TALISAYAN Mayor Ciriaco Talines has assured the public that Sipaka Heights, a well-known pilgrimage site in Talisayan, will likely reopen by Holy Week in 2026.
Talines said the move responds to calls from local devotees and pilgrims who have been asking to reopen Sipaka Heights, known as the site of the “Pamalandong sa Talisayan,” a popular Lenten observance in the town.
“Aside from local devotees, many pilgrims have been hoping for the reopening of Sipaka Heights. It has long been a place of reflection and pilgrimage every Holy Week,” Talines said.
Sipaka Heights has been closed since March 2024 due to the ongoing construction of a P49.9-million zipline project that remains unfinished.
Talines said the annual “Pamalandong sa Talisayan” has become both a spiritual and tourism draw, attracting visitors from Misamis Oriental and neighboring areas.
Provincial Board Member Rommel Maslog, who previously served as mayor of Talisayan, said the annual religious event also provides economic opportunities for local residents.
“Every Holy Week, vendors selling candies, peanuts, and other snacks, as well as sidecar drivers, benefit financially from the influx of visitors,” Maslog said.
Talines, who once headed the town’s Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the number of tourists and devotees visiting Sipaka Heights typically ranges between 36,000 and 38,000 each year, depending on weather conditions.
He added that preparations for the reopening will begin soon, including clearing operations and road repairs in the area damaged by the zipline construction.
“Whether or not the zipline is completed, we will make sure the pilgrimage site will be accessible by next Holy Week,” Talines said.
Sipaka Heights was initially closed in March 2024 under former Mayor Rico Taray for safety reasons during the zipline project’s construction.
