HOLY WEEK DRAMAS

HOLY WEEK DRAMAS

Among the traditional Holy Week practices in our hometown are the “Pabasa” and the “Prusisyon” of the characters that participated in the Salvation Drama.

The Marquez clan of my grandmother side owns the antique image of San Pedro Apostol while the Aviñante clan of my grandfather side owns the antique image of Mater Dolorosa.

This year it is our family’s turn to sponsor the “Pabasa” and the “Prusisyon” of San Pedro Apostol. That is the reason why my eldest and youngest sons who are both based in Autralia are coming home together with my eldest grandson who is carrying my family name.

During the “Pabasa” on Holy Tuesday we invited members of the Marquez clan to join the celebration together with friends, the other relatives from all sides. It is a kind of Religious Reunion for everyone.

More especially we invited a group of Passion Chanters who shall participate in reading a part of the Holy Passion of Jesus Christ. More than a dozen images shall be in procession to dramatize the Salvation Drama of Jesus Christ from His triumphant entry to Jerusalem on “Domingo de Ramos”, His Suffering Procession on Holy Wednesday, His Burial Procession on Holy Friday and His Glorious meeting with His Mother on Easter Sunday at the “Galilea”.

These Holy Week rituals are traditionally done all over the country in different colorful manners. Some with various ways of performing the “Penitencia”,that includes the actual crucifixion of some penitents. A dramatization of Christ’s life is lavishly presented through “Cenaculo” and different manners of doing the Fourteen Stations of The Cross and the “Visita Iglesia”.

All these ritualistic practices are offshoots of the Spaniards’ motivations while Christianizing the Filipinos when they came. It is lamentable that while the motivations are improved and continued, the original lessons intended by the Spaniards are forgotten and even caused the appearance of many confusing religious sects.