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Filipino Religiosity: Good Friday on to Easter
tents wear colorful masks like Roman centurions. They roam around the town looking for Saint Longinus, the centurion who thrusted the spear on Jesus’ side.
Another Lenten tradition that has attracted tourists’ attention is the crucifixion in Pampanga that is done on Good Friday. A penitent is nailed to a cross after parading in the town carrying the wooden cross with other penitents, locally called as “mandarame,” who walk barefooted while whipping their backs with bamboo sticks until they are blooded.
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Some Lenten activities have attracted local and foreign tourists like Baliuag’s Good Friday procession (see below) or the Moriones Festival in Marinduque, an island in Southern Tagalog Regio. Held annually during the Holy Week, peni-
Meanwhile, among the many major churches that pilgrims visit in the Philippines are the San Agustin Church in Manila, the Minor Basilica National Shrine of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz in Binondo, the Taal Basilica in Batangas, the Barasoain Church in Bulacan, the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Saint Augustine Church in
Paoay, Ilocos Norte, the Molo Church in Iloilo, and the Baclayon Church in Bohol, among others.
Hiking pilgrims can reach the Cross on Mount Samat in Bataan located 1,821 ft above sea level. It is the second tallest cross in the world at 312 feet. There is also the Kamay ni Hesus Shrine, or the statue of the risen Christ, in Mount Banahaw in Quezon where pilgrims have to climb around 300 steps to reach the peak. At 50 feet, the statue is believed to be the third biggest in the world.
Domingo de Ramos or Palm Sunday ushers the holy week. “Palaspas” made of palm leaves that are artistically formed and laced are blessed with holy water at the end of the mass during Palm Sunday. The dried palms are normally placed in windows and believed to drive off bad spirits.
Different activities are also being held in various parts of the country during the whole season like praying the Way of the Cross and the singing of the “Pasyon” or the “Pabasa” that the narrates the life of Christ from His birth, to death, and to resurrection. Visita Iglesias is also done, normally on Good Friday, where devotees visit seven churches to do the Station of the Cross while others go on a pilgrimage visiting known miraculous statues around the country.
