One Holy Week in Old Makati

By Abby Gail A. Tiongson

I know, I know, Holy Week is over and done with and the city is back to its chaotic self.
Sometimes, I wish that every week is Holy Week. A week full of prayers, sacrifices and forgiveness. A week
when there is no heavy traffic in Poblacion. A week that the noise is not noise but rather music to the ears.
You might think that I’m exaggerating but when you are exposed to the speed and noise of urban life day
in and day out, you will understand what I mean.
The observance of the Holy Week provides an opportunity for Filipino Catholics to deepen their
relationship with God and strengthen their family ties. As most businesses are closed from Maundy
Thursday until Black Saturday, the public is offered a healthy respite from stress and worries caused by the
daily grind of work and other activities. Most of the people troop to various scenic spots in the country
such as Boracay, Baguio and Tagaytay. Others prefer to stay in the city to spend the long Lenten break
with their families in the comfort of their homes.
Me and my family were in our place of residence during the entire Holy Week. We live in Barangay
Olympia. All of us, are members of the youth organization of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church and a
proud parishioner of SPP located in Barangay Poblacion which is said to be the original Makati dating back
to the Spanish times - the so-called Old Makati.
But despite the different varieties in observing Holy Week, we Filipino Catholics always find time in
reminiscing the passion and death of Jesus Christ.
This year’s holy week, observed on April 9 – 15, enlighten my spiritual soul about the things I am
confused as a Filipino Catholic. It’s funny how a person like me is already 17 years old and only now have I
fully understand the meaning of Holy Week by heart.
The life-changing week started on Palm Sunday, when we learned the importance of the Paschal
Triduum from Monsignor Gerardo Santos in his homily at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Chapel in Power Plant
Mall, Rockwell Center wherein, the Sacred Paschal Triduum is the three most solemn days of the liturgical
year; Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil.
This is the only Holy Week we completed the Paschal Triduum for every year we only attended the
Last Supper mass and the Easter Vigil, we didn’t know that there is an important mass in Good Friday.
Because of that we acquired a new kind of blessing, we understand the importance of Jesus’ death more in
depth than before. Trust me, if you complete these three you will understand what I’m saying and learn
the connection between them, will allow you to acquire a sense of enlightenment in your Catholic soul or
the chance to renew your promise to the Lord as a true and faithful servant of the Lord.
On Holy Monday, Bigkis was assigned to read the “Pasyon”, which is the narration of the life and
passion of Jesus Christ, on 9:00 – 10:30 pm at the Sampiro Hall. I always love to read the “Pasyon” for I get
to have a glimpse on how Jesus saved the humankind from evil. For me, it’s like reading comics and Jesus
is the superhero fighting against the 3 greatest villians harming the people, namely, death, sin and satan.
Later that week, on Holy Wednesday, we also go to the small “kubol” of Nazareno owned by “Samahan ng
Sampalucan” in our street at Novaliches wherein, it’s my first time to lead the ”Pasyon” for two hours.
Then the remaining Holy days, we’re a compilation of our first experiences like carrying the image
of Nazareno on Holy Tuesday, confessing again to a priest on the evening of Maundy Thursday,
observation of station of the cross at 7 am in Poblacion on the morning of Good Friday, attending the

Veneration

On 3 pm, marks the crucifixion and death of the Christ in the Christian World. Where it is also our
first time to attend the mass and truly mourn on the death of Jesus. After the mass, we get to kiss the
oldest image of Jesus crucified in the cross in the Church. Come night time of Good Friday, a parade of
floats representing the Stations of the Cross commences. This is a sight to behold, for the residents put
their heart and soul in the construction of the floats and the arrangement of the statues.
The parade is mostly accompanied by devotees, most of them barefoot. I remember a long-time
resident telling us once, “We usually have 30 or so statues on parade for this occasion”. The pride in the
statement stems from something deeper though. It seems that for him, it is not just about elaborate and
expensive preparations and such. The pride is all about the preservation and love of tradition. It is one
infectious, "good" pride, so to speak.
On the last day of the Paschal Triduum, comes Black Saturday where we attended the 4-hour long
Easter Vigil in Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church. Then, we joined for the first time, the procession of
“Salubong”. This tradition is by far the cutest and sweetest one for the males and females were divided in
the procession. According to Monsi, this is the only tradition that cannot be seen in any book in the Bible
but based on the personality of Jesus, he is a mother’s boy so he would surely visit his mother after his
resurrection. My most favorite part in this celebration is when Mama Mary’s veil was slowly removed by an
adorable angel through tying a white balloon on it and letting it fly to the sky symbolizing that mourning
has ended. Consecutively, the stars exploded or simply fireworks occurred in the sky celebrating the
Resurrection of Jesus the Christ.
Upon reflecting, I have concluded that in remembering the sufferings of the Lord, we are reminded
and brought back to our senses that the gift of salvation he has won for us is so precious. It is not just
another thing that we simply enjoy or claim but rather a gift that we must value and take not for granted.
The Passion narratives whenever we remember it realign us and put us back on track on our journey to
virtue and holiness. This makes us realize how thankful we must be to Christ for taking up this yoke to save
us. Christ could have done it the easiest way but he chose not to because of his love for us and that love is
best expressed through sacrifice and self-emptying (kenosis). When we remember his passion, we
remember how he loved us so much.
Some things we would give for modernization, but there are some traditions that are worth
keeping. The observance of the Holy Week in Old Makati is probably one of the things I would not hesitate
to show to any non-Makati resident. You know there’s this famous quote that goes like this: “Sometimes
the smallest things take up the most room in our hearts”.