A Holy Week in Cainta

The Lenten Season is one of the most celebrated holidays in the Philippines aside from Christmas. The Lenten Season starts from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday. This runs for more than a month. Psalm Sunday is usually the start of a week-long activities commemorating and solemnizing the sacrifice of Jesus. For most Filipinos, Holy week is vacation time, given a long weekend that starts from Maundy Thursday until Easter Sunday.

Unlike most Filipinos who would go to the beach and nearby provinces, I choose to stay at home. Instead of going to different provinces hat showcases the life of Jesus, I prefer to celebrate it in our town of Cainta. Ever since I was a child, Holy Week is always celebrated with enthusiasm and glamour in our town. From the Senakulo, to the Pabasa, procession of different statues of saint until Easter Morning, there are activities that keep every town’s people busy.

 One of the activities of the Lenten Season is the Senakulo, a stage play of the life of Christ. The story usually starts from the Creation – Adam & Eve, and then it would jump to the New Testament, the apparition of the angel to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the birth of Christ until his death and resurrection and the story will finish from his ascension to heaven. The Senakulo will start on the night of Psalm or Holy Monday and will run every night until Easter Sunday.

Another activity during this season is the Pabasa. A chorale reads a book known as the Pasyon through singing. The reading of the Pasyon is held inside a house, wherein the chorale will start reading the book in the early morning and will only stop when the book is finished. The reading usually lasts the whole day. Neighbours also went to the house of the Pasyon to substitute the other readers and also help prepare foods for the chorale and visitors.

church goers on a Good Friday

 

 

 

girl praying on covered faces of statues

 

 

Good Friday is the busiest day of the Holy Week. This is the day wherein lots of activities are done in our Church. In the morning there is the usual Station of the Cross for the church goers, The “Paghahatol” or “Jesus Judgment” for those people who loves to watch the Senakulo and there is also a confession inside the church. In the afternoon there is the cleaning of the feet, the Procession of the Saints and the Kissing of the “Amba”.

 

the start of the procession

 

 

 

people joining the procession

 

The Pieta - one of the popular statues in the procession

 

people putting candles on the side of the church

 

people waiting for the Amba

 

a glimpse of the Amba

So much activities to do and join in our small town of Cainta during this season, I see no reason for me to leave town. Besides, Holy Week is the season for us to pray, reflects, and celebrates the passion of Christ. Let us not forget its true meaning amidst our joyful vacation.