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Its almost 4:00 in the morning on April 3, 2015, Good Friday, when I woke up wondering where will I be spending my vacation leave. I didn't want to just let the day pass without doing nothing, I didn't want to let the day pass watching old movies from local channels.
Traditionally, some local TV stations go off the air, but some TV stations broadcast old movies from Nora Aunor's Himala, FPJ's Panday, Vilma Santos' Relasyon, and many others. These and other old time movies are the ones I've been watching during Lenten week. I grew up watching them during holy week since we had our first black and white TV, back in the days where the whole family get together and watch TV without cellphones, tablets and other gadgets on hand, and yes I had an awesome childhood because I get to experience real quality time with my family wherein you get to stay together - no social media, no Facebook, no Instagram, no smartphones.
Traditionally, some local TV stations go off the air, but some TV stations broadcast old movies from Nora Aunor's Himala, FPJ's Panday, Vilma Santos' Relasyon, and many others. These and other old time movies are the ones I've been watching during Lenten week. I grew up watching them during holy week since we had our first black and white TV, back in the days where the whole family get together and watch TV without cellphones, tablets and other gadgets on hand, and yes I had an awesome childhood because I get to experience real quality time with my family wherein you get to stay together - no social media, no Facebook, no Instagram, no smartphones.
Its Good Friday and I was eager to stay out and be with God to give thanks for all the blessings I had received and will be receiving :)
Its almost 6:00 AM and I found myself boarding an airconditioned bus in Buendia Pasay bound for Lucena in Quezon Province. Travel time takes 4 hours but since its Good Friday, I was able to reach Lucena Grand Central in 3 and a half hours. From Lucena Grand Central, I rode a jeepney going to Lucban, but it took me 2 hours before I reach Lucban because of heavy traffic due to the huge number of pilgrims going to Kamay ni Hesus. Travel time to Lucban usually takes 40 minutes or less but don't expect that to happen during holy week (if you know what Im sayin')
I was totally wowed by the huge number of pilgrims from all walks of life, all lined up, very disciplined and patiently waited for their turn to step in the gates of Kamay ni Hesus.
Kamay ni Hesus was founded by Rev. Father Joseph Ayala Faller in 1998. Fr. Joseph, a well known healing priest holds healing mass every Wednesday and Saturday at 9:30 in the morning.
You can't say that you've been to kamay ni Hesus without braving its 300+ steps going to the top of the hill where you can find the Statue of Christ, a 50-foot statue and is considered as the 3rd largest statue in the world.
On your way up to the hill, you will find a number of statues channeling the 14 Stations of the Cross.
Upon reaching the the top of the hill, you'll see the entire Lucban which will surely take your breath away... beautiful!
I don't know, I was a bit disappointed with what i smelled when i sat down at the back of the statue. These may be from other visitors who were not able to hold their pee. I hope the management of the site find time to stage a temporary male or female urinals or better yet a small rest room where visitors can pee...
Kamay ni Hesus is not only home to the largest statue and the 14 stations of the cross, on the right side of this 5 hectare land houses some of the life size statues of Adam and Eve, Garden of Eden, Noah's Ark and others. I wasn't able to take pictures of these magnificent statues as i run out of battery...
Truly, Lucban is not just about Pahiyas Festival that is being celebrated every 2nd week of May but also a haven for pilgrimage and the faithful.
Lucban, Quezon...conquered! :)
