God Works Through Faith

 

      One of the most important seasons for Roman Catholics in the Philippines is Mahal na Araw, also known as Semana Santa or Holy Week. It is a highly significant ritual in Filipino culture since it commemorates Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. Palm Sunday, Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday, and Easter Sunday are all part of it. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are regular national holidays in the Philippines. The observance of holy week traditions in the Philippines is a powerful expression of Filipinos’ religion and passion for religious practices. Aside from fasting and abstinence, most devout Filipinos grew up with many other religious practices.

     During this time, many of our devoted citizens observe particular holy week traditions in the Philippines, first is Domingo de Ramos / Palm Sunday this marks the beginning of Holy Week. Filipino families usually would go to church, dressed in their Sunday best, carrying palm leaves for blessing. Usually, palm leaves are sold outside the church, vendors would chase you and sell their palm leaves making sure you have one before entering the church. During the Holy Mass, together with other churchgoers, they raise their palaspas or palm leaves into the air as the priest blesses them with holy water. People take their palaspas home after the service and pin or attach them to their doors or windows, or they set them on the altar. It is thought that blessed palm leaves remove negativity and bring good fortune into a home. Filipinos retain the palaspas pinned to the door or window for a year as a ritual. Going to Church in the province always meant you’d run across a relative from the next town, so be prepared to “mano” (place the elder’s palm on your forehead) every Tita, Tito, Lola, and Lolo you see. Secondly, Fasting and Abstinence another common holy week traditions in the Philippines is fasting and abstinence. During Holy Week, Catholics try to avoid certain vices, such as smoking and drinking alcohol, even for practicing young Catholics, the excessive use of social media or online games. They also fast and avoid eating their favorite meals, such as pizza, hamburgers, or anything containing meat, especially on Fridays. Meals should consist of fish, fruits, and vegetables as much as feasible. This follows Pasyon / Pabasa, during Holy Week, another Catholic devotion is Pabasa or Pasyon. It is a poem or religious writings that tell the story of Jesus Christ’s passion and death. During Holy Week, the faithful assembles in the homes of those who host the Pasyon to partake in the book’s sing-song reading. For some, this begins on Palm Sunday afternoon and continues persistently (24 hours a day) until the book is done. For others, it begins immediately following the Palm Sunday mass. It is also observed from Holy Monday to early Maundy Thursday morning. It concludes at approximately noon on Good Friday. The pabasa can be sung or played using a variety of musical instruments. Some of the younger age would join the pabasa and compose music to accompany the reading of holy texts. Pabasa is extensively practiced in several parts of Luzon and Visayas. More often than not, Food will be plentiful during a Pabasa, as it is at any other Pinoy event. Steaming bowls of lelut (lugaw or rice porridge with hard-boiled egg) and a never-ending supply of coffee will keep you up and energized while you belt it out on the microphone. Hearing the old voices singing so passionately from a distance seems unsettling and soothing in the silence of the night. Next is Penitensya, during Holy Week, Pampanga becomes unusually renowned for penitents who self-flagellate in the streets or carry a wooden cross as a form of repentance for their sins. Thousands of visitors, both international and domestic, visit Pampanga to see this long-standing Filipino tradition. Many of these Lenten penitents may be seen in Magalang, Pampanga, in the town of San Agustin. This practice includes reenacting Jesus’ agony by being nailed to the crucifixion. Penitensya begins on Maundy Thursday in Pampanga, with penitents covering their faces and lashing on the self-inflicted wounds on their backs with a set of bamboo sticks linked together and attached to a rope. On Holy Friday, people flock to San Fernando’s Barrio Cutud to see men willingly nailed to the cross in a reenactment of Jesus’ execution. It is preceded by a cenakulo representing Judas’ treachery for 30 pieces of silver before Jesus’ arrest and demise. Judas’ regret and final suicide are always the highlights of the cenakulo. However, for the third time, Mayor Edwin Santiago would enforce a prohibition on crucifixion, self-flagellation, and any act simulating Jesus Christ’s anguish as ruled in his executive order issued on March 28. Violators will be arrested and sanctioned. Followed by The Washing of the Feet, on Maundy Thursday, a Holy Mass for the Lord’s Supper includes time for the washing of the feet. Twelve men are chosen to represent the disciples in this sacred ceremony, while the priest represents Jesus Christ. While kneeling on the floor, the priest washes the feet of the 12 people one by one. It reminds the faithful of the scene in the Bible after the Passover feast when Jesus washed the feet of his followers, symbolizing His humility and attitude of service that we should all emulate. And lastly, Visita Iglesia, for most Filipinos, this is a yearly Holy Week ritual. Visita Iglesia is a tradition that takes place on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, during which one visits at least seven different churches, ideally with his or her family. St. Philip Neri headed a 16th-century Roman tradition that gave birth to this practice. The goal of Visita Iglesia is to pay homage to the Blessed Sacrament and to seek atonement for one’s sins. It is thought that if a person can visit seven different churches, his or her request would be realized. Stations of the Cross are often observed during church visits. Some churchgoers would pray at two stations for each church, or they would visit 14 churches to fulfill the 14 stations. The habit of visiting at least seven Catholic Churches to reverence the Blessed Sacrament is popular not just in the countryside but even in Metro Manila. It becomes a social activity among families and friends, whose company makes walking from one Church to another more tolerable. On Maundy Thursday or Good Friday, this is customarily done.

       As the annual tribute of the passion of Christ, my family and I go to the church as Sunday afternoon which follows the Semana Santa processions are also known as 'penance processions' and involve members of the brotherhood (Nazareno's) parading from their church to the city's cathedral. Furthermore, the day before this Sunday, which is Saturday, we went to the beach as well as in the afternoon, we had our foods such as fries, pansit, BBQ, hotdogs, and more placed along the seashore. And that's how my Semana days went ching.

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