A Week of Traditions: How Filipinos practice Holy Week
By Sheila M. Matibag
Semana Santa is a week-long commemoration of Christians for the sufferings and death of Christ. Being one of the countries with Roman Catholic as the dominant religion, Filipinos had developed and continues to bring life to the practices and beliefs that had been established and practiced through all the years of Catholicism in the Philippines, which make their devotions even stronger. Below are the well-known practices that Filipino Catholics exercise to nourish their devoutness:
Procession
This is one of the most common religious tradition where penitents and members of the church do a long walk as they pray the holy rosary. During the parade, procession goers also the sing the song dedicated to Virgin Mary, Ave Maria. The walk passes nearby streets and begin and end in the church. Chapels in different barangays also do procession during lent and celebration of their patron saints. Devotees in this activity sometimes bring candles, statue, and spiritual images to honor Jesus Christ, Virgin Mary, and the saints. Quiapo Church became the talk of the town when it claimed the greatest number of attendees for a procession after 300 Black Nazarene devotees joined the Procession of Santo Entierro, a burial parade for Christ, and Mater Dolorosa, a parade for Our Lady of Sorrows, in Good Friday of 2017.
Pasyon
Have you ever heard the elderly singing nonstop every day and night during Holy Week? Or heard melodramatic voices that cause goosebumps? Reading of the Passion is an uninterrupted singing of the poem narrating the life, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It started way back 16th and 17th century. Pabasa is usually sung in acapella and begins in Holy Monday. The attendees of Pabasa sing continuously for three consecutive days and make rounds of schedule to finish the whole book without disruptions. The singers can only stop when someone replaces them. To familiarize this activity to the generation today, some groups make pabasa ng pasyon in different tunes and different genres like reggae and pop. They also make the most of using technology by live streaming the activity so that people afar can relate as well.
Abstinence/Fasting
The usual three (3) meals in a day will not be followed during the Lenten season. Catholics tend to minimize their food intake particularly by not consuming meat every Friday. This tradition is considered the simplest but also challenging because starting from Ash Wednesday until Holy Week, Catholics refrain from eating meat (or any other food and activities) as a sign of penance. This kind of tradition is also for spiritual focus, personal discipline, and imitation of Christ.
Visita Iglesia
Holy Week is also a time for gathering with family and friends. Visitia Iglesia is the act of visiting fourteen different churches as a representation of Stations of the Cross. Others visit seven churches in symbolism of Christ’s Seven Last Words. Seven or fourteen, both ways aims to allow churchgoers to pray and reflect. Two of the most visited churches during Holy Week are Taal Basilica (Minor Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours) and National Shrine of Saint Padre Pio in Batangas. Here in Manila, it is recommended to visit Our Lady of Remedies Parish (Malate Church), Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Manila Cathedral), San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Archdiocesan Shrine of The Blessed Sacrament (Sta. Cruz Church), Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz (Binondo Church), Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church), and Minor Basilica of San Sebastian (San Sebastian Church) because of their rich histories and architectural designs.
Cenaculo
Cenaculo is one of the most awaited events during Lent. The cenaculo is a religious play depicting the life and suffering of Christ. Characters are well-dressed according to the time of Jesus. This tradition is derived from Spanish and portrayed by actors who are members of the church and people who wanted to join considering cenaculo as their “panata.” Members maximize the presentation by incorporating dramatic acts, decorations and characterization making the performance solemn and more realistic which can leave people in tears. This is performed in plazas where space can occupy massive audiences.
Penitensya (Penance)
It is blood and sweat we are talking about! Some Catholics believe that they can do more than praying. With strong devotion to Him, Catholics imitate Christ’s sufferings before He died. Some of the locals commit their own way of ritual forms like carrying the cross to mountains, infliction of their own back, and crucifixion to the cross. Some penitents cover their faces to hide their identities and to avoid distraction from people who might recognize them. Pampanga is known as the destination where flagellation and crucifixion happen every Holy Week. In the year 2015, 22 penitents were nailed to the cross in the City of San Fernando.
Lent every year has a major role in the lives of Christians. It makes them suffer, repent, renewed and closer to Him. For busy others, it is also the time to bring back themselves to the Lord. During Lenten Season, may the people do not just merely involve themselves in traditions but solemnly and genuinely lift their hearts as they do these activities as well. Also, building up strong faith, creating deep connection, and reminiscing the sacrifices of the Lord do not have to happen only during religious events but rather, everyday.
