Semana Santa: The lasting influence of the colonizers

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St. Joseph Parish Church

It's already been over a hundred years had passed since the liberation of the Filipinos from the rule of foreign invaders, yet the latter's influence still evident in the daily life of the Filipinos today.  

In this special post, we will find out what are the influences of the colonizers that are still observed and practiced by the Filipinos today and how do young generation of Filipino Catholics view these religious influences brought and introduced to the Filipinos by the Spaniards. 

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday is a Holy Week religious activity where Catholic parishioners and faithful will go to the church to hear mass, bringing with them Palm fronds. These Palm fronds are then blessed by priests with Holy water.

At home, these crucifix-shaped Palm leaves will be placed on doorsteps or any conspicuous areas of the house. According to Catholic beliefs these Palm fronds are believed to drive away bad spirits.

These Crucifixes are sold by the vendors within church vicinities for P15-P30 pesos. A day before the Palm Sunday these vendors stay and sleep within the vicinities of the churches making these Palm fronds Crucifixes. 

St. Joseph Parish Church 

Visita Iglesia

Visita Iglesia or church visit in English is part of the Holy Week observance. Catholic faithful visit and pray in seven (7) or more churches in the community on Maundy Thursday. 

Station of the Cross 

The Station of the Cross is another Holy Week Festivity where Catholics retrace the 14 stations that Jesus Christ followed hours prior to his brutal, painful death.

In the Philippines there are religious sites with 14 stations are found, one of them is in barangay Guadalupe Cebu, City Philippines. 

Every year, thousands of Catholic faithful visits this place. Sacramentals such as beaded bracelets, rosaries are sold within the vicinity as souvenirs. 

Fasting 

Fasting is abstention of meat during the Holy Week, particularly on Good Friday. Filipinos never eat any meat be it pork or beef on this day to sympathize with the sufferings of Jesus.

Instead, Filipinos will prepare their favorite delicious local delicacies such Biko, Budbud, Puto Maya, and of course their all-time favorite and mouthwatering native delicacy that every household must have - the Binignit. 

St. Joseph Parish Church 

Siete Palabras 

Siete Palabras or the Seven Last Words of Jesus where seven (7) speakers take turns shouting, crying, and reading the seven last words of Jesus hours before His death on the Cross.

Siete Palabras are staged in churches all over the country Good Friday starting from 12 noon until 3 o' clock in the afternoon.

The Siete Palabras is an emotionally charged religious activity that women and elderly cannot hold their emotions and cry during the reading of the Seven Last Words of Jesus. 

Salubong 

"Salubong" or welcoming the Resurrection of Jesus and His meeting with His mother, Mama Mary. This is one of the most important events during the observance of Holy Week.

Historically, in the Philippines, welcoming is celebrated in churches on Sunday dawn in where parishioners and faithful brave sleepiness and dawn breeze just to be able to attend this Holy Week event. 

In Pasalubong, children as angels will be lowered from higher place while singing. Welcoming is also the burning of Judas' effigy. 

Easter Egg hunt 

Part of the welcoming of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the popular Easter Egg hunt. Egg hunting is much-awaited Holy Week event not just by children but by adults as well. 

Malls, groups or individuals, children and adults, male or female, rich or poor never fail to participate in this Easter Egg hunting.   



Author

Samuel A. Escabarte, a licensed English Language and Literature teacher. Please support this small website as I share with you my country's unique, diverse culture, historical events, and stunning landscape.

 







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