1. Why is the Sunday before Easter called Palm Sunday? Palm Sunday, one week before Easter, is the beginning of the Christian religion’s Holy Week. By the late 300′s, it was part of a trend for Christians in Jerusalem to remember the last events of Jesus’ life by holding services at sacred sites in the city. Today, palm branches are still given out on this day symbolizing the palm branches that people placed on Jesus’ path as he triumphantly entered the city of Jerusalem.

2. Maundy Thursday celebrates the Last Supper. Many churches reenact the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday. This day, three days prior to the Resurrection, is the day that Christ washed the feet of his disciples and shared his last meal with them. “Maundy” derives from the word mandate, or commandment. After Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, he commanded them to do the same for one another. In John 13:34, Jesus says, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another.”

3. What’s “good” about Good Friday? Good Friday, celebrated the Friday before Easter is considered a day of mourning by many believers of the Christian faith, but it is also the beginning of the three-day Easter celebration leading to the Resurrection. When he was resurrected, Christians believe, Christ paid for the sins of the world and gave everyone a clean slate. This is the basis of the Christian religion.

I was born and raised in Bicol, Philippines and have spent most of my childhood there. Bicol is at the southern end of Luzon. It’s a beautiful place with lots of natural wonders. More than just Mayon Volcano, Bulusan Volcano and Mt. Isarog, and whale shark spotting, Bicol Region have lots of breathtaking islands and beaches.

Albay, my home province has vast amount of rich farm lands, and one of the main produce is abaca. So if you’re in search for handicrafts (handbags, mats, baskets), this is the place to visit. What is also unique about the province is the churches in each municipality mostly of Baroque Architecture.

What I really miss though are the religious traditions we celebrate. Most notably, the holy week procession where you can see the evident influence of Spanish and Roman Catholic culture to our place.

2007 Holy Week Procession – Bacacay Albay, Philippines

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Agony in The Garden - 2007 Holy Week - Bicol, Philippines

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This is the 'santo' - Agony in the Garden, our family has taken care of for generations already..

I won’t be able to go home this Holy Week season, so I’d content myself with sharing pictures of last year’s Holy Week Procession. Back home, each “santo” or “paso” is taken care of by a clan. Most of these santos are with clans for several generations already. Our family has one “paso”, the Agony in the Garden. Every year the whole clan helps out fixing the image, putting decorations, and going to the processions. Processions are done on Holy Wednesdays and Good Friday. It goes through the town’s narrow streets ending at the Church where the priests bless the people and the images. (it was raining a bit last year ..)

Majority of these images or ‘santos’ are centuries old and has been handed down through generations. See the photos below and you’d be amazed by the details and the craftmanship of each piece. The newer ones now are mostly made of fiberglass but the old ones are really impressive. It has life-like sizes as well as features.

Update: 2008 Holy Week Procession (photos courtesy of my niece Andrea)

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2008 Holy Week Procession - bacacay albay, philippines

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