My first glimpse of Banawa's Celestial Garden

Hello, Hive!

It's Fri-YAY. How will you be spending the weekend? Out in the woods? Curling with a book? Movie date? Or a day with your pile of laundry? Whichever it is, I wish you enjoy to your heart's content.

As for me, I will be in the office during the weekend, working and hoping "I'm out there". But I did have the day off yesterday and was able to visit the mountains, even for a short time. So join me as I recount what we did.

Celestial Gardens

Truth is, I have lost count of the times I hiked Pamutan Trail. I've made a lot of memories here, listened to an assortment stories, forged new friendships, and learned hard lessons along the way. Safe to say that this trail has been a silent witness to my growth not just as a hiker but as a person.

But in my many years of going back and forth in Pamutan Trail, there was still one section I haven't been to yet. Although technically not a part of the trail, it is a familiar spot not just among mountaineers but Cebuanos in general.

Just before the final assault going to the Pamutan Trail' infamous "stairway to heaven," hikers pass by a scenic landscape that offers a 180-degree view of Cebu City downtown, SRP viaduct, Kawit Pont, and the country's longest and tallest bridge, Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX). This is where you'll find Celestial Garden, which is a memorial park owned and managed by the Tanchan Foundation, Inc. Locals often refer to it as Good Shepherd due to its close proximity to the convent of the Good Shepherd Sisters but it's actually, in simple sense, a cemetery.

Nestled in the rolling hills of Banawa Heights, Celestial Garden has caught the attention of people from all around Cebu because of the 14 life-sized statues depicting the Station of the Cross that dot the 12-hectar meadow. Before, this place only gets crowded during the Lent with pilgrims doing the Via Crucis, a Roman Catholic practice where people commemorate Jesus' passion and death on the cross. But I've noticed in the recent years that more and more people, young and old, visit here to do other things.

It was already past 6 AM when James and I got here. There were already joggers in the area, families and couples on picnics while watching the sunrise, students snapping photos of surrounding, and others who may have just finished visiting the grave of their loved ones. Being a first-timer, I took the chance getting a close up of the garden.

There, I saw a beautiful pond filled with pink lotus flowers. Although often mistaken for the water lilies, lotus flowers are unique on their own.

A distinctive feature is that their leaves and flower hover above the water surface. While it's tied to many Hindu and Buddhist philophies, what caught my attention was its symbolysm in Ancient Egypyt. Ancient Egyptian considered the lotus flower as a symbol of the sun and rebirth because of its unique blooming cycle. At night, it closes and sinks beneath the water, and at dawn, it climbs up and, petal by petal, blooms again. Amazing no?

After taking some photos and videos, James and I decided to resume the hike. It was only quarter to 7 AM but the sun was scorching hot. This caught us off guard since we were expecting that it would be a gloomy day. I even wore shorts instead of leggings this time thinking that I had nothing to worry.

By the time we reached the "stairway to heaven", I was out of breath and cranky. I kept fanning my collapsible fan since my face was getting hot, even with the wide-rimmed hat. It didn't help when James kept reassuring me that we're almost there — I was just getting more annoyed like an old woman. HAHA!

---

We climbed for 30 minutes but it felt like hours of torture. When we reached Starbuks, I knew I was at my limit. I didn't want to hike anymore under this heat. James, sympathetically, conceded and suggested that we take our time chilling here instead.

When we finally had enough of the view, we decided to descend the mountain. Once again, Pamutan Trail never cease to humble every hike that dare to trudge its trails. I'll leave you with this picture of me rethinking my life decisions. 😅

Have a great weekend~

_{Maria is a hopeless romantic who travels in pages and places. She is an INFP who loves sunrises and moonlight nights and reading books in between. On weekdays, she works for a self-publishing company as a copywriter. On weekends, she lives her life as a poet or hiker. She hopes to share her love for words and the world with you here on HIVE.}

_{If you like this content, don't forget to follow, upvote, and leave a comment to show some love. You can also reblog if you want. Connect with her through PeakD, Tiktok, or Instagram. 🤍}