In the year 1998, I was elected Mayor of the Municipality of Magalang and continued for three consecutive terms 1998-2007.
If may recall Father Noli Fernandez was then the Parish Priest of San Bartolome Church, but after completing his six years as Parish Priest of the said church, he was assigned to another parish church.
Father Raul De Los Santos then took over the position as our new parish priest. During those days, the two of us, I as Mayor of Magalang and he as Parish Priest had a very wholesome and inspiring relationship.
The popular and old saying "The Separation of the State and the Church did not destruct or hinder our relationship and continued to serve parishioners in the name of God.
During the pre-pandemic period, every Good Friday of the Holy Week, Father Raul shared his sacrificial moments with his parish.
Woke up 4:00 am and led hundreds of his parishioners to walk several kilometers to the Stations of the Cross, Banal A Bundok Dalan Ning Krus, at Barangay Ayala, Magalang.
These yearly holy week religious activities among parishioners continued without any interruption with the belief sharing our sacrifices to God being nailed on the cross saved us from our sin.
It was very unfortunate that the usual caravan of Catholic Devotees going top the Station of the Cross came to an end due to the -sudden-emergence of Pandemic.
But now, it is happy to note, the usual influx of devotees trekking to the 14th Station of the Cross "Banal a Bunduk Dalan Ning Krus" Barangay Ayala, Magalang is back to normal. Since the start of the Holy week, you will now see hundred of Catholic Devotees coming from mthe different parts of the province and other parts of Central Luzon sacrificingly climbing a higher portion of Mt. Arayat.
Where its 14th Station is located. Let me, at this juncture give credit the offricers and members of the Soroptimist International of Magalang who spent their precious time and efforts in putting up the le Station of the Cross, inspired by the guidance of Archbishop Paciano Aniceto.
In 2012, the first station of the cross was blessed by Archbishop Aniceto and from there on the other stations where continuously put up. Informed of the good news, the local government of Magalang headed by Mayora Malu Lacson allotted a certain amount out her annual budget as a contribution to the Soroptomist project with the end in view to make "Banal A Bunduk Dalan Ning Krus" a truly tourist destination in the near future.