Holy Week is fast approaching. Let's visit a Pilgrimage Site!
Please consider to visit the miraculous Birhen sa Simala Shrine or also known as the Monastery of the Holy Eucharist, which is located in Marian Hills, Barangay Lindogon, Sibonga, Cebu.
The shrine is famous for its image of Our Lady of Lindogon which has also gained popularity after reported miraculous events including the shedding of blood tears and subsequent miraculous healings. Hence, it is a famous pilgrimage site with millions of devotees visiting to offer their prayers and their petitions to the Virgin Mary.
I could still remember how I grew up hearing about this place. My aunts always talked about this pilgrimage site and how they have always wanted to go there, but with our location, the distance from our place to Sibonga is quite far. Thus, as a child, I have never been there. However, when I reached legal age and met my boyfriend, who was also a devout Catholic, he took me to the once-always-talked-about place of my childhood—the Simala Shrine. This travel happened last April 2023—specifically on Holy Wednesday. We traveled around 6 AM from Danao City and took the National Highway Road to Sibonga, Cebu. Truthfully, the whole travel experience on a motorcycle was quite challenging as it will make your butt numb and heated—and it hurts. We traveled for almost four hours, bypassing almost 103 kilometers. The major advantage of riding a motorcycle while traveling is that you can take a break or pause to relax your body or do stretching after a long drive. Aside from that, you could also roam your eyes 360. However, if you wish to just sit back and relax while traveling, you could take a bus or taxi to Sibonga. All you have to do is to go to the South Bus Terminal bound for Sibonga or Santander. You simply need to inform the conductor of your exact destination.
After reaching Sibonga proper, you can hire a habal-habal driver bound for Barangay Lindogon. Do not forget to dress respectfully as well. A proper dress code is observed inside the shrine.
After arriving at the place, you can actually see the imminent splendor of the whole place. Indeed, it was a sacred place for devotees who wanted to offer prayers and ask for guidance and protection. The shrine’s structure was shouting its grandiose and serene beauty, where many would believe that miracles do happen if you just believe. The castle-like architecture is screaming for miracles and devotion.
If you want your prayers to be unique, consider lighting colorful candles, each representing a specific prayer and intention. As for me, I lighted green, white, red, and pink. The candle offering enables devotees to personalize their prayers, fostering a more intimate connection with their intentions.
After lighting candles, don't miss the chance to step inside the shrine and see the relics and grandiose altar within. You can also take a moment to read the spread of miracles, where devotees’ testimonies of their prayers and devotion have been granted from physical illness to passing the board examination and many more.
Since the place has become known as a national and global pilgrimage site, visitors not only come to pray but also want to witness the famous statue of the Virgin Mary, which is renowned for shedding blood tears. Actually, the shrine is busier, especially during the Lenten season, as this place highlights the spiritual significance of expressing one’s faith and devotion. However, for some non-Catholics who include the Shrine in their itinerary, it is also a place where faith transcends the physical world, offering hope and comfort, as the site is solemn and majestic. The shrine is a good escape away from the busy City.