TACLOBAN CITY — The city government here vowed to beautify its own version of Calvary Hill not only during Lenten season but whole year round to make the site one of the top tourist attractions in the regional capital.
Mayor Cristina Romualdez said the site is only cleaned up in time for the Holy Week, but under the new plan, the city government will step up efforts to maintain the hill throughout the year.
“We have a beautiful plan for Calvary Hill for walking and hiking tours. We’re trying to get funding assistance from the national government through endorsement from the Regional Development Council,” Romualdez said Tuesday.
Since almost all tourists in the region arrive and depart at the Tacloban Airport, the city needs to develop local sites to give tourist the reason to extend their stay in the city, the mayor said.
This Holy Week, thousands are expected to hike the Calvary Hill in Siren district as part of the Roman Catholic’s tradition of penance and recital of prayers.
The Hill is perfect for hiking tour as it showcases a view of the city’s downtown, San Juanico Bridge, and San Juanico Strait.
The pilgrimage site with concrete stairs for climbing, has 14 life-sized stations made of pure cement and painted white and of some primary colors.
On the top of the hill is the statue of the resurrected Jesus Christ facing the city with arms stretched out.
Some throw money on the statue, which has a screen fence, to ask fulfillment of their wishes and petitions.
The place was named after the hill outside ancient Jerusalem where Jesus Christ was crucified. The scene was replicated around the world being used by Roman Catholics as part of their worship and veneration of God.
Aside from Calvary Hill in this city, the local government is also proposing for the development of Balugo Falls in the city’s Salvacion village.
The falls, located 10 kilometers north of the city, is a developed area with beautiful tropical trees, flowers and shrubs, swimming pools, nursery for vegetables and tree saplings. (Sarwell Meniano/PNA)
