One of the religious practices adopted by citizens of Jagna and some parts of Bohol is the placing religious shrines in hilltops. One is in the well know Ilihan Hill and this time in Mount Palinkod . Religious services will be held in Mount Palinkod this Easter, a flyer announced. Judging from the elevation, it would be a hard climb with a danger of falling off the edge. The Mount Palinkod shrine is in Tubod Monte, several kilometers from the center of Jagna. near the house of Simo Galia. When one is on that summit, he can see almost all downtown Jagna. There had been tree planting on that place before and the top looks like a poorly barbered head. Trees provide shade for worshipers and excursionists. Hopefully bushfires will spare the place when vandals set dry cogon grasses of that area afire during Holy Week.

Palinkod is not yet known since it is recently established. It is a good place for retreat since it is isolated, if this could be made popular, there will be many goers even if after Lenten season. Anybody looking for peace and quiet would find the place attractive. This place being isolated will not be in danger of commercialization. Should Palinkod become popular, vendors will have to be kept away from the place. Another hilltop shrine is the Ilihan Hill Chapel. This was made popular by Monsr Saturnino Felicitas. The backdrop of the chapel closely resembles the Birhen sa Barangay scene that almost everyone thinks that local artist Sal Ortz drew the portrait. The portrait and shrine is known all over Bohol and places beyond.

Establishing temples or places if worship in hilltops is ancient as man himself. In the Middle East , temples to Baal are always located on mountaintops. At the coming of Judaism, Baal temples were destroyed and Christians erected their churches on top of the old temples. Hilltops seem to attract worshipers, perhaps because of its scenery. Another place of veneration, which is not yet known, is the Canupao chapel. On the altar is a relic of St. Vincent Ferrer. The small bone fragment came from Rome brought by a Canupaonon, whom is an aspiring priest if he is not yet ordained. Church authorities authenticate the relic and a certification in Latin comes with the relic. St Vincent Ferrer is one of the most miraculous saints in the Catholic Church

We need a little faith today. A little scenery might help; a relic might give us a thing to venerate. Christianity will be sorely rocked by controversy. The showing of the Da Vinci Cove and the publishing of the book will erode the faith in Christianity. History and logic will wreak havoc on Christian beliefs, they would be persuasive. However, Christianity had survived several heresies and it will survive the Da Vinci Code. For a Christian and Catholic, a spiritual retreat for the Holy Week would be good for the soul. It is only the young with their sense of immortality, who will not think of his spiritual side but for those who have experienced life to the fullest, it would be worthwhile to think of the hereafter.