Holy Week in the Philippines
holy week filipino mahal na araw spanish semana santa significant religious observance philippine catholic majority iglesia filipina independiente philippine independent church protestant group one majority christian country asia catholic make percent country population church one country dominant sociopolitical force solemn celebration begin friday sorrow turning palm sunday continues easter sunday many community observe spanishinfluenced catholic ritual procession syncretised element precolonial belief evident ritual practice sanctioned universal church many superstition associated occasion day easter triduum maundy thursday black saturday considered statutory holiday period many business closed operate shorter hour local terrestrial television radio station usually go air annual maintenance broadcast equipment others station owned various denomination shorten broadcasting hour feature lenten drama special religious inspirational programming holy week celebration also receive wide news coverage various service rite international cable television channel distributed philippine however continue broadcast normal programming channel dedicated horse racing cockfighting similar niche programming go offair triduum holy week philippine also highly anticipated one annual long weekend country noncatholics nonpracticing catholic take opportunity go vacation resulting peak season philippine tourist destination palm sunday linggo ng palaspás domingo de ramos “branches sunday” worshiper bear ornately woven palm frond palaspás church blessing priest day mass frond considered church sacramentals often brought home placed altar door lintel window belief ward demon avert fire lightning place hold procession church service common starting point ermitavisita chapel ease several block away presiding priest vested stole cope red prescribed liturgical color day either walk route imitation jesus’ triumphal entry led horseback church sometimes statue christ riding donkey known humenta used instead whether priest statue used represent christ custom woman cover processional route tapis literally “wraparound” large heirloom cloth skirt apron made exclusively ritual recall excited jerusalemites spread cloak christ entered city procession reach church designated spot child dressed angel strew flower sing day processional antiphon hosanna filio david “hosanna son david” antiphon text whether latin original vernacular translation sung traditional hymn tune blessing palm intonation antiphon often occurs church parvise parking lot town plaza usually front near church common layout philippine settlement holy monday lunes santo holy tuesday martes santo major procession journey calvary take street main figure fallen christ accompanied image saint present christ walk calvary st peter holding heavenly key beloved st john three mary st veronica white veil implanted christ image mary magdalene bearing small bottle oil perfume virgin sorrow part country abundance wood well skilled craftsman lifesize wooden image constructed able move arm head like puppet holy tuesday regular working day sometimes last full one preceding half fullday holiday given private company holy wednesday holy wednesday miyérkules santo officially last working day week private company free give full partial holiday employee government office implement halfday suspension starting noon employee let people return home province triduum holidaymaker leave destination making one country busiest travel season parish tenebrae service usually held holy wednesday involves gradual extinguishing candle tenebrae hearse reading related passion jesus strepitus loud noise evening long procession depicting passion christ held town throughout province pampanga bulacan rizal laguna ilocandia well makati metro manila except baliwag pulilan passion tableau excluded good friday afternoon procession maundy thursday huwebes santo first statutory public holiday week mark beginning paschal triduum prior second vatican council procession passion christ held maundy thursday later transferred holy wednesday latin rite catholic philippine independent church separated rome early th century retaining maundy thursday date among famous procession philippine independent church concepcion malabon santa cruz paete laguna first rite day chrism mass parishioner join priest morning mass cathedral especially large diocese archdiocese clergy day renew priestly vow mass presided archbishop archdiocese chrism oil catechumen oil sick consecrated homily priest bring portion oil respective parish service store future use however archdiocese logistics valid reason hamper gathering clergy day chrism mass held earlier week example archdiocese lipa diocese malolos chrism mass held instead holy tuesday main observance day last mass easter evening mass lord supper though mandatory afternoon service customarily includes reenactment washing foot twelve apostle service end abruptly somber procession blessed sacrament brought church altar repose church remain open midnight want venerate blessed sacrament others going one several priest standby confess sin one important holy week tradition philippine visita iglesia spanish church visit also known seven church visitation holy week practice visiting praying least seven church throughout day worshiper pray station cross inside outside church night faithful pay obeisance perform supplication blessed sacrament within altar repose antipolo alay lakad literally walk offering penitential walk held maundy thursday good friday devotee walk kilometer mi along sumulong highway even walking barefoot antipolo cathedral confused procession quiapo church name held every april may upon reaching cathedral devotee offer short prayer make wish donating coin paper bill front altar million devotee visited cathedral penitential walk good friday biyernes santo second public holiday week considered solemn day year observed street procession way cross sermon prayer meditating jesus seven last word “siete palabras” staging senákulo place already begun palm sunday baliwag good friday procession longest lenten procession philippine baliwag currently statue scene portraying life christ activity wellattended local foreign tourist follows main liturgical service day mass celebrated day instead people gather church afternoon veneration cross service mass presanctified nationwide veneration service begin silently unlit church pm pst gmt remembering “ninth hour” instant christ died according gospel mass presanctified said altar stripped linen decoration priest omit anaphora sacramental bread already consecrated maundy thursday place famously province pampanga day known maleldo procession include devotee flagellate sometimes even nailed cross notably ruben enaje frowned upon church devotee consider personal expression penance whether fulfilment vow thanksgiving prayer granted san fernando local government say reenactment regarded part pampangas city cultural heritage reenactment christ crucifixion village began first actual crucifixion took place four year later penitent called magdarame carry wooden cross crawl rough hot pavement slash back whipping draw blood done ask forgiveness sin fulfill vow panata express gratitude favour granted pabasa continuous chanting pasyón filipino epic narrative christ life passion death resurrection usually concludes day pm television radio station airing special lenten programming also broadcast special siete palabras program large church manila usually beginning noon end veneration service usual highlight good friday santo entierro holy burial name rite statue dead christ focus comparable eastern orthodox eastern catholic practice processing epitaphios sculpted image santo entierro left bare covered neck shroud red white black gold image laid ornate flowerdecked calandra bier brought around funeral procession retinue normally composed image saint connected passion narrative peter mary magdalene john evangelist tradition dictate regardless number image used procession virgin mary dressed black gold mourning mater dolorosa always last alone mark importance place accord santo entierro traditional prechristian funeral rite washing corpse laying body state seating funerary chair pakil laguna santo entierro smoked burning lansones peeling procession shoulderborne calandra make several stop time placed rest burning peeling stop band play hymn afterwards crier turn towards bier shout clearly melodically loudly three time spanish ¡señor ¡misericordia señor lord mercy lord congregation repeat melodic low voice alimodian iloilo santo entierro interred – altar customary elsewhere – church door people venerate usually kissing icon foot also large crucifix altar people venerate kiss later night young girl costume bearing lit taper walk barefoot second procession mater dolorosa around town plaza maiden meditate mourn representing christ female disciple accompanying virgin mary maundy thursday good friday gathering men tanay taytay rizal province assemble around parish church engaging feasting contemplation throughout night anticipation santo entierro statue subok festival various item handkerchief bronze medal small paper inscribed latin phrase placed within robe beneath foot hand deceased christ figure santo entierro paraded men form circle holding hand around revered statue following procession object retrieved regarded talisman men experiment testing efficacy using various lethal weapon among among country famous elaborate calandras agoo bacolor baliwag guagua molo iloilo paete san pablo sasmuan silay vigan century old commissioned famous talleres studio santeros saintmaker asunción máximo vicente image meanwhile displayed rest year church owns house family care several traditional taboo customarily observed good friday avoidance excessive noisemaking older time bathing except health reason prohibition usually begin pm pst child particular traditionally discouraged outdoor play elder cautioning since “god dead” evil spirit freely roaming earth harm human ritual mourning generally sombre mood day gave rise tagalog idiom “mukhâ kang biyernes santo” “you’ve face like good friday” phrase refers sad person demeanor resembling suffering christ black saturday holy saturday sábado de gloria third final public holiday week day legally colloquially termed english “black” given color role mourning term sábado de gloria spanish gloria saturday refers return gloria excelsis deo easter vigil held day hymn absent throughout lent except solemnity maundy thursday ritual mourning “dead” christ continues albeit less intensity traditional taboo previous day merrymaking consumption meat carried sometimes broken noon includes swimming river sea superstition warns bathing good friday afternoon commercial establishment operate shorter hour smaller enterprise many area remaining closed easter sunday easter monday return normal major urban area television radio station broadcast shorter hour special programming remain offair easter linggo ng pagkabuhay pasko ng pagkabuhay marked joyous celebration first predawn rite called salubong filipino sugat cebuano hiligaynon calque rite spanish name encuentro meeting rite customarily performed early hour easter first mass parish rite held earlier midnight immediately long easter vigil proper retaining format ritual meant depict apocryphal reunion christ mother virgin mary resurrection statue borne two separate procession converge designated area called galilea “galilee” often open space purposebuilt scaffold permanent otherwise near church depending size wealth congregation procession include statue myrrhbearers particularly three mary mary mother james mary magdalene mary salome along peter john evangelist custom two procession sexsegregated male worshiper following risen christ twelve men dressed apostle icon male saint female congregant accompany icon virgin mary female saint procession hold lit taper often recite rosary brass band play hymn joyful music icon virgin mary still called mater dolorosa clothed draped black veil tagalog lambóng show bereavement “angel” often small girl costume stand suspended midair galilea lofty perch angel chant regina caeli latin vernacular sometimes accompanied similarly dressed schoolchildren representing angelic choir high point principal angel dramatically remove veil virgin icon signalling abrupt end grieving period mourning veil may simply pulled statue tied balloon dove released dawn sky sorrowing virgin ritually transformed nuestra señora de alegria lady joy celebratory veneration angel throw flower petal icon christ virgin confetti rain moment punctuated bell pealing brass band playing firework reunited congregation gather inside church first mass easter traditional sugat meeting risen christ blessed virgin mary signal start new liturgical calendar minglanilla sugat yearly spectacle little angels” played child descending sky held dawn easter sunday sugat religious activity mainly based biblical narration jesus resurrection later year became attached cultural kabanhawan festival” thus sugatkabanhawan festival” caridad pakaridad way giving sharing food especially ginataan suman neighbor local church chapel given crowd people attend good friday procession complimentary drink water also given local resident living along processional route black nazarene icon brought mexico galleon trade era enshrined quiapo church considered miraculous devotee brought procession every good friday – one three occasion done every january new year eve statue borne shoulder male devotee slow difficult procession around narrow street district score men struggle keep image moving thousand try muscle way touch icon well long rope wheeled carriage carrying image pulled procession last whole morning procession held due covid pandemic philippine procession returned motorcade crowd control problem forced organizer cancel successful motorcade conducted traditional form procession – image ándas – returned folk belief antinganting traditional amulet especially potent collected made imbued power good friday sipalay negro occidental many albularyo witch doctor search antinganting unexplored cave particular type antinganting every need passing exam childbirth protection danger love good business invincibility holy week also attracts folk healer gather showcase amulet power middle plaza antingeros talisman aficionado go mt banahaw believed sacred mountain good friday empower believer antinganting claim best time recharge spiritual energy talisman night good friday different group also identify special place recharging amulet cemetery mountain top church etc recharging antinganting usually done repeatedly chanting latin incantation copy may also bought holding talisman holy wednesday procession held paetes image christ life death procession go town narrow street en route church stop three time give way salubong meeting depicts three scene jesus passion paetes moving saint take part meeting christ mary held church patio wiping jesus face veronica take place plaza edesan finally encounter mary veronica latter show miraculous imprint christ face cloth held town plaza san pablo good friday procession consists huge centuryold statue bedecked fresh flower old time famous procession saint bartholomew malabon binan laguna pateros tuguegarao unfortunately holy week image cagayan destroyed war similarly tres caidas binan seventy holy week procession malabon consisted silver carrozas highlight tres caidas either talleres maximo asuncion today longer join procession good friday famous procession manila inter war period santa cruz almost image obliterated aerialbombardment manila today makati major holy wednesday procession aside usual good friday one oldest image held city proper senákulo many town version senákulo using traditional script decade century old version held cultural center philippine sponsored department tourism popular film television star often join cast play taguig popularize modern version jesus christ superstar reshown fort santiago amphitheater benefit manila resident mexico pampanga dinalupihan bataan actor portraying jesus actually nailed cross simulate christ passion pagtaltal sa guimaras ang pagtaltal holy lenten presentation staged hillside jordan guimaras every good friday patterned oberammergau southern bavaria germany pagtaltal mean remove thus drama end removal bringing body jesus christ cross laid arm blessed virgin mary familiar scene known pieta moment recalling period christ body removed cross died backed strong christian community jordan registered first festival pagtaltal sa jordan guimaras good friday spectacle saga suffering christ enacted intense spirituality religious realism theatrical color mass appeal outclass presentation similar flavor ever increasing throng spectator local foreign brave summer heat witness pagtaltal proof popularity moriones festival island province marinduque commemorates story roman centurion longinus tagalog san longhino legendary conversion foot cross moriones festival synthesis catholicism folk mysticism townsfolk boac gasan mogpog dressed mask helmet moriones depicting roman soldier rest local portray st longinus hide among house others search unlike country marinduque observes holy week much joyous manner saboy saboy traditional dance performed girl easter sunday la piñas metro manila dance divided two part mourning section joyful version first dancer salubong angel often large wing bear black veil second hosanna angel dressed white usually hold basket rose petal comprise majority dancer third tres marías english three mary three older girl dressed pink also bearing basket last blueclad kapitana captainess tinyentera female lieutenant kapitana distinguished large banner wave tinyentera swing thurible sayaw ng pagbatì sayaw ng pagbatì dance greeting welcome dance batibati short easter ritual dancing show pious length local faithful prepared take tell world christ risen varies town town prominent version found angono rizal ibaan batangas well parañaque metro manila parañaque sayaw ng pagbatì performed different rendition official city cultural dance easter sunday morning right mass salubong encounter image risen christ blessed mother beribboned girl various barangays parañaque clad white gown file front st andrew cathedral la huerta village street dance showdown taking cue marching band recording dance hour till noon tune joyful music wave wand air province batangas version performed municipality ibaan consists lady act kapitana similar saboy accompanied two male escort nearby rosario pagbati traditionally composed three young lady dancing tune local brass band dressed white actual easter sunday dance early morning clad colorful dress black saturday rehearsal dance held evening accompanied waving flag grace making sure would fall roll municipality angono rizal traditional salubong rite consists kapitana tenyenta perform religious dance tune bati tenyenta first perform dnce tune gavotte kapitana recited traditional poem offered virgin mary called dicho consisting stanza verse kapitana performs dance tune valse waltz municipality taytay rizal revived traditional easter greeting dance consisting kapitana four councilors assistant konsehala taytay municipal mayor allan martine de leon brought back tradition march kapitana mga konsehala represents five barangays municipality dolores san isidro santa ana san juan muzon municipality cainta rizal rite consist kapitana performs dance tune marcha modanza four captainesses kapitana apatan represents barangays cainta san roque san andres san juan barrio dayap consisting barangay sto domingo barangay sta rosa barangay sto niño binignit black nazarene good friday procession baliwag holy week paete hispanic influence filipino culture pasyon medium related holy week philippine wikimedia common unique varied observance holy week philippine official gazette republic philippine april good friday tradition solemn rite held today manila bulletin april archived original february – via yahoo news hermoso christina march holy wednesday focus juda betrayal jesus manial bulletin archived original april tourist witness good friday procession baliwag online visita iglesia cbcp news