Revisiting Cagayan Valley’s Mount Calvary

SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela — For residents of this city and nearby provinces, Holy Week would not be complete without a visit to Dariok Hill, one of the region’s most-sought-after places of worship.

Thousands of devotees were again expected to converge here for a trek to Dariok Hill, this city’s highest peak, which is located in Barangay Balintocatoc, which is now becoming a favored destination for those seeking spiritual rejuvenation and renewed faith during the Holy Week.

Mayor Amelita Navarro, who had transformed the once idle hill into one of Cagayan Valley’s major pilgrim sites, especially during Good Friday, assured the ‘safety and security’ of Christian devotees who were again expected to come in droves to witness the re-enactment of Christ’s passion and resurrection.

This major religious event, which has been in place since 2001, would be captured through huge replicas of biblical characters that played major roles in Jesus Christ’s most trying moments.

A devout Catholic, Navarro said that the spiritual event will be dramatized through more than 80 gold and bronze replicas of religious characters led by Jesus Christ and other protagonists in the ‘play,’ which includes the 12 disciples, Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene and the Roman soldiers.

These more than life-sized images or statues were created in a very vivid way to really capture the drama that transpired during Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Each statue or images, she said, cost at least P20,000.

Navarro said that the statues were designed in 2001 by Fernando Leaño, one of Marikina’s finest sculptors. The development of the 10-hectare hill as a major pilgrim site has been made through personal contributions from the city residents, including those who are now residing abroad.

Last year, Navarro said the Department of Tourism has donated P1 million for the construction of additional religious amenities, which include a chapel and cottages to make the place more spiritually reinvigorating for local and foreign tourists.

Dariok Hill’s re-enactment site is a 50-meter uphill trek from the first images of the Last Supper to Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.

"This is rolled into one in Dariok Hill. Truly, Santiagueños and other Christian believers from all walks of life converge in the Hill to witness the religious event," said Navarro.

Janet Francia, a regular visitor to Dariok Hill, said that every year there is a tremendous increase in the number of pilgrims coming from other provinces like Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Cagayan.

"Upon reaching Dariok Hill, one cannot help but feel the extreme serenity and spirituality of the place," said Vergel Sensano, another regular visitor of the place.

"Dariok Hill is a perfect place for souls longing for renewed faith on Jesus Christ," said Delfin Delin, publisher of the newsweekly Luzon Inquirer based here.