‘We have our own little crosses, our big crosses to carry in our day-to-day life'

04/21/2025—That essentially was Diocese of Chalan Kanoa Bishop Romeo Convocar’s message shortly after the giant cross was erected at the summit of Mt. Tapochao at around 7:15 am last Good Friday.

“The walk in itself gives you that experience of the hardships of walking and carrying that cross. So, it gives us the glimpse of how hard the Lord carried the cross for mankind. We have our own little crosses, our big crosses to carry in our day-to-day life,” he told the media as thousands made the trek to the highest point of Saipan on April 18.

Convocar added that Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for mankind and that basically the Lord is inspiring everyone to do the same for one other. 

“He offered himself for our salvation and so I think we appreciate that and we accept that through faith. And the challenge for us, for all of us, is to grow in our faith, to nurture our faith, especially these moments of holy season celebration of the Lord's passion. And then after that, the celebration of Easter.”

In a way, the 54-year-old former apostolic administrator and vicar-general of the Archdiocese of Agaña said the trek up to Mt. Tapochao on Good Friday should remind the Catholic faithful that there's somebody that walks with us especially in the most turbulent times of our lives.

“The Lord walks with us and He triumphs over sin and death and triumphs over sufferings. So again, it was a beautiful walk for me this morning, but it's more than just a walk. It is about the experience of walking through the path of the difficulties up the hill with that burden of the weight of the cross that I saw the men were trying to lift. They were expressing their faith and I appreciated that. They expressed their faith and their love for the Lord through that sacrifice. But it calls us for a reflection in a day-to-day life that life goes beyond this day. And we continue to walk in a day-to-day life, guided by the love of God.”

Saipan Mayor Ramon B. Camacho, who like Convocar walked up Mt. Tapochao, said the yearly tradition on Good Friday is living proof that the local community believes in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

“It shows the community really coming out, really participating in this. It's a global, it's an annual celebration. It really shows the community, you know, really into this, of believing in Jesus Christ, of the crucified of Jesus Christ.”

Camacho said the Saipan Mayor’s Office always makes sure there is water and food provided during the event and that they, along with the Department of Public Works, pave the road up to Mt. Tapochao days before the trek.

Department of Public Safety deputy chief and acting public information officer Simon Manacop, meanwhile, provided no head count of the trek, but said it was probably less than last year’s.

He said a total of 12 police vehicles and 12 DPS officers were mobilized Friday. As for incidents, Manacop said there was only one minor injury reported and the person was treated by medics and released at the site.

Rick Brien of Northern Marianas College said he took part in the trek to thank the Lord for all the blessings his family received.

“I came here in 2000 and those few years, it's like every year [I took part], but now I’m getting older, so I just tried it again. This is just like, yeah, like walking while praying and, you know, [thanking Him for] all the graces that we received and praying for the family's good health while walking and going there at the top.”

Pauline Johnson of Docomo Pacific also went up the mountain and said it was a difficult climb for her. “Very challenging. I'm asthmatic, but I made it up to the top.”

Brent Deleon Guerrero, also of Docomo Pacific, said it was kind of a return to form for him joining the journey up to Mt. Tapochao.

“I think I haven't done this in a few years already, but we're happy to be here together and making it to the very top. It's part of our sacrifice and just kind of making sure that we do our part as Catholics. And just sharing the moment together and sacrificing together, I think makes it easier.”

Daniel De Los Santos from Golden Harvest International School Daycare said he’s been taking part in the event for the past three years to celebrate Easter and Good Friday.

“I woke up early today just to prepare myself going here and when I reached the peak earlier, it rained. You can see I'm wet right now, [but] I'm happy because this is a sign of blessing from God. The hike is not that hard because I do hike in the Philippines.”

Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Frank Camacho also made the trek with sons Franklin and Rocky.

“You know, growing up, we have a farm right down here at the bottom of the cross and we used to camp out here all Easter and then come up here for Good Friday and then for Easter. So, it's nice that I finally get to bring my boys up to do it, right?” 

He said he cherishes the fact that he can now enjoy the Good Friday trek up to Mt. Tapochao with his children.

“No, it's always good. It's always good. It's always fun, you know? And this is like memories that we're going to be building together, right? That we're going to be doing.” 

Camacho, who now lives in Guam with his family, said in the U.S. territory south of the CNMI has a smaller scale Good Friday trek to Mt. Lam Lam.

Convocar also alluded to that during his interview with the media.

“I think here it's more organized in a sense because that one is like people they go on their own. But this one is kind of organized by the church and by the government. I think there's partnership here,” he said.

Convocar and the strong able-bodied men who carried the cross from the old Department of Commerce to the summit arrived at around 6:30 am and it took 45 minutes and several feet of rope and muscle power to hoist it up to the ridge.

Story by Mark Rabago