Kawa Kawa 2018: Pre- Lenten Visit

Kawa Kawa 2018 
Pre- Lenten Visit

The Kawa- Kawa Hill and Nature Park in Ligao, Albay province 
is a hill without a hilltop as there is a hollowed crater- like 
depression at the summit.The name was derived from the Bicol
 word “Kawa or Caldero” as its shape resembles a cauldron.

I featured Kawa- Kawa in this blog few years ago

and it’s been a while since we last visited the park.

We decided to return this year, a week before the

Lenten season to avoid the massive crowd. Gone

was the sunflower farm at the base of the hill.

^^^2013 Photo

The Carmelite Church was almost done,

…and had and impressive tabernacle and altar.

 

There were still few people during our visit

so I was able to take photos of the stations

of the cross sculptures without distractions.

The First Station, a massive sculpture of the

Last Supper was located at the base of the hill.

The station of the cross novena guide

are prominently posted nearby to make

is easier for those who wanted to pray. 

A little way up the hill, is the second station, 
the Agony in the Garden of Gethesmane

The third, Pilate condemns Jesus to die,

…the fourth, Jesus is scourged

and crowned  with thorns, 

…and fifth stations, Jesus accepts his cross,

…are located way up a very steep hillside, and 
it  was fine as they provided concrete benches in

between where pilgrims can rest on their way up.

From the sixth, Jesus falls for the first time, and  

all the succeeding stations of the cross are easier to

navigate as they are located at the flat summit rim,

…with a view of the city of Ligao on one side,

…and the is a hollowed crater-

like depression on one side. 

 

After the seventh station, Simon of

Cyrene  helps Jesus with the cross,

…a view deck was built with a panoramic

view of Albay’s third district city of Ligao,

and the town centers Oas and Polangui.

 

The succeeding stations of the cross

are located lining the inner sides of the

summit rim beginning from station eight,

Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.

When we got to Station 9, Jesus is crucified,
we were appalled to see small children making what

was supposed to be sacrosanct images their playground.

Interestingly they were with their parents and several

adult companions and they never seemed to mind.

To our horror, they even had a group picture right

up the dais where the holy images are set as an altar.

We left for the tenth station where Jesus

promises his kingdom to the repentant thief,

….but a little later, the rowdy

family did the same thing again.

They were all over the raised platform,

noisily running around, taking pictures  

unmindful of other pilgrims praying.

 

We decided to slow down and let the obnoxious

family go ahead and we hade  peace and quiet at

 last when we got to the eleventh station where

 Jesus entrusts Mary and John to each other.

 

The site of the twelfth station

 where Jesus dies on the cross;

 

…and the thirteenth where

Jesus is laid in the tomb,

 

…offers the best view of

the crater like summit.

 

The Kawa kawa station of the cross ends at

the fourteenth, the Resurrection of Jesus,

located a the topmost part of the crater rim.

 

There is also a view deck at the rear

side of the last station that offers a

magnificent view of Mt. Masaraga.

  

 

We felt sad though that there were

 a lot  of trash left by irresponsible

tourists strewn on the view deck floor,

 

 

…despite the glaring sign

asking them no to do so.

In fact we have spotted a lot of trash though

on our way up: on the side of the pathways, 

 

…in the lawns,

 

 

 

 …along the trail, buried in the leaves, 

 

…despite the numerous signage requesting the

guests to dispose their trash on proper places,.

On the way down, we spotted an aviary and

we marveled on the several captive birds inside.

 

 

We left Kawa- kawa a little after noontime,

 

...and we were glad to visit the pilgrimage site

earlier avoiding the massive holy week crowd.

Read the link below for related post

Kawa- Kawa Hill and Nature Park 
Ligao City, Albay (Bicol Cuaresma Series 3)