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. (SQM/PNA)
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