HOLY Week or Semana Santa is a time for many things. It can be for reconnecting with God, family time or for some a chance to live or see Christian Filipino traditions that are unique to the Philippines.
Semana Santa is a time for reflection and penance, as well as an opportunity to strengthen family bonds, and see and pass traditions that are uniquely Filipino, well almost.
Here are five of those uniquely Filipino Holy Week traditions:
Courtesy AFP
Pabasa
The Pabasa is that of Jesus Christ’s passion and death as it is being narrated by a group of people. Many devotees usually take turns reading in front of a makeshift altar. What makes this unique is that it is being sung as it is being read. There is no uniform tune to how it is sung and read at the same time. But the tone, it went from the usual to rap. Goes to show that while traditions stick, some facets of it will change to adapt to today’s situations.
Courtesy: AFP
Penitensya
Ok. Some other countries have this. But this is something that ever since I was able to be aware of my surroundings had already been there. It is both cringy and an awe to me every time I see them as they pass by the streets when I was a kid in Brgy. Hagdang Bato Itaas in Mandaluyong City. This painful tradition is being done through acts of self-flagellation. It reenacts the scourging of Jesus Christ by the Romans. It is being done by devotees over belief that they will be washed of their sins. (Side note: I heard they wash away the blood on their backs using water with salt or alcohol)
Courtesy: AFP
Senakulo
This one is like a live version of a Netflix series. Again plucking memories from my childhood in Mandaluyong, the Senakulo depicts a stage play on the life of Jesus Christ. It is being done during Maundy Thursday. This is aimed to remind us of His sacrifice to save us and bring us to salvation. In other instances, as I said it is like a Netflix series where the events are divided as to how many small churches or kapilyas there were for them to perform.
Serving of Kordero
This one I learned later in life as I met my wife who hails from the Province of Rizal. It is being done in Morong, Rizal as they commemorate the Last Supper. In this, a “kordero”, a potato dish shaped like a sheep, is being prepared for the whole community and is served to all those who’ll attend the mass on Maundy Thursday.
Courtesy: Getty Images
Processions
And this, I can’t remember a time in my life where there were no processions (Ok, except during Covid-19). This is one of the oldest Semana Santa traditions for Filipinos. Every Holy Wednesday and Good Friday, it is being done for us to remember the passion and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. A marching band accompanies the parade featuring religious icons on beautiful carrozas.
Think we missed some traditions? Let us know in the comments.
Filipinos have such a rich and vivid tradition that has survived time and evolves along with it.
If you have an idea, or story that you would like to read, email me at [email protected].
Next, stay glued as we will delve into the ten Holy Week beliefs unique to Filipinos.
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