It’s Holy Week here in the Philippines. Well, I suppose it is Holy Week everywhere in the world, actually, or at least every country that is Christian. Most countries don’t really celebrate the whole week, though, most countries celebrate Easter, but not Maundy Thursday, Holy Friday, Black Saturday, etc. Because I was raised Catholic, I knew what Holly Friday was, but had never heard of the other days before moving to the Philippines.
When we first moved to the Philippines in May of 2000, Holy Week had already passed for that year. For those who don’t know, Holy Week is the week before Easter. Holy Week starts with Palm Sunday, and runs through Black Saturday. The big days here in the Philippines are Thursday (Maundy Thursday), Friday (Holy Friday) and Saturday (Black Saturday). As I said, the first year we were living here, Holy Week had already passed before our arrival. In 2001, though, we were really in for an awakening.
People talked a lot about Holy Week and such as the week began, and earlier even. But, we had no idea what was in store. When Wednesday came along, everything was shut down. I mean, all of the stores were closed. All of the TV stations went off the air, except for one, and it played only religious programming for about 5 days. I mean, if you needed to buy food to cook for your family’s dinner, you better have done it early in the week, because no stores were open at all.
Even though Feyma grew up here in the Philippines, she had forgotten how it was during Holy Week, due to her long stay in the USA, and how different things are there from the Philippines. We really had an awakening that first Holy Week that we were in the Philippines.
We have now lived in the Philippines for 12 years, and so much has changed. In regards to Holy Week, it is like we are in a different country now. Many stores are open. Here in Davao, usually, at least one of the malls is open at least a half day every day of Holy Week now. They seem to alternate. Maybe on Thursday SM will be open, then on Friday NCCC or Abreeza will open. You just have to check the schedules which are usually posted in the malls. But, it’s not like it was a dozen years ago when absolutely nothing was open during Holy Week.
What about TV? Oh, now most all of the TV stations broadcast a regular schedule. Some of the Filipino stations go with a religious broadcast schedule, but not all. As far as I know, none of the stations go off the air now like they did back then. It’s totally different now than it was before.
What about the Filipino people? In the past, they would stay home and reflect on religion and such. Some Filipinos have told me that when they were kids their parents would not allow them to even talk or play during Holy Week. They could not cut their fingernails during Holy Week. I’m not sure why, but I have been told this by many Filipinos. Things are way different now. What do most Filipinos do now during Holy Week? Oh, they still do religious things. They visit Churches and such. But, the very popular thing to do now during Holy Week is more like going on vacation, spending time at the beach, partying and such. Ten or 20 years ago, those kinds of activities were certainly not done during Holy Week.
Things sure have changed.
In many ways, the change is to my liking. Holy Week was a huge inconvenience to me before. I mean, I personally am a Christian, and I feel like I was thoughtful about the things that happened, religion-wise, during this time, but I felt it was a bit overboard. I don’t mean that disrespectfully in any way. I guess I was just more accustomed to how things were in the States, and it was so different from what I encountered here when we first came here. Now, though, I wonder if Filipino Culture is changing too much, too quickly, etc. In some ways I am sad to see it change. I guess I have mixed emotions. Maybe it’s just that it has changed so fast, and in some areas I feel it has changed too much.
It’s hard to find a pleasant medium, I suppose.
Happy Easter, everybody!
It’s ok, change can be good. Just hope it is not all about the Easter bunny. Happy Easter to you. God bless.
Thanks, John. Happy Easter to you.
Just hope it doesn’t change at the pace the U.S. did. I remember when I grew up we still had blue laws which prevented businesses from operating on Sunday’s. When we moved from California to Mississippi in 1995, it was like stepping back in time. Now, for the most part, MS is right there with all else. I guess there is no stopping progress, just hope it moves slower where I’m going. 😉
Hi Randy – I moved from California to rural Louisiana in 1977. Talk about stepping back in time! 😆
It was drastic! There was nothing opened after 10pm. Nothing! But I kinda think that I would take that again.
…I mean since I go to bed now around 9pm. :O
You and I are in the same boat.. 9pm is my bedtime most nights! 😆
Happy Easter to you and your family Bob. Add me on to that 9PM sleepy time too. I think it is the sun going down so early! In case you didn’t know, I am in Candon City, Ilocos Sur right now baby-sitting a friend’s house until it is sold. After that, who knows!
Thanks John. Now, your name says “John in Austria,” but you say you are in Ilocos Sur! Get your story straight, my friend! Ha ha… You can’t be in Austria and Ilocos at the same time! 😉
Happy Easter John, no matter where you really are.
Oops, forgot to change that!
Ha ha, good one, John.
Hey Bob,
I grew up here in SoCal. I remember when I was a child, not all of the stores were open on good friday. since I went to a catholic school, we had no school on good friday, but of course we we’re expected to be at the stations of the cross. Sundays, not just Easter Sunday, the gas stations were closed. My, how things have changed.
Imagine, Hudson, many of those kinds of places are not only open on Sundays now, but even open 24/7!
Bob,
I usually listen to a Manila Radio Station Live Stream at night, but it’s been offline this week. Now i know why lol. Bob did you get your Ham and color eggs for Easter? Unfortunately i have to work on Easter. You, Mrs Feyma and the kids have a wonderful Easter together
Hi Papa Duck. To be honest, we have not really made plans yet for Easter dinner. I am sure we will through something together though.
Happy Easter
Thank you Serge, and Happy Easter to you!
Hi Bob
Happy Easter to you and the Family, and all LIP readers.
Here on Maunday Thursday the Queen attends one of our Cathedrals and she gives a purse of coins to a number of people, this is known as Maunday money.
The shops are all open here now, but the banks are closed Friday and Monday.
Things do change, my Mum said the Mills used to close on Good Friday and if you were not attending a church service whatever your religion, the bosses wanted to know why when you returned to work on Tuesday.
We will be decorating the cross with flowers on Sunday, something we did not do when I grew up here many moons ago lol. Its a service enjoyed by Young and Old alike. I go to the Methodist Church.
Hi Marjorie,
Thanks for sharing about holy week go the UK. Very interesting information!
Hi Bob – I think more than Christmas, Easter is the most important holiday for Filipino Catholics. “Salubong” is our way of celebrating end of the lent. If you wake early on Sunday, and go to church. It’s grea day of resurrection.
We also have Easter egg hunt here but they’re mostly done in hotels and restaurants and mostly for kids. Nothing really to do with religion, I suppose.
Yes, I agree that Holy Week is by far the biggest of holidays in the Philippines.
I and my asawa also wish a Happy Easter to you and your Family, and all of the larger LIP family.
Thank you so much, Loren. Happy Easter to you and yours also.
When I was in high school I remember even cable channels going “on vacation”. Even if you’re subscribed, Friday and Saturday there aren’t any cables or shows to watch
It’s the corporate culture taking over, I guess?
Anyhow, since most business establishments in the Philippines are open on Easter, I wonder why there aren’t so many “Easter discounts”. Hahahaha
Happy Easter
Happy Easter Katrina. In the West, the big day is Easter. In the Philippines, I find that Easter itself is not really a big deal, but the days leading up to Easter are very big holidays.
Happy Easter everyone.Here in Australia everything is shut Good Friday.The shops are so busy in the lead up to Easter it is crazy.The only two days each year when every shop and hotel is closed are Good Friday and Christmas Day.It is also our worst holiday period with many road accidents.So please take care everyone this Easter.God Bless all of you.
Hi Russell – Wow, even the hotels are closed? Where do tourists stay? That’s amazing!
Hi Bob, Happy Easter to all of the Martin Family.
Mars
Thank you Mars. Happy Easter to you and your family.
Writing this post on a Black Saturday, probably I’m the only one who will reserve my Happy Easter greetings to you and your family ’till tomorrow, ooops, there it goes lol. Everything is commercialized now Bob, Christmas, Holy Week, Valentine’s, Araw ng mga Patay etc etc. Is it good? Probably, business wise. But it’s getting really hard to find a solemn place now to reflect things, “mag muni-muni” in tagalog, unless you’re stuck inside your room, oh dang, there’s the internet lol
You’re exactly right, on every point!
Happy Eater to all!
To all my Christian friends from LIP and to all mankind.
This season is when we remember the focal point of Chritianity, our redemption from sins by the death of Jesus on the cross.
I am so greatful that we, living in the Middle East- an Islamic country, have the freedom to express and crelebrate our faith! Glory to God!
May we all have a reflective moment of the greatest gift – our redemption, salvation thru Christ!
Peace to all.
Alfre
Thank you Alfre, and Happy Easter to you!