Location: Ajat, Iguig, Cagayan Valley, Philippines
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.
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
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.
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.
