The past is always associated
with the present. Almost all of the beliefs and actions we have practiced and
lived with are basically learned from our ancestors. It was measured to be
tenacity and a priori wherein Filipinos have followed a pattern of life, a
culture, and a tradition.
The Philippines is known to
be a Christian country, predominantly Roman Catholic. Practices are expected to
be present and perceived especially in various seasons. Filipinos are thought
to be adaptive in terms of living life and one proof is the way they celebrate
the Holy week or Semana Santa.
Oh
Holy Month
Holy Week is commemorated on the month of April. It venerates Christ’s death
and resurrection. But, there could be a thin line between how people celebrate
the Holy week from the past and present.
Before, children were
summoned to stay at home and families prefer to spend the lenten season
peacefully in their places than having a trip outside town. Cabs and other
vehicles are rarely seen in the roads.
Nowadays, some Filipinos see
Holy week as a week-long vacation. Instead of doing penitence and honoring
Christ’s suffering from saving us from our sins, some tend to enjoy the week as
an escape and relief from their busiest times in life.
But away from these
differences, similarities don’t grow apart. In fact, there is much likeness
than the divergence. Several modern day Filipinos still value the practices
being inherited from the past.
Valuing
the Past
During Holy week, different scenes could be witnessed and it starts with Palm
Sunday. The congregation bring palm leaves or “palaspas” to church which is
blessed by the priest before the mass starts. This commemorates the triumphal
entry of Jesus to Jerusalem.
Next is Holy Monday, the
beginning of the reading, “pabasa” or “pasyon”. This is a chant-like marathon
of the poetic prayer-story of Jesus' life, passion, and death that begins from
day until night.
Then on Maundy Thursday,
people do the "Church Visit" or "Visita Iglesia"; it
involves visiting several churches and pray the Stations of the Cross. It was
believed that if it was your first time to do the “Church Visit”, your prayers
and wishes would be answered.
Meanwhile, Good Friday is
commemorated with solemn street processions, the way of the Cross, the
commemoration of Jesus' seven last words and a passion-play called the
Cenakulo. In some places, devotees would have themselves flagellated as a
penance. Some would walk barefooted, whip themselves bloody with ropes and
broken pieces of glass attached with strings to bamboo sticks and sometimes
even have themselves nailed to crosses.
And lastly the Black Saturday
or “Sabado de Gloria”. On this day, silence and solemnity is observed and
business transactions are often entertained. Christians believe that the
physical body of Jesus Christ is still resting in the Garden of Gethsemane. And
when night comes, it paves way for the celebration of Easter.
Faith
Not Broken
Easter Sunday is the
resurrection of Jesus and the meeting of Jesus and Mary. Easter is also the
culmination of the whole commemoration of Holy Week. In modern times, the mood
is festive and people are busy preparing an Easter feast. Easter eggs and
bunnies are the highlights of the event.
Today, Easter has become a
metaphor for relief and celebration. After six days of repentance and penance,
people look forward to parties and family gatherings. In some ways it is
acceptable since the celebration gives value to life and is centered in the
family.
But it is different in the
past. In a “prusisyon”, church figures and saints are the main acts of the
parade. Men and women are separated and divided into two different streets. Men
follow the figure of Jesus while women follow Mary's. As they meet, all will
hear the Holy Mass.
Observing Palm Sunday to
Easter Sunday, it is evident that people have their own ways of repenting,
sacrificing, and rejoicing. Either way, Holy week is the time to remind
ourselves of Christ's suffering and that He saved us from our sins and welcomed
us into life's beauty.
The world has bountiful
beliefs and traditions, hence, people should learn and value the past and
re-live it properly in the present.
