Kamay ni Hesus Shrine and Healing Center (Lucban, Quezon)

From Tayabas City, we drove on to Lucban where we visited the 5-hectare Kamay ni Hesus Shrine and Healing Center.   This all year round destination has a chapel where healing masses are conducted every Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 9:30 in the morning, by the gifted and well known healing priest Rev. Fr. Joseph “Joey” Ayala Faller.  Inaugurated in February 2002, its construction was financed with money Fr. Faller inherited from the family heirloom and funds solicited from Quezonians and other Filipino donors from various communities in the United States.

The Healing Chapel

The Healing Chapel

The shrine features a huge outdoor museum with life-size religious replicas of characters and scenes from the Holy Bible such as Adam and Eve, The Last Supper, the Garden of Eden, Pieta, among others.  Its stunning and interesting Noah’s Ark House of Prayer, with its conference hall, refectory and accommodation, is a venue for closed-door spiritual retreats, recollections and seminars for the couples and families in need of marital and spiritual renewal.

Noah's Ark House of Prayer

Noah’s Ark House of Prayer

Visitors can also visit the Resurrected Christ, Museo de la Manos de Jesus, the Gallery of Saints (saints from all over the world),  the Garden of Eden (statues of Adam and Eve sharing the first story of man and God), The Angels Hill (a nice garden filled with angels with different looks and poses), The Marian Park and The Murals (displayed inside the Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church, it serves as the altar).

The Pieta

The Pieta

There’s also a children’s playground, souvenir shops, a wishing pond and a canteen serving Lucban’s famous and delicious pancit habhab plus other delectable dishes such as sisig, chopsuey, fried chicken, fried lapu-lapu and many others.

Via Dolorosa Grotto of Healing and Way of Purification

Via Dolorosa Grotto of Healing and Way of Purification

For many, however, the highlight of a visit to Kamay ni Hesus is climbing the steps (301 steps on the left and 321 on the right, the difference dues to the smaller steps on the right) going up the top of the steep hill (representing Mt. Calvary) to the Via Dolorosa Grotto of Healing and Way of Purification.  Here, you can find the 50-ft. tall statue of the Ascending Christ, sculpted by Mr. Bernardo “Bernie” Caber.  Currently the world’s third tallest Risen Christ statue, it can be seen from miles away.

The Crucifixion

The Crucifixion

Lanny, Jandy and I, both first timers here, decided to make the climb.  Though it was a steep climb, we didn’t feel too exhausted as scaling the 300 ++ steps were done in stages, with landings along the way with stunning, life size statues of the 14 Stations of the Cross. Upon reaching the top in about an hour and a half, we had a spectacular bird’s eye view of the town, truly a rewarding experience.

The Ascending Christ

The Ascending Christ

Opposite the hill of the Ascending Christ is the Luklukan ni Maria, a smaller hill with a statue of the Virgin Mary looking up to her son Jesus Christ as well as scenes in the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary.  The shrine is also a favorite Holy Week destination. 

View from top of the hill

View from top of the hill

Jandy, Lanny and the author descending Via Dolorosa

Jandy, Lanny and the author descending Via Dolorosa

Kamay ni Hesus Shrine and Healing Center: Brgy. Tinamnan, Lucban, Quezon. Tel: (042) 540 2206. Email: info@lucbankamaynihesus.com.  Website:  www.lucbankamaynihesus.com.

How To Get There: Lucban is located 160.36 km. from Manila and 23.7 kms. north of Lucena City. From Manila, it can be accessed via the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX, exit at Turbna) and the Manila East Road.

 

Malagonlong Bridge (Tayabas City, Quezon)

Leaving the Tayabas City proper, Jandy, Maricar, Violet, Lanny and I continued on our way to Lucban.  About 2.4 kms. outside the city, we made a stopover at the now unused, Spanish-era Malagonlong Bridge across the Dumaca-a River.  This wasn’t the first time I’ve seen this bridge, having seen it on our way to Mauban to attend the Maubanog Festival 3 years ago.

Malagonlong Bridge

Malagonlong Bridge

However, this would the first time I would actually explore it, crossing the bridge’s 445 ft. (136 m.) length to the other end. The first time, I just took pictures of it from the modern, girder-type concrete bridge parallel to it. On August 12, 2011, it was declared as a National Cultural Treasure under the Historic Bridges of Tayabas. On its eastern side is the plaque installed by the National Historical Institute.

The plaque installed by the National Historical Institute (NHI)

The plaque installed by the National Historical Institute (NHI)

An older plaque installed at one of the bridge's balconies

An older plaque installed at one of the bridge’s balconies

The oldest in the province, the charming, ivy-covered Malagonlong Bridge (Puente del Malagonlong) is one of the few remaining and the longest Spanish colonial, arch-type bridge in the country. One of 11 Spanish-era bridges within Tayabas City, it connects Brgy. Mateuna with Brgy. Lakawon.

Dumaca-a River

Dumaca-a River

Built with about 100,000 adobe blocks, limestone and molasses, it was started, during the term of gobernadorcillo Don Joaquin Ortega’s term, by Spanish Franciscan parish priest Fr. Antonio Mateus in 1840 and completed 10 years later during the term of gobernadorcillo Don Julian S. Francisco. 

The bridge's 6 m. wide carriageway

The bridge’s 6 m. wide carriageway

The bridge has five spans, the first arch with a height and width of 36 ft (11 m); the second at 33 ft (10 m); the fourth at 30 ft (9.1 m) and the fifth at 18 ft (5.5 m). It has a width of about 20 ft (6 m.) and six small balconies.

The author posing at one of the bridge's balconies

The author posing at one of the bridge’s balconies

How to Get There: Tayabas City is located 147.28 kms. from Manila and 10.62 kms. from Lucena City. Malagonlong Bridge is a 15-20 min. tricycle ride from the city center.