Live in the Philippines

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What is Easter like in the Philippines?

Holidays / by

Today is Easter Day in the Philippines.  This entire past week has been Holy Week, which is a major event in the Philippines, much bigger than the actual day of Easter.  In order to tell you about Easter in the Philippines, I am republishing this article today.  This was originally published in 2010, but the information you will read is just as relevant as it was back then.  Happy Easter Everybody.  MindanaoBob

I’ve written on LiP a number of times about Holy Week in the Philippines.  Still, though, Holy Week has changed quite a bit here since I first moved here, and I also still get e-mails from readers asking about Easter here, or what they should expect here during Easter.

Just yesterday, I got an e-mail from a relatively long time LiP Reader asking about Easter here.  She asked me a number of questions that I would like to provide answers for, and I feel sure that there are other readers with similar questions, so I will share it here on the site so that more people can benefit from the information.

First, let me share with you some of my other articles that I have written about Holy Week in the Philippines.  Just last year, I had an article about Rapid Changes in the Philippine society in the past decade or so, which included information about Holy Week.  In 2008, I wrote an article called “Do you know about Holy Week” which told more about the week before Easter.  Check these articles for more information about Holy Week in the Philippines.

In the e-mail that I got yesterday, there were a few questions, and I will address each of them individually.

When does the Philippines celebrate Easter 2011?  Is it the same date that is celebrated in the States?

To be honest, I don’t know the date without going and checking.  However, it is important to remember that Easter is a religious holiday, the date is set based on the Church.  The date that Easter is celebrated here is the same date that any other country celebrates.  But, remember, here, the week before Easter (particularly Thursday (Maundy Thursday), Friday (Good Friday) and Saturday (Black Saturday)) are celebrated here.  In fact, these days that I listed are much more significant here than Easter Sunday is.  In fact, Easter Sunday seems like a pretty normal day here, while Thursday, Friday and Saturday are virtual ghost towns in the Philippine Cities.  Most businesses are closed (although not as many as before, a decade ago everything, and I do mean everything was closed).

Can you tell me about the run up to the Easter weekend regarding parades and fiestas?

OK, this is very important.  Parades and fiestas are “festive events” where people celebrate and are merry.  Holy Week is not a festive occasion.  Holy Week is a solemn event, and there are not any parades or fiestas.  If you had a big fiesta you would be looked at in a very bad way, because you are expected to be solemn, and be considerate that this is the week that Christ died.  It is not festive in any way.  When I first moved here, even the Cable TV went off of the air for the entire week!  Everything was shut down from Palm Sunday until Easter Sunday.  When Easter came around, it was, however, back to a fairly normal day.

So, in short, expect a week of solemn reflectiveness, not a week of cheer and merrymaking.  In recent years things have begun changing, but still overall, this is what you can expect during Holy Week.

As an example of the change that we are seeing here, today (Maundy Thursday), I took a drive around town to see what things were like.  In the past, everything would have been closed.  Today, I found the Public Market to be open, and half of the malls were also open in Davao.  The other half were closed.  Tomorrow, Good Friday, I can’t say for sure what the situation will be.  But, even the things I mentioned are major changes compared to years past.  In fact, even ATM machines were closed in the past, and all seem to be functioning normally now.

So, this is a bit of a rundown of Holy Week and Easter activities in the Philippines.  I hope that you find it informative.  Happy Easter to all LiP readers!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hi Bob
    Thanks so much for the information. Living in Canada where religious holidays are not celebrated en masses country wide….it is interesting to hear how a large country like the Philippines celebrates Easter.
    We will be deciding on dates for our 2011 Philippine Dental Mission and wanted to understand the possible conflicts we might have dates wise.
    Thanks for the info

  2. Hi Bob;
    For one thing it’s more serious here than when I was a young Catholic lad in Boston, All we did was dress up and go to Mass on Sunday, later in the day have a big meal and hunt for eggs. Later I wondered why a Bunny was hiding eggs??? My big brother explained that the Bunny didn’t want his friends to know he was dating a chicken!
    I’m Sorry, I just had to write that!

    • 😯 OMG, Paul! I’m shocked! I never thought about it before. We have a lot of us here on the site who are involved in Interracial or even Intercultural relationships, but now you are bringing word of Interspecies relationships to LiP! A bunny and a chicken? I had never considered this before, but it appears that you are exactly right! 😯

  3. Hi Bob – My childhood was in a conservative Polish-American Roman Catholic parish. It had just about everything then as my local parish here up north has. About the only difference is Black Saturday. The only activity that occurred on that day was a formal blessing of food that was to be consumed after midnight Mass on Easter Morning. Nothing else. Between Holy Thursday and Easter Morning, there wasn’t any playing of the radio, tv or music of any kind in our house, and the days (while not being in Church) were solemn and reflective.

    Feels good to be back home.

    • Hi Paul – I’m glad that you found a place that makes you feel at home. I know that is a good feeling. Holy Week, for me, is not something that makes me feel at home. I was raised Catholic, although we never had anything like this at that time. I always found it a bit strange, especially living in Mindanao, since everybody here is not Catholic, that everything would be basically shut down. What about Muslims and Christians who are not Catholic, couldn’t they be working to keep businesses open, and there to serve those who are not Catholic? Always seemed a bit strange to me.

      • I’d say it’s probably a case of mutual respect – one of the facets of peaceful coexistence. You probably wouldn’t enjoy the alternative. Things could become pretty dicey if ill will spread among the various believers. 😉

        • Mutual respect? Ha ha.. I think not. Muslim holidays are not followed by the local businesses. When it is Ramadan, and Muslims must fast, all of the restaurants don’t close down. It is only for the Catholic holidays that everything shuts down. So, no, I don’t think there is mutual respect going on.

          In fact, what I am talking about would be mutual respect. “When it is your holiday, I will take the workload. When it is mine, please help me by covering my work hours.” That, IMHO, is mutual respect.

      • Bob many Protestant Christians also have the same Holy days as Roman Catholics so they would probably respect the same days as the Roman Catholics and not open their business either. Anyway Happy Easter to all.

  4. Bob, thanks for running this most informative story–and the links. I know my GF’s family always travels from Makati to Daet area every year during holy week for a passion re-enactment or some such. I figured there was merriment in addition to the solemnity of the occasion. Now I know I perceived wrongly.

    • Hi Pete – In recent years, there has started to develop a tradition of traveling, going to the beach or other such things during Holy Week. Some, particularly the younger people get into a bit of merriment during this, but not most people. I would suspect that if your GF is traveling for a Passion re-enactment, there is likely no merriment on that trip.

  5. Schools closed, ” Easter Vacation ” that is what I remember most about this time of the year when I was younger and yes then the big day on Easter Sunday after Easter baskets filled with candy, chocolate and color Easter Eggs before Easter Sunday at church. My friends in The Philippines have filled me in on some of the events there, I guess the word Festivities may not be accurate.Thanks for the additional info.

    Happy Easter to you and your family Bob and to everyone here on LIP.

  6. Hey Bob
    It would seem that Easter and holy week there in the Philippines now is what it was like when I was growing up. I also remember asking my mom as a child why Easter doesn’t come on the same day every year like Christmas…Easter is lunar based I was told. Easter comes on the first sunday after the first full moon following the Vernal Equinox. As a 10yo I still didn’t understand.

  7. Growing up in a mainly Protestant region, everyone worked all Holy Week and chilled off on Sunday at church with morning service with kids high on easter bunny basket choco eggs, or normal time serivce about Ressurection while kids made foam crafts quoting “He has risen!”, then going out easter egg hunting.. hoping for at least a quarter in one of the plastic eggs. Oh yeah, and not to forget the lil girls in colorful red/blue/yellow puffy dresses.

    • 🙂 That’s what we Filipinos see in American movies. We thought it was extravagant and a lot of work–the dyeing of eggs, people really dressed up for their Sunday best. Of course, gated communities, club houses and even upscale malls borrow this easter egg hunting practiced by Americans. But for the vast majority of Filipinos who are not in a resort, we celebrate Easter by just eating meat.

      • Hi roy – I don’t think it’s extravagant, just the way we celebrate Easter! I guess that it is very different than the way Holy Week is celebrated in the Philippines! 😆

  8. Bob, I couldn’t even get a cup of coffee today. All my temporary hangouts…Bo’s, Blugre, Coffee Katz were all closed. Even my Fitness Club. The Matina Market was thriving though.I couldn’t even find you at Bankeron LOL hahahahahah

  9. Bob: I’ve already been reprimanded for playing music too loudly! How does the sorbetes vendor get away with that annoying little tune today?!? Anyway, the altar is full of candles and offerings in the house and I don’t think I’ve ever seen Manila so quiet (I was out of town the last couple of Easters).

    As to the mutual respect mentioned above, those who complain, consider yourselves lucky that you don’t live in Saudi or Kuwait during Ramdan.

    • Hi JohnM – The Philippines being a multi-religion society, it would just seem more even handed if the holidays of all religions were observed. Catholic holidays are government holidays… all the others are nothing.

      • John;
        I was chided about my music also. I can only figure my wife is anti Dwight Yoakam. I’ll wait until Monday and crank-up-the-volume. It’s a small price to pay for harmony!

        • Wow, I’m happy, because I was allowed to play my country music as loud as I wished! Maybe I’m just not as wild as you guys are! 😯

      • Bob- Eid holidays celebrated by Muslims after Ramadan is declared a government holidays in the Philippines.

        • Hi Dexter – Yes, but that is not what I said. I said that business don’t close and such for the Muslim holidays. Some of the Muslim holidays are government holidays but not all of them, and the whole country doesn’t shut down for them like what happens for holy week. Right?

  10. Hello Bob, coming to the Manila in the AM the day before Easter Sunday. Interested in what is going on for Easter Sunday, wanting to experience the culture of the celebration. From what I’ve read, Sunday is a very quiet day. Do you have suggestions?
    Shannon

    • Hi Shannon – Yes, my experience is that all of the hoopla and the religious observances are mostly during holy week. Easter Sunday is practically back to a normal day. Enjoy your trip.

      • Well Bob, the churches will be packed for Easter Mass… That’s about all that I can think of. Since Shannon is arriving on Saturday, though, I would suggest hanging around in the area of the airport / Makati… That’s where there is more likely places that will be open on Saturday. I wonder if the new casino will be open that day?

  11. Hello Bob. The question about festivals may be referring to the festivals seen in other Catholic areas in the days, or even months, prior to Holy Week. In Europe, there is fasching. In Brazil, carnival. All culminating in Fat Tuesday, or mardi gras. They are considered a time to eat, drink, and party prior to the fasting and solemnity of Holy Week.

    Take care,
    Pete

  12. Hello Bob,

    Just came across this site as I will be traveling to Philippines this year.
    Any idea’s about places to stay near the beach or 1 kl from the sea.
    What about Green lagoon? Would you recommend it.
    How far is the airport from Green lagoon in Cebu.
    Is it expensive to live there?
    What about the weather & is it safe in Cebu.

    Cheers
    Patrick

    • Hi Patrick, I live in Davao, hundreds of miles from Cebu so I can’t be much help on Cebu hotels. Sorry. I can say though that Cebu is quite safe.

  13. I live in Tarlac province in a small hilly town/village. About 5 houses down the street from me is a small Catholic church and there is another one about 2 streets down from me. All week, all day, all night there has been amplified singing blasting from both churches in Pampango, the local language here. I never thought I would be so happy to hear roosters again…lol

    • Hi Richard – Ha ha.. I have few roosters in my neighborhood, and the few that are here are relatively quiet. No Churches that are noisy either, so I am lucky. Overall, I would say that Holy Week has been quiet peaceful here. Sorry to hear that yours was not so peaceful!

  14. Hi Bob,

    I met Juliet in person during Holy Week 2002. We met on the Friday before Palm Sunday. We both made the mistake of eating meat on Friday during Lent. We celebrated Palm Sunday at her home church in de la Paz. Palm Sunday is a rather joyous service. It was the first time I had celebrated Palm Sunday in a Catholic Church. We also did Stations of the Cross there at de la Paz Parish Church. There was a procession one evening I think on Wednesday where Juliet’s Kuya help carry a statue.

    I traveled back to the USA on Good Friday and I was Baptized, Confirmed and received First Eucharist at the Easter Vigil 2002 back in Raleigh, NC. It would be Holy Week 2003 before Juliet and I would celebrate Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil which is Saturday night. I find the Good Friday Mass the most moving. It is very much like a funeral.

    Thanks for the informative article!

    Peace

    Jay

    • Hi Jay – It sounds like Holy Week has significant meaning to you, both for religious reasons as well as personal relationship reasons, and rightly so! Happy Easter to you.

    • Hi Derek – I was out in the city today, had some work to do for somebody. I could not believe how busy the city was. Streets and malls were filled to the brim!

  22. Back in my ecclesiastical days, no such thing as Easter Sunday. We celebrate San Juan, that’s when everyone go to the beach or river as a way of cleansing our sins. I reckon, Egg hunting inheres from Ireland influence.

    • Easter eggs are are pre Christian pratice which represents the rebirth of the earth. i.e. springtime. Most christian celibrations are piggybacked onto old European pre-chistian celibrations.

        • To dichotomize is one thing, Hence, Retelling a specific cultural tradition is not just a right having a proprietary website, above all, a responsibility.

    • Hi Mike. I am not a priest and font really know why. I was raised Catholic but left the church more than 30 years ago. I thought, though that the US catholic church no longer required fish on Fridays. I could certainly be wrong on that though.

      • Hi Guys,

        I am Catholic and we don’t eat meat on Fridays during Lent. I think some more strict Catholics don’t eat meat on any Fridays. My wife is a cradle Catholic from the Philippines and she does not eat meat on Fridays during Lent. Of course I don’t think she ate a lot of meat growing up anyway mostly fish. We actually ate meat on the Friday before Palm Sunday 2002, because that is the day we met in person. We went to an expensive restaurant, which she would not be accustomed to and I think we just forgot what day it was. I technically was not yet Catholic. Eating meat on Friday is not like a mortal sin or anything.

        Peace

        Jay

  32. Bob,
    It is also a perfect time to avoid traffic in the city…and get around., I was in Manila this year and flying down to Bohol. My car ride from Mikita to the airport took 2 hours on 3/16. When I returned to Manila on Holy week there was NO traffic. Its like the city was vacated. It took only 20 minutes for a trip that took 2 hours a week before. I plan to visit the same time next year. In regards to restaurants, there were still several open..however most are closed as you noted.
    Jeff

    • Hi Jeff, thankfully I don’t live in Manila. Where I live traffic is not all that bad, so I don’t have to take special steps to avoid it.