Holy Week 2012

Holy Week found me alone at home this year. My dad was in Cebu (on a roadtrip, if I may add), and my sister was locked up in her room with her boyfriend, which meant I wouldn't be seeing her at all. This being the quietest time in the city, I ended up inviting Hazel, Raffy and Joy for a sleepover.

After the usual sleepover activities, I brought them to my Holy Week thing -- the Stations of the Cross at Bonifacio High Street. I had previously written about it here, and because I was so touched by it, it has become a yearly thing for me.

With Raffy and Hazel, Station 1

Station 6 - The Cross

The prayer of the person I was supposed to pray for

What I was thankful for.

What everyone else was thankful for.

 I still love this whole tradition, but I need to remind myself to go there at night or early in the morning. The number of people there was a bit distracting, it ruined the solemnity of it all. Sad to say, I wasn't able to really feel it as much as I was able to the year before.

Good Friday, we jumped on a bus to Pampanga, where we visited the Razons and watched the Good Friday festivities. One of the things Pampanga is known for is their celebration of Good Friday. In a handful of barangays in San Fernando, people have been known to re-enact Christ's suffering up until his crucifixion.

The flagellants starting very early in the morning

Walking with a bloody back under the mid-day sun.

  

People in the streets, waiting for the bearer of the cross.

Re-enactment of the carrying of the cross.

This is definitely not for everyone -- blood spatter was everywhere! The cars and the people around all had blood on them because of all the flagellation. It was a bit violent too. Part of the tradition was having the people kick around the guy carrying the cross. It took me a while to understand what they were doing. While from afar it seemed like part of the story they were trying to portray, being in the midst of the people doing the kicking made me think of other ideas.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to see the crucifixion anymore. It was too hot and too crowded, and we had seen enough blood and gore for one morning. :)