My 1st Visita Iglesia 2010

Maundy Thursday is the day for the “Visita Iglesia” and “Antipolo Alay lakad” (walking from one’s place to Antipolo as a means of penitence). Usually, I do the “Alay Lakad” during holy week but instead decided to just do the “Visita Iglesia” this year (for a change). ^_^

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Senakulo 2010

“Senakulo” (Passion-play) is a traditional dramatic presentation depicting the passion of Jesus Christ — His trial, suffering and death. It is done in towns and cities during Holy Week and from town plazas or churchyards, people gather to witness this holy event. Actors and actresses playing in this passion-play do this not just for entertainment but also as their means of “panata” (vow).

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Holy Week in the Philippines

Philippines is the only predominantly Christian country in Asia. It’s been said that approximately 85% of its citizens are Christian (which mostly Roman Catholic), 10% Muslim and 5% other religions.

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Palm Sunday

Every Sunday, my akachan (bf) and I go to St. Francis Church in Crossing, Mandaluyong, to attend Sunday masses. We are devotees in that church. We always visit there to pray even if it’s not Sunday.

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Feast of Sto. Niño (Feast of Child Jesus Christ, Tondo Manila)

The “Santo Niño” or “Holy Child” is a Roman Catholic figure of the Child Jesus Christ. And being on a country where most of the citizens are Roman Catholic, Filipinos are known to be a great follower and really devoted to all their patron saints. Our love and devotions to Christ Child is phenomenal.

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Feast of Black Nazarene (Quiapo, Manila)

The 9th of January is considered to be one of the most spectacular religious events in the Philippine history. Because it is during this day, Filipinos celebrates the Feast of the Black Nazarene --- a day-long event and long-held practice of Filipino Catholics.

The Black Nazarene is famously noted for its devotees who walk the procession streets barefooted as to imitate Jesus Christ on his way to Mount Cavalry. It is a life-size, dark-colored wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ carrying a cross which is said to be miraculous by many of its Filipino devotees. Its statue was brought here in Manila by a Spanish priest way back 1607 aboard a ship. The ship then caught fire, burning the image and thus came to be known as the “Black Nazarene”. Though its image has been burnt, people still decided not just to preserve it but to honor it, as well. And ever since then, miraculous things have been experienced by those who touch its image.

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Holy Innocents

Holy Innocents or Childermas (Children’s Mass) in other countries, is a festival known to Christians as a commemoration of the mass infanticide or massacre of young male children in Bethlehem ages two years old and below by King Herod of Judea.

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Simbang Gabi (Misa de Gallo)

As a Filipino, one of the traditional values that have remained strong and very integral to us is our love for celebrating different occasions or festivities. We celebrate every significant event in our lives such as birthdays, baptismal, anniversaries, promotions, graduations and so many others.

Christmas is one of the most important seasons that we celebrate. And we, Filipinos, actually do celebrate the longest Christmas in the world. For it starts, when the “ber” seasons arrives --- October, September, November, and December; and even lasted till the 6th day of January (for the celebrations of the “3 kings”).

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