Island faithful uphold cross-carrying tradition

A crane was used for the first time in decades to raise the Good Friday cross atop Mt. Tapochao last April 3, with Rep. John Paul Sablan saying the shift was driven by safety concerns after years of near-accidents on the mountain’s steep terrain.

Sablan, a member of the Palacios family that helped organization the procession that carries the cross up the island’s highest peak for more than 40 years, said the group decided to bring in heavy equipment this year to prevent potential injuries.

“Over the years we’ve been trying to look for a boom or crane that has enough reach. And this year we found out that the company USA Panther had such an equipment and we wanted to try it out this year for the purpose of safety,” Sablan said.

“You know over the years we traditionally have been doing it manually and there are very close calls for accidents. As you can see the terrain here… it’s a very steep terrain and this year we thought… that we consider acquiring equipment that could assist us so that we avoid any casualties.”

Sablan said the crane was tested a day earlier with the help of fellow lawmakers to ensure it could reach the usual placement site of the cross.

“This is actually a family tradition for my Palacios family. Over the past 40 plus years, we’ve been [helping carry] the cross every year, assisting the church,” he added, noting the practice dates back to the late Bishop Tomas Camacho, who encouraged the tradition as a way for the faithful to reflect on Christ’s passion.

House Speaker Edmund Villagomez, meanwhile, joined in carrying the cross this year—his 23rd straight Good Friday trek up Tapochao—calling the use of a crane a welcome move focused on safety.

“For me it’s good that they actually start putting all this logistics together for the safety of the people,” Villagomez said. “Every year it’s almost like people are holding their breath… especially when they get the cross up.”

Villagomez said the experience this year was no different spiritually, but noted that the ongoing road construction could make next year’s trek easier for participants.

At the summit, deacon Antonio “Tony” Yarobwemal led the blessing before the cross was raised, reminding the faithful of the significance of the moment.

“May this cross… stand as a sign of Christ’s triumph over sin and death, a source of hope for all who behold it, and a summons for us to take up our own crosses each day and follow him with fidelity,” he prayed.

“May the cross be our comfort in trouble, our refuge in the face of danger… until you welcome us to your heavenly home.”

Despite muddy conditions in some sections, participants—many of them youth—described the annual trek as both physically demanding and spiritually meaningful.

“It was really good… even though some parts were hard,” said one first-time participant.

Another said the journey was “tiring, but it was also a moment of reflection for us all.”

Others pointed to faith and tradition as their motivation.

“To honor our Father… for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” one group said.

Several also offered prayers tied to global concerns, including calls for “world peace” and an end to conflict in the Middle East.

Sablan said he shares those hopes, adding his prayer this Holy Week is “peace in the world” and a stronger economy for the Commonwealth as it continues to recover from recent challenges.