Be Cool in Bicol: Kawa-Kawa Park (Ligao City, Albay)

Our 2013 summer is essentially Bicol-dominated. Although a week prior to our Bicol visit we were in Bolinao, Pangasinan for the Holy Week, Bicolandia has always been beckoning us.

Our base, Legazpi City; our host, my "cousin-in-law" in whose house we stayed while in Legazpi. Upon our arrival, she wasted no time in driving us to Kawa-Kawa Park in nearby Ligao City also in Albay, which is about 30-45 minutes from Legazpi.

Kawa-Kawa is something like a caldera on top of a hill. It's simple - imagine a giant that set foot on a mountain peak with a humongous "wok" or kawa he buried on the summit; imagine the giant taking the kawa right after thus creating a huge crater with greenery and sunflower blooms all around. It has a concrete walkway on the rim; take a walk and get a 360-degree exhilirating view of the environs.


Going up is like climbing up the Great Wall of China. But dotting the route though on the way up are the various stations of the cross meant for contemplation and prayer.

Many visitors don't make it to the top; they just end up taking some rest on a treehouse midway through. After the breather, they go back down the slope. That's what happened to my companions and I saw it happen to the others too.

They gave up on the climb. Halfway through the ascent, they stopped climbing farther/further and just stayed on at the treehouse for some refreshments and chit-chat while waiting for me to complete my climb all the way up.

When we all came down, my companions lighted some candles and said a little prayer. The place is actually one big site for the Shrine of the Divine Mercy, but still under construction though.  

The candles to be lit up are color-coded. I just don't remember which color stands for what but there seems to be one color representing something - there's red, violet, yellow, green, blue, etc. which you match with your personal intention, be it for penance, love, health, peace, for the soul of the departed, etc.

Before heading back home, we also had some photo op down the slope of the Kawa-Kawa Park amidst the seemingly smiling yellow sunflowers. The majestic Mayon Volcano stood steady in the background in one of our fabulous shots.

After our Kawa-Kawa Park visit, we headed back for Legazpi City but not without dropping by Ravago's in Guinobatan, Albay for its famed longganisa, buying a few dozens for dinner.

For this trip, our special thanks go out to Melan. Next up is Be Cool in Bicol: Subic Beach (Matnog, Sorsogon).