Maasin Leyte’s Pilgrimage City

By LOUIE GUARIN

MAASIN City is the gateway to Southern Leyte’s tourist destinations like the site where Limasawa First Mass was held, diver’s haven, and activities like whale and shark-watching in Liloan, among others.

Abaca Products

Maasin gained prominence as the leading source of the sturdy abaca twine called lapnis which is woven into strong lanot rope. Abaca is also made here into ornamental household items and fashionable ethnic attire for high society women.

Maasin City is the leading producer of abaca fiber, abaca textile variety and abaca native handicrafts that have penetrated national and international markets. Other leading produce are copra and coffee as well as ceramics and delicacies such as salvaro, sortidos, otap, bocarillo, tres marais (bodbod), kalamay, hopia pinaypay and the famous "turnos" (ginamos orinun-onan).

Local Delicacies of Maasin

It was said that during the Spanish times, some Spaniards who needed water to drink reached the Canturing River. They asked the natives, "Que pueblo es este?" (What town is this?) Thinking that the Spaniards were asking them how the water tasted, they quickly replied, "Maasin" (which means salty). That’s how Maasin got its name.

Maasin is also famous for its religious abodes, like the Maasin Cathedral and Our Lady of Assumption Shrine. Maasin Cathedral was established by the Jesuit missionaries in 1700. A temporary church was erected but was destroyed when the Moro marauders attacked the town in 1754.


         Maasin became a town the preceding year. In 1768, the church administration was transferred to the Augustinian priests. It was restructured in 1771 but again, it was destroyed by the Moro villagers in 1784. By the administration and leadership of a certain Father Serapio Gonzales, a church made of coral and hard tones was erected. Again, it was destroyed in 1839 and rebuilt once again in 1882 by Father Jose Paco after it accidentally burned down.

It was again rebuilt and became a Cathedral when an order was done creating the new Diocese of Maasin on Aug. 14, 1968. Its Patron Saint is the Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion (Our Lady of Assumption). Rev. Fr. Urcisimo A. Luzon is its 49th parish priest in succession.

Maasin City Cathedral

We were mesmerized by the beauty of the Cathedral. Bricks make up its structure. It has an exquisite high ceiling that features various statues of saints, with the image of Our Lady of Assumption on the center.

Not so far from the Cathedral is the Monte Cueva. It is a pilgrim’s site and tourist destination in Barangay Rizal. Located 300 miles from the National Highway, one has to pass a bridge first where tall trees on each side of the road stand proudly. On the way up is the 14th Station of the Cross, featured in big frames scattered along the way. It takes 300 steps to reach Monte Cueva where mass is held every 5 a.m. on Wednesdays and 6 a.m. on Saturdays.

Monte Cueva

Monte Cueva is located at the top of the mountain and a small chapel awaits the pilgrims and the devotees. The stones are real and alive, it drops small amounts of water people consider "holy water" and drink them.

From Monte Cueva, we proceeded to the Our Lady of Assumption Shrines in Jalleca Hills. It has its modest history. This was conceived by Mrs. Milagros Castro from a dream. The Lady of Assumption wanted to have her image or statue be erected on the top of the hills. This did not materialize at first until signs of miracles began to show up, like a ray of light appearing on top of the hill.

Donations kept pouring in incessantly, nationwide and even abroad. The lots on the hill where the statue stands were donated by the families of Jarabe, Leyson and Carbonilla, known collectively as Jalleca, where the hills was named after. Approximately, the statue measures 36 feet from head to foot, its base is 15 feet and its width is also 15 feet.

Mama Mary Shrine

To reach the apex of the hill one has to climb 253 steps and you can see the panoramic view of the entire Maasin. Its ambiance is flowery, so to speak, gumamelas, kalachuchis, bougainvilleas and roses surround the place.

At the back of the shrine is a rectory and an adoration room. Its walls are made of limestones and the floorings are tiled.

"We are expecting more than ten thousand local and foreign pilgrims to visit Monte Cueva and Jalleca Hill on Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Masses will also be held atop the hill," Royen Segovia, Maasin City tourism officer said.

We visited a private museum owned by Boy Abiera where we admired all the artifacts and antiques displayed dating back 17th century. We also had an opportunity to visit a biscuit factory owned by Lilia Orais.

We felt like religious pilgrims who have traveled far and wide just to see these historical and religious places.