Globetrotters July Monthly Challenge/ Celebrations Around The World

The Longest Lenten Procession In The Philippines

A Good Friday procession for the Holy Week Celebration

Holy Week is a religious tradition that is solemnly celebrated in the Philippines. It starts on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday.

Most churches in the country celebrate Good Friday with a procession illustrating the last hours of the life of Jesus Christ. It is called “Procession of the Saints.”

In the hometown of my mother, in the province of Bulacan, the procession is held both on Holy Wednesday and Good Friday. But the Good Friday procession is the most anticipated one.

The procession is not your ordinary one because there are more or less 100 floats. And not just ordinary floats. Thus called, the longest one in the country. In the previous years, it ranges from 96 to 122 in count. This year it’s only around 80.

Each float carries several life-size statues of the different personalities who played major roles in the life and passion of Jesus Christ. Each float is using an electric generator to supply the electric power needed for the lights, sound effects and mobility of the float. Yeah, sound effects such as thunder, lightning and human voices. Each statue is dressed in bright and colorful clothes that can glow even in the dark. Each float is intricately done as if it’s one big production.

Each float has a title, such as:

Stopping the storm

Jesus giving the key to Peter

Jesus announces his death

The transfiguration of Jesus on the cross

Jesus visits Martha and Mary in Bethany

A family or two usually owns one float. Each one costs a hefty price, that is why it became a status symbol of who’s who in the city. Maintaining the float and all of the statues to withstand another year is no joke.

Good Friday Procession

The procession starts and ends at the Parish Church of the city. Usually starts after sunset. The route covers mostly the major roads of the city, as side streets are not big enough for the floats. It takes about 3 -4 hours to complete the route. What's more with many residents and visitors joining the procession.

As early as 4 pm, the major roads are closed for vehicles. That means, we have to be there mid-afternoon. Every frontage of the houses in the route are lined with chairs for spectators. It is a big relief if you have a relative or friend in those houses. You can be assured of a reserved sitting space.

The house of my aunt, my mother’s sister is always our refuge. Her house became a hub for all relatives. The atmosphere was a far cry from a gloomy Good Friday. It looked like a family reunion. There are foods for the hungry one. But since fasting and abstinence were still in effect, our hungry stomachs would wait for midnight to indulge.

The Good Friday procession should be like a funeral rite and with only a few floats. But over time, it became bigger as additional images were introduced.

Criticism and Opinion

There are some people who criticized the procession. Saying that the floats were outlandishly presented. That it became a competition among families. That the solemnity of the procession became a well-orchestrated parade and tourist attraction.

In my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with it. The locals are inherently religious people and the world is evolving. The city cannot pass on a tradition with the same level of mentality as the old folks.

Whatever is done in the floats is guided by the requirements of the parish church. It is the owners’ way of giving back for the blessings they have. Who are we to question them?

And the only reminder from the Bishop is to make the procession solemn and prayerful.