KAMAY NI HESUS: Annual Vicita Iglecia

About Kamay ni Hesus...

Kamay ni Hesus is one of the Top 10 Lenten Destinations in the Philippines. It is located at Lucban, Quezon Philippines. 4-6hrs away from Manila. This is where a lot of devotees believe that miracles do happen in this Shrine. Continuous Planning and Development are done in order to preserve and maintain this Pilgrim Destination. Miracles and Healing were made possible and confrimed by Fr. Joseph Faller for he has healed many devotees during the celebration of the holy mass. Holy masses are regularly conducted and its schedule is posted for everyone to see. Set apart from healing and holy mass, most travelers are also coming to see the 300 steps Kamay ni Hesus Shrine. Steps going up to the Shrine contain Stations of the Cross that's why a lot of visitors stay here during lenten season. Serenity and tranquility will surmount you once you see closely the huge image of Jesus Christ! Most visitors reflect and pray and lean on their hands on the feet of the image to pray for their personal intentions. Some of them are also taking some pictures as a remembrance. Going up to the Shrine is not easy. You need to bring stuffs with you to protect yourself from the sun such as umbrella and cap. Wear comfortable clothes but it should not be daring, like mini-skirt, sando, sleeveless and the like, for caretakers do not allow people to enter the shrine if they are not wearing the prescribed clothes. You will perspire a lot so it's better to replace fluids that have been lost from your body by bringing water or any drinking beverages. In case you fail to consider these, there are lots of local shops in the surroundings where you can buy those. There are also "pasalubongs" or delicacies being sold by these shops. It also includes religious items, souvenir shirts, accessories etc. There are also bestseller foods around that you should definitely not miss such as their organic longganisa and pancit habhab which are originally produced by Lucban Quezon. So if you are in soul-searching and looking for a peaceful and tranquil place, I'm sure Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban, Quezon is one of the best destinations you must consider.

My personal Experience...
April 21, 2011, Thursday - My superfriends (Cha, Carlo, Siena, Marvin and Norie) and I decided to go to Kamay Ni Hesus in Lucban Quezon as our destination for our annual Vicita Iglecia. We left San Pedro, Laguna at 6:00am for we know that it's gonna be a long long trip for us to get there. Of course Hondat was with us (car's name)! We love Hondat! We started en-routing and passing by the different municipalities of Laguna such as Los Banos, Bay, Victoria, Pila, Sta. Cruz and Pagsanjan.  It has already been for years since my last visit in these places though I also live in Laguna however, I used to work in the north and haven't found much time going in these places.  As we were passing by these places, we exchanged thoughts, took some pictures and were appreciating the cold and fresh air breezing in these provinces as it touches our face. I love it! As we reached Pagsanjan we decided to take the Majayjay-Lucban Hi-way not knowing that there are lots of cliff roads there which worsened the car's condition. Finally, we reached Lucban Quezon after a very long trip.

We  parked our car a kilometer away from the Shrine and tried to walk to get there instead. As I got down from the car, I was mesmerized by what I see,  the Kamay Ni Hesus statue is  highly visible from the point of where we were in.. I was fascinated and surprised and felt blessed on the very first time I glanced on it. My friends and I walked together going there. It was raining then but that did not hinder us to continue walking and seek for the Shrine.

It was 30-minute-walk before we got there. As we arrived, we decided to stay at the church first and take some rest for we knew that climbing up the Shrine's going to be a very exciting and yet energy-consuming activity and it was still raining then. We went out of the Church, chose to eat first to boost our energy.

"Pancit Habhab"

"Pancit Habhab" (Php10) for our lunch. =) Accorcing to Ate, (the one who's selling the Pancit) that's actually the so called Pancit of Lucban wherein you are not supposed to use any kind of utensils to eat it, but rather use your hands or directly put it into your mouth! That's delicious though somewhat awkward but we decided to get some and try it! Ate also asked us to put few drops of vinegar in it.

Entrance going to Kamay ni Hesus Shrine

After we eat, we decided to line up for we were about to go up and climb up into the shrine.
 As we continue walking, we witnessed lots of sceneries and structures of the significant events and persons in the Bible such as the Noah's Arch, Adam and Eve etc.

It took us another approximately 30 min before we get into the Shrine proper.

From the feet of the Shrine, this is where we started venerating the Passion of Christ by praying the Stations of the Cross.

There are 14 Stations of the Cross. 

• Jesus is condemned to death
• Jesus is given his cross
• Jesus falls the first time
• Jesus meets His Mother
• Simon of Cyrene carries the cross
• Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
• Jesus falls the second time
• Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem
• Jesus falls the third time
• Jesus is stripped of His garments
• Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross
• Jesus dies on the cross
• Jesus' body is removed from the cross
• Jesus is laid in the tomb and covered in incense.

After the last station, finally we GOT there at the Kamay Ni Hesus Shrine.

After about 300 steps finally we were able to see it closer! It was indeed a fulfilling and rewarding experience. Ineffable! That's how I describe it. Being there and getting a chance to see it closer is indeed a heartwarming and overwhelming experience. I never missed the chance to pray and feel Him for that was indeed a once in a lifetime experience (I can always go there though). This encounter completed my Holy Week this 2011 for I believe I am blessed and continuously to be blessed in these coming years.

We stayed there for about 15 minutes and this is where we prayed our last prayer and intentions. Afterwhich, we decided to go down and take a rest first. We ate out again but this time it's no longer the Pancit Habhab. =) We took a rest for a little while and chose to walk back into the parking area and take into the car for us to arrive at home earlier.

It was another long trip, but this time we decided to take the Lousiana road instead of Majayjay for it is much easier and safer to pass by here.(If you'd like to have a more adventurous trip. take the Majayjay-Lucban Hi-way). However, things did not go well. Hondat's starting to malfunction! There were fumes coming out from the front hood that alarmed us and suspected that there's something wrong. Cha decided to stop driving and put water into it. We continued to drive but still same things happened. We put some more amount of water every now and then since Cha told us that the car overheated! Worse things occurred. The car stopped functioning! It was not starting! Gas station is about a km away from where we were in! We're running out of water! Fortunate enough, we were stranded in Pinagsanjan, Pagsanjan where some houses were yet visible and accessible. Cha and I went out of the car and asked a sari-sari store owner to give us some water. He gave us all the water that we need! We even asked for help from some people we know whom we think are knowledgeable in this kind of instances. Marvin called up his dad and I asked Raymund as well. When we were loaded of water needed by the car, we again put some more H2O, the car then started.

Hondat's Check-up with
matching Policeman! =O

Until we arrived at the Pagsanjan "bayan" where "senakulo" was then going-on. Cha and I concluded that that was the time that we need to ask for a professional or technical help. We stayed at a Shell station to look for a "mekaniko" to help us. We met different people who were trying to assist us. Kuya Dong, the electrician who checked and helped us fixing the technicalities told us that the blower that gives coolness to the radiator is not functioning. That's why it overheated!





Another problem has arisen, we're running out of cash! LOL! and we were supposed to pay Kuya Dong Php950! I still have some money in my ATM though but this is what we did,( take a look!) Remember that there's a Senakulo in the Plaza, one of the kuyas informed us that Gov. ER Estregan was also there! Cha, Carlo, Norie and I did not miss the chance to take advantage this shall I say destiny LOL! Yes! We asked for his assistance, for a monetary help from our dear Gov! LOL! Luckily, he did not fail us! He gave us Php1000! LOL! It was somehow embarrassing but proud to say we did it! Unforgettable! right?

It's 11:00pm already when we got out from the Town proper of Pagsanjan. We also tried to drop by at UPLB but since it's too late already then and Siena felt something creepy, (according to her, she saw a little girl walking together with three people who were also passing by inside the campus), we chose not to roam around anymore but rather get out from the campus and eat elsewhere instead . We decided to take snacks first at Shell Northbound SLT. We stayed there for an hour and took a nap. After 1 more hour. We arrived safely at San Pedro, Laguna! Woooh!

That was indeed a meaningful, exhilarating, overwhelming and legendary! As if we're in a movie! That was exciting and yet fulfilling! A lot of realizations were made. We're no longer a kid! We need to be independent and try to seek help in instance like this! This experience does not only strengthen our faith but also our friendship!

We never fail thanking the Lord in situations like these! We were never scared for we believe His existence sufficed! We will continue to seek for Him and journey with Him! As we continue to magnify our devotion to Him.