Are Holy Week Traditions Fading?

source: mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines — Traditions die hard, especially when they are rooted in religion and folklore.

Filipinos have long observed Holy Week rites, from waving the palaspas on Palm Sunday to joining the pabasa on Maundy Thursday and watching the penitents on Good Friday.

But technological advances like smart phones, email, and GPS have changed the cultural landscape and individual lifestyles. Have these changes diminished the fervor for Holy Week rituals?

Manila Bulletin Research did random interviews to find out what Holy Week traditions have lost their sway among the faithful.

“’Yung panonood ng ‘salibatbat,’ o ‘yung mga nagpapapako sa krus sa Pampanga tuwing Biyernes Santo. Nung bata pa ako, takot na takot ako sa kanila... ‘yun kasi ang panakot sa akin ng parents ko ’pag nagiging pasaway ako. Hindi na ako nakakapanood sa ngayon dahil busy sa trabaho. Pero, kahit hindi na ako nakakapanood, siyempre, hindi na ako natatakot at mas naiintidihan ko na ngayon kung bakit nila ginagawa ‘yon.”

RAFAELA ANNE RIVERA, 22

Technical Writer, University of the Philippines Information Technology Development Center (UP-ITDC), Quezon City

“I used to witness flagellants whipping their wounded backs while walking the streets in our place in Mindoro, the province of my mother, in my toddler years. I miss seeing those, especially ngayon na dito na sa Isabela kami nakatira, which I observe doesn’t really celebrate Holy Week to the extent na katulad nung sa Mindoro at sa iba pang mga lugar.”

MARK BRYAN GARCIA, 21

Nurse, Dr. Ester R. Garcia Medical Center, Cauayan City, Isabela

“Dati nagpapabasa kami; ngayon, dahil sa kamahalan ng pagkain, wala na.”

LOLITA DELEÑA, 61

Photographer, Calbayog City, Samar

“Before, it was actually an effort for our family to go on fasting. But now, since my parents, most of my brothers, and I have work, ang nangyari, ‘yung family effort, naging individual effort na lang.”

DOM JASON SAURO, 21

Customer Service Representative, Dasmariñas, Cavite

“Dati, may pabasa doon sa in-laws ko. Ngayon, since nag-stay sila sa Manila, wala na, kaya ‘di na rin kami nakaka-attend ng pabasa. Saka ‘yung lamay o Easter vigil kapag Sabado de Gloria, ngayon hindi na kami nakakapunta.”

AMIE ANDREY, 36

Teacher, Pangasinan

“Nagpapahinga o kaya manonood ng mga palabas sa TV o kaya sa daan, ngayon nasa trabaho na kasi wala kaming day-off.”

AL FRANCIS DE JESUS, 36

NGO volunteer, San Fernando, Pampanga

“Noong araw, may panata ang tatay ko na linggo-linggo, nagsisimba ako kasi nung maliit pa raw ako, nagsumamo siya na gumaling lang daw ako, magsisimba ako linggo-linggo at magsusuot ng puti. Nung nagkaka-edad na ako, hindi ko na nasusunod, wala nang ganun, kasi busy na kapag may asawa ka na.”

source: mb.com.ph