Unique, varied observance of Holy Week in the Philippines

Below is a News Release of the Philippine Department of Tourism. Lent in the Philippines is usually observed through weekly fastings and abstinence, penitence as well as the traditional passion plays or senakulo, panata, via crucis, visita iglesia and the pabasa in most barangays or villages in every town and city.  At its culmination, there are …

Quiapo Church

First-time Holy Week in Quiapo Church

For a predominantly Catholic nation, the Philippines, time and again, has observed holy week religiously. Work often stops as early as midday of Holy Wednesday and everyone shifts to holiday mode. Even regular TV programming halts replaced with religious rites or spiritually-inspired shows. The workforce takes advantage of the long lull without using up their …