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:)