5 Holy Week Traditions in the Philippines

Filipinos commit themselves to activities during the Lenten Season. And these all come to a head during Holy Week. So, let us look into 5 Holy Week traditions and how they are celebrated. 

Pabasa

Pabasa is a devotional activity usually staged every Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Devotees will take turns singing or chanting the Pasyon, a Tagalog epic that chronicles the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Senakulo

This is one of the most common Holy Week traditions. It is a traditional religious play that depicts the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus and is usually staged on both Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. So, you will see scenes such as the Last Supper and the betrayal of Judas Iscariot being played out during this event. 

Visita Iglesia

“Visita Iglesia” translates to “Church Visit” in Spanish. Every Maundy Thursday or Good Friday, you will visit seven different churches to pray and reflect. They also say that if it is your first time to visit one of your chosen churches, you can make a wish!

Siete Palabras

“Siete Palabras” means “Seven Words” in Spanish. This refers to the seven last sayings of Jesus before He died on the cross. Every Good Friday, priests deliver their own sermons on each of the seven last words that highlight the significance of Christ’s sacrifice.

Salubong

“Salubong” means “meeting or “encounter” in Tagalog. It is an Easter Sunday tradition that reenacts Jesus and Mary reuniting after the Resurrection. Their statues are carried in separate processions, and then they meet outside a church while devotees sing and pray. 

DESTINATION: Backpacking Ilocos: Adventures in Region I

Let these 5 Holy Week traditions remind us of the true meaning of the Lenten Season. We need to remember the great love that Jesus Christ has for us and the sacrifice He made for us.