the first time

4th Station: Jesus meets His mother

5th Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry His cross

6th Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

7th Station: Jesus falls the second time

8th Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

9th Station: Jesus falls the third time

10th Station: Jesus' clothes are taken away

11th Station: Jesus is nailed on the cross

12th Station: Jesus dies on the cross

13th Station: The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross

Unfortunately, I haven't seen the 14th Station which depicts that Jesus is placed in the tomb. Meanwhile, the following are pictures taken within Calvary Hills.

The scenic hills with the backdrop of residential houses

Students tend to use the spacious hillsides for practices, informal meetings and rehearsals

Facade of the 18th-Century San Antonio de Galicia Parish Church as an entry point to the Calvary Hills

The rear view of San Antonio de Galicia Parish Church

While at the 13th Station of the Cross

Photo taken by my service tricycle driver for the nth time

Yes! Calvary Hills is in the municipality of Iguig

HOW TO GO THERE AND OTHER CONCERNS

There are number of daily trips of Victory and Florida bus liners in Sampaloc of Manila which runs 479.5 kilometers for a road travel via Pan-Philippine Highway/AH26 for 9 - 12 hours considering the traffic conditions along the way. If you travel alone through DIY arrangement (which means cheaper by cost), it is highly recommended that you charter a tricycle from the Tuguegarao City to Iguig. Iguig is another town so, it is really very far. Try to haggle the price between P300 to P350, that is round trip. There are no public utility jeeps (PUJ) servicing these municipalities. The best time to go there is early in the morning and late in the afternoon. An entrance fee is charged for P10 per head.

As an alternative, coming from the city center of Tuguegarao, look for the trike terminal going to the van terminal going to Iguig. It will only cost P12 per head and maximum capacity is 5. The van going to the jump-off point of Calvary Hills cost P30 per head. From the jump off point, you can either walk or take another trike but it is not far trekking up the hill. Take the same route back to the city. Just a word of caution, vans going to the city are only up to 6:00 P.M. and trikes coming from Iguig may charge you round trip. It is safer in the morning.

One thing, I noticed. On my way to Iguig, I saw buses going to Sta. Ana of Cagayan Valley and Aparri, passing thru the same highway. But the problem is, if you will not charter a tricycle then, going back to Tuguegarao is a problem. While if you charter a trike, you have already a driver and photographer.