TRAVEL DIARY #1: My Pilgrimage to El Salvador's Statue of Divine Mercy
Hey Guys,
I am going to share with you my memorable moments in Misamis Oriental here in my home country.
I have been busy with my work recently but still I got to manage my off duties effectively and spend those days on travelling to interesting places. Although it’s no longer Holy Week, it’s not too late to visit the famous Holy Place in Mindanao.
The Statue of Divine Mercy is one of the attractive tourist’s spots in El Salvador, Misamis Oriental here in Mindanao, Philippines. This is known to be the tallest statue that have ever built in this whole catholic country.
What’s interesting about this beautiful statue is that it was finished on 2008 and all of its building expenses were paid for only from donations.
I was so excited and almost cried as I entered the entrance. I realized that before anyone can enter on that holy place, a female pilgrim must first wear a very long skirt for modesty while the rest of the pilgrims should bring colored candles according to specific intentions/ prayers.
At first, I thought I would only walk up to few stairs going to the statue, but I was surprised.
Pilgrims would have to take 200 steps to reach the top platform where the statue is located.
The top place looked so amazing and beautiful. It was a perfect landscape for someone who loves peace and tranquility.
I could actually take a lot of pictures around and appreciate how beautifully this place was built.
The statue measures about 50 foot tall in which when you finally get to the topmost stairs, you could see the overlooking Macajalar Bay, which is a southern island of Mindanao.
When I got to look at the facade of the statue, the statue of Jesus Christ looked very mighty and powerful. It was a giant Holy figure that emits a lot of miracles on every prayer. There were many pilgrims went on this place. Some of them are even foreigners.
Prior to our way up to the peak of the statue, I as well as the other pilgrims underwent a brief orientation about do’s and don’ts within the premises. And a lot of miracles with such statue were told such as the “sun dance”, shadows and the holy appearance of an image of Jesus Christ through the sky during Holy Week. We were asked to leave all of our personal belongings on the baggage counter including cameras and cell phones in the baggage counter that’s why I did not have any pics of the “Heart of Jesus” which was the topmost area of the statue.
As I went step by step through upstairs, I suddenly wept and got overwhelmed with my prayer. All the sorrows and worries within my heart and mind suddenly vanished for a while as I was getting closer and closer to the Heart of Jesus. I felt His presence as I endured the sights of heights below. As soon as I reached His heart and while looking at the giant face of Him, I gave up my hidden problems and supplication to Him and prayed in silence…
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY BRIEF TRAVEL DIARY. YOU CAN SHARE WITH ME YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES ABOUT YOUR PILGRIMAGE.
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