By Emil G. Gamos
MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan, March 29 (PNA) — From the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto Shrine in the mountain city of San Jose del Monte to the man-made Golgotha in the rice fields of Barangay Kapitangan in Paombong town, police and public assistance centers are now being set up in anticipation of the big influx of devotees and tourists that will troop to different Lenten and scenic spots in Bulacan this Holy Week.
Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado met with security and emergency response teams and discussed preparations for the exodus of big crowds that will spend their Holy Week and summer vacation in the different parts of the province.
“The great province of Bulacan is home to crowd-drawing Lenten sites and traditions as well as scenic spots and resorts. We are putting up public assistance centers and putting our emergency response teams on a 24-hour alert,” Alvarado said.
The governor said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) headed by Liz Mungcal has already come up with teams which will be deployed in strategic areas complete with ambulance and paramedic units.
Alvarado also disclosed that the Bulacan Police Provincial Office headed by provincial director Senior Supt. Ferdinand Divina is now also setting up police assistance centers in coordination with different radio groups.
He said that local police units will also be augmented by maneuver platoons from the Provincial Public Safety Company.
Among the Lenten sites that are expected to be visited by multitudes of devotees are the Divine Mercy Shrine in Barangay Sta. Rosa, Marilao; the procession of saints in Baliwag; the Banal na Bundok with the Stations of the Cross in San Miguel town, the Grotto Shrine in San Jose Del Monte City and the crucifixion site in Barangay Kapitangan in Paombong, which is also famous for its sweet vinegar and ornamental plants.
Meanwhile, at least five faith healers will fulfill their Holy Week vows on Good Friday by getting themselves nailed on a wooden cross at a man-made Golgotha beside a Catholic Chapel in the farm village of Barangay Kapitangan in Paombong.
Large crowds composed of local and foreign tourists always come in droves to witness the bloody Lenten ritual where hundreds of bareback flagellants whip their bloody backs with sharp objects. (PNA)