A towering 50-foot statue of Jesus Christ overlooking the blue sea water of Macajalar Bay at the Divine Mercy Hills has become the number one pilgrimage spot during Holy Week in Misamis Oriental.
Department of Tourism 10 Assistant Regional Director Decius Esmedalla said thousands of devotees flock to the Divine Mercy Shrine every holy week to pray and seek solemnity in the nine-hectare complex surrounding the towering religious figure.
“It is our number one pilgrimage spot during the Holy Week and we expect devotees from all over Mindanao to come and pray,” Esmedalla said.
Constructed in 2008, the Divine Mercy Shrine was built through donations from devotees. Until the present, caretakers charge no entrance fee, and only token donations are accepted to enter and pray at the church.
Devotees can reach the Divine Mercy Shrine in El Salvador, Misamis Oriental by bus or jeepneys. Reaching the highway near the shrine, devotees can hire a habal-habal or motorcycle with a driver for hire.
The shrine is only a 30-minute ride by taxi or Grab from the Laguindingan airport in Misamis Oriental.
Esmedalla said that aside from the Divine Mercy Shrine, there are also other pilgrimage sites where devotees can go during the Holy Week.
In Cagayan de Oro, Esmedalla said there are two popular Holy Seek destinations namely the Malasag Hills in Barangay Cugman and Guadalupe Shrine in Barangay Tablon.
Esmedalla said the three-kilometer climb to the Malasag Hills is less demanding for devotees who follow the Stations of the Cross on a steep path until they reach the Chapel of the Birhen sa Medalya Milagrosa (Virgin of the Miraculous Medal).
To reach the starting point of the Malasag Hills which is only a few minutes from the city, devotees can ride jeepneys from Cagayan de Oro población. Fares are usually less than 50 pesos.
Esmedalla said the pilgrimage at Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine is a bit challenging for devotees but like the Malasag Hills, it is located in the heart of Cagayan de Oro.
At the pilgrimage of Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, devotees have to cross the winding Umalag River nine times to reach the statue of the Holy Virgin and chapel. There are barangay tanods and volunteers to help the devotees in crossing the knee-deep Umalag River.
Esmedalla said devotees can also venture out to Jasaan, a town located 32 kilometers or an hour’s ride from Cagayan de Oro, and hear Mass or pray at the Immaculate Conception Parish Church.
The parish church of Jasaan was constructed in 1887 and Baroque style architecture by the Jesuit priest Father Juan Herras. The National Museum declared the Immaculate Conception Parish Church as a National Cultural Treasure on July 31, 2001.
If devotees are lucky, they can catch a glimpse at the museum beside the church which houses century-old Candelaria and religious art.
To go to Jasaan town, devotees can go to Agora Integrated Bus Terminal in Barangay Lapasan and catch a bus, van, and jeepney to the town. Bus tickets cost around P180.
Esmedalla said the final stop for the pilgrimage tour in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental is the Miraculous Healing Water Pool in Binuangan town in Misamis Oriental.
The shrine is located by the beach and devotees attest to its healing waters.
To reach Binuangan town, devotees can also go to Agora Integrated Bus Terminal in Barangay Lapasan and like go to Jasaan town, catch a bus, van, or jeepney. The fares are a bit higher though because the town is located a little farther away.
