Tuesday, April 7, 2009

The Road to Via Cruzes


The weather is so warm today. It made me think of my hometown. The Holy week had just started. I missed going on a procession and the Stations of the Cross as early as 4AM. The ritual and reflections of Jesus’ passion is very much felt in our culture.

It is pretty busy in the island at this time of the year. A lot of local tourists go for a hike all around the island. Devout Catholics from all walks of life undergo penitence by walking the island’s 64-km circumferential road. I can only remember having so much fun staying at the roadside counting all the groups of people walking. All of my cousins would love to spend the Holy Week in the island to join the fun. I don’t recall it being so solemn. I even wished (as a kid) I can join the fun too! My Mom won’t allow us to go with some of our older cousins. She detests the idea of that yearly devotion called “Panaad”. She thought it’s a senseless sacrifice. We should just stay at home and go to church all throughout the Holy Week instead of going somewhere else.

Well, she maybe right. I had experienced it only once. I don’t want to leave the island without knowing what it really means. The whole journey was fun for the first 5 hours. We arrived at the highlight of the whole activity which is the Stations of the Cross around midnight. It is an uphill walk. Boy, I felt like I wanted to give up half-way. It’s unbelievably so exhausting. Who told me to do this? I thought. We slept on the grass on the roadside together with some other people with just our backpacks as our pillow. After a couple of hours, we started trekking once again before the sun comes out.

It was definitely hot and humid. The heat had worn us out. We never talked anymore. We even go ahead and far from each other. We’re just catching up later on. The dust is very exasperating. The backpack felt so much heavy. My feet were already swollen and I was walking with a stick for a few miles. If we stop, it would take us days to get back home. We walked as much as we can and try to rest for few minutes to eat.

Some residents were so nice to prepare free water and snacks. We wanted to finish the whole trek for just 2 days and one night. In fact, we did. It was quiet an experience. Whew! I would never do that again:)
Shawie

7 Grateful Heart's Words:

Duni said...

Hi Shawie,
well, I can finally load your blog again, thank goodness :)

Interesting post. I'm not much of a hiker, so I probably would have given up after an hour!
That must have been quite an experience.

take care,

Duni

ally said...

hi Shawie! You're very lucky to grow up in that paradise-like place... we also took pictures on that photo u posted! Geez! i really want to go back in Camiguin!!!

take care!

Census said...

What an achievement!! It sounds like it really was a sacrifice...well done for completing it.

Alicia said...

Hi Shawie,
I'm not extremely familiar with all the different rituals in Catholisism. I have only attended mass on a couple of occasions...(it was a very good experience) I think it's a wonderful whenever we do something in rememberance of our Savior's sacrifice, for truly it is the greatest sacrifice and love the world has ever or will ever know.

And I am with Ally on saying your home looks like a tropical paradise!

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Sometimes curiosity gets the better of us. We cannot rest until we experience something which others have done before. But God would be more please if we live a life of total commitment to Him and hang on to the grace of God by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. As it is, people still insist on having their own way in trying to save themselves. If that is so, God would have just prescribed norms for our salvation. But He gave His only begotten Son to save us. We just have to accept that grace of salvation by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior. Thanks for the pious post. God bless you always.

Jade Meng said...

Beautiful place. Trek brings you joy, expectation and pain at the same time. Nice blog.

Vikki said...

Wow! That sounds fun (and tiring)! I never had the time to do these things and I wish I could. :)