Semana Santa or Holy Week

This week is one of the holiest weeks of the year for many Filipinos. The start of Holy Week is Palm Sunday. It is quite a sight to see many Filipino Catholics carry palm leaves, known as palaspas, to chuch for the priest to bless. The palaspas (palms) are made from the young fresh unopened leaves of the coconut called ibus. The palaspas are woven into intricate forms and shapes and sold on the sidewalks and streets leading up to the church. After they are blessed by the priest, they are later kept at home, placed at a door or window to ward off evil.

(These pictures were taken Sunday morning on our way to church)

On Maundy Thursday, many families practice the "Visita Iglesia," an old Filipino tradition of visiting as many churches as possible. Huge crowds take a pilgrimage up the hilly roads to our town of Antipolo passing by the stations of the cross. They start out on Maundy Thursday evening and hope to reach the Antipolo Shrine at the Catholic Church by dawn of Good Friday. In the past we have avoided going out on this day due to the huge number of crowds, but this year I decided I just wanted to see what went on. Allan, the kids, and I drove down the back hill to the beginning of the ascent into Antipolo. I went with camera in hand; I guess as somewhat of a tourist. I am not sure what I expected to feel. Maybe "Hey this is cool" or some similar emotion. I found that was not the case. Tears filled my eyes as I watched hundreds of people pass by who think that acts and pilgrimages will somehow save them from a lost eternity.

Makeshift shrines are set up along the way for those wanting to stop and pray.






Each year some families from Faith Academy pass out tracts and gospel bracelets to those passing by. Below is a video from You Tube that one of them shot last year.



Tomorrow on Good Friday many penitents will fulfill their "panata", a sacred vow made in thanksgiving for answered prayer . The "penitencia" takes the form of flagellation. Men will cover their faces with hoods, wear a crown of leaves and walk the streets, sometimes carrying a wooden cross while their bare backs are whipped by homemade whips tipped with sharp objects that scar their backs . Some towns are known for re-enacting Christ's ordeal through real-life crucifixion. In the town of Pampanga, north of Manila, penitents are nailed to wooden crosses using 2-inch stainless steel nails soaked in alcohol. They are only lifted up like this for several seconds.

Around noon on Friday the "Siete Palabras" or the reading of the Seven Last Words of Christ begins. In the afternoon the "Via Crucis" (Way of the Cross) or "Estacion General" (Stations of the Cross) moves into the street.

Black Saturday or "Sabado de Gloria" is ushered in with the ringing of church bells. Children are told to jump as high as they can on this day, in the belief that they will grow taller. This is also done at New Year Eve.

***Some of this info was found on the websight www.filipinoheritage.com