Monday, March 29, 2010

Holy Week in the Philippines

When I was a child, the Holy Week is the season of fasting, praying and no TV's. In fact I can still remember how spiteful my aunt was to us when I played basketball with my cousins on a Maundy Thursday a lot of summers ago. Holy is also a week when no Baranggay "operations" are done or you be extra careful not to get wounds because it will take longer to heal if you get on this week.

Holy Week was something observed by Filipinos with solemnity, sacredness and respect. There were even memories in my head when we would have to contend with the white noise on TV because of the disruption of the regular programming in observance of the Passion of Christ. I was born in Makati City and grew up in the areas of Bangkal, Evangelista and Pasay City. In Evangelista, Makati, there still stands until now the stage where Moro-Moro is played. This is a stage presentation of the story of the Passion of Christ. I remember very well how people of Makati and its closest neighbor Pasay troop to the place and wait for the show to start.

Back then, I felt the reverence people have in remembering the Paschal Mystery of Christ. Now malls full of sex embedded advertisements, no radio programs to listen and be distracted to and no TV shows. There weren't any internet access nor cable television for everyone except for the Americans in Subic Bay.

I found the article of Quiling Secusana very helpful for someone who wants to know more about the topic:

FLAGELLANTS

They scourge themselves in a somewhat paganistic manner considered medieval by many. This is done by stripping themselves naked from the waist up, walking barefooted under a midday sun and flagging themselves bloody with ropes and broken pieces of glass attached with strings to bamboo sticks. They do this as a means of atonement of their sins. It is a sort of retribution of their offenses and human weaknesses for past favor such as after going through some crisis or danger in their lives. This is commonly practiced in the provinces of Pampanga, Tarlac, Rizal and practically all over the Tagalog region.

PABASA

It's a family affair with the cooperation of relatives and neighbors. Others do these twenty four hours daily within the seven days of singing and reading of the Passion and Death taken from the verses of the Bible. Foods and drinks are being served to the singers.

BLACK NAZARENE

A century-old black statue in Quiapo, sculptured in Mexico during the Galleon Trade era, considered miraculous by devotees is brought out for procession every Good Friday. The statue is borne on the shoulders of male devotees in a slow, difficult procession around the narrow streets of the district, a score of men struggle to keep the image moving on. Thousands more try to muscle their way to touch the Nazarene as if carried by a powerful tide in an ocean of humanity.

SALUBONG

In Palawan it is reenacted in Iwahig Penal Colony participated by thousands of torch-bearing convicts in uniform line up in a pre-dawn ceremony.

MORIONES FESTIVALS

Marinduque Island is famous and known throughout the world. No one could recall its beginning but old folks claimed it started since time immemorial. Usually it is held in the plazas of Boac and Gasan. The towns present a spectacular pageant wherein people are dressed like Roman soldiers to commemorate the beheading of Longinos. The festivities have a Mardigras atmosphere.

BAGUIO CITY

Thousands of lowlanders, Manilans and foreign tourists flock to this summer capital to escape heat. Hotels and lodging houses are all booked a month before the Holy Week. Others trek to the mountain to view the city of pines and people enjoying the merry making not minding the religious people are in church for this Holy occasion.

SIETE PALABRAS

All radio stations throughout the nation are being sponsored by religious groups to air the reading of the "Siete Palabras" (Seven Last Words). There are series of speakers depicting the life of Jesus Christ and of course in different versions but the same meaning. Aglipayans, Episcopalians and Roman Catholics do this simultaneously.

VISITA IGLESIAS

In Manila it is a practice of Catholic believers to visit, if possible, 14 churches within Metro Manila representing the fourteen stations of the cross.

PagtaltalBALA-AN BUKID

Guimaras landmark, a huge white cross overlooking the City of Iloilo, a favorite pilgrimage venue of Visayan people.

HUGE 14th STATION

In Iguig, Tuguegarao oversized station of the cross at the hillside outside the centuries old church with a beautiful facade.

DAVAO CITY

Old folks still practice the traditional belief of not to create unnecessary sounds especially on Holy Thursday and Good Friday.

BICOL REGION

Bicolanos are too religious from Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Legaspi, Naga down to Camarines Norte and Sur, they have all the Holy Week rituals.

SAN PABLO CITY

Celebrities and movie stars from Manila and neighboring provinces join the most attended procession organized by Don Ado Escudero of Villa Escudero.

14 STATIONS OF THE CROSS

At the grotto of Lourdes in Novaliches, Quezon City the devotees, thousands of them, come during the Holy Week as a pilgrimage at the Calvary built with the fourteen stations of the Cross, life size, zigzagging at the hillside.

AMULETS HUNTERS

In Sipalay, Negros Occidental, it is a day for Herbolarios searching for anting-anting in unexplored caves on Good Friday.

FORTY FIVE STATUES

In Paete, Laguna procession of 45 statues beautifully decorated "carrozas" depicting the life of our Lord. Also in Siquijor, an island on the southern tip of Cebu, is well known for its Good Friday procession. Huge centuries-old statue fully decorated with fresh flowers.

CAPILYA

A town in Zamboanga still practices the old tradition of Lenten Season, one of which is the Capilya. Town people put up an improvised 14 altars around the poblacion representing the way of the cross. A group of singers sing ballad songs of Christ's passion.

CENACULOS

It is held in the Philippine Cultural Center sponsored by the Department of Tourism. Cast of characters include popular movie stars. In Taguig, Rizal they popularize the modern version of "Jesus Christ Superstar" reshown at the Fort Santiago Amphitheater for the benefit of Manilans. In Mexico, Pampanga and also Dinalupihan in Bataan there is one who actually had himself nailed to a cross for his "crucifixion" simulating Christ's passion as best as he painfully can.

PAGTALTAL SA JORDAN

In the Visayan region, we have now the famous "Ang PAGTALTAL SA JORDAN" in the island province of Guimaras. A reenactment of our Lord's sufferings on the way to the Calvary held every Good Friday at the Municipal grounds. For the last years, it was attended by dignitaries from America, Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Canada, and thousands of tourists from European and Asian countries. Jordan town is widely known as the "GOLGOTHA" of the Philippines.

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