Guimaras marks 47th ‘Pagtaltal sa Balaan Bukid’

Thousands of pilgrims and tourists gathered in the municipality of Jordan, Guimaras on Good Friday, 18 April, to witness the 47th staging of “Pagtaltal sa Balaan Bukid,” a Lenten tradition that dramatizes the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Beyond being a religious performance, Pagtaltal also serves as a form of penance for many participants, who engage in it as a way to express repentance and seek spiritual cleansing.

The reenactment begins at the town plaza in Barangay Poblacion and culminates at Balaan Bukid in Barangay Balcon Melliza, a 558-foot mountain that serves as a pilgrimage site during Holy Week. 

Pilgrims trek a 1.7-kilometer trail, passing 14 Stations of the Cross, before reaching the chapel and the iconic 60-foot cross overlooking the Iloilo Strait.

Although this year marked the 47th performance, the municipal Mayor Cresente “Engue” P. Chavez Jr. said 2025 supposedly marks the 50th year since Pagtaltal was first conceptualized in the province. 

However it was suspended from 2020 to 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It resumed in 2023 exclusively for residents and was fully reopened to the public in 2024.

“This is more than just a reenactment — it’s part of our identity as Guimarasnons,” Chavez said. 

“Pagtaltal strengthens our faith and, at the same time, brings significant economic and tourism benefits to our community,” he added.

The mayor expressed his gratitude to the local government, volunteers and organizations that contributed to the success of the annual observance. 

He acknowledged the cooperation of the Pagtaltal Foundation, the Provincial Government, municipal officials and employees, and the people of Jordan and the Province of Guimaras.

“This event was successful because of everyone’s cooperation,” he said.

First staged in 1975, Pagtaltal sa Balaan Bukid has since evolved into a religious, cultural and tourism event.