SEMANA SANTA IT’S MORE FUN IN BUHI (And More Meaningful)

             

   I was raised in Buhi and was deeply immersed in Buhinon culture. Buhi is famous for its sinarapan and Lake Buhi. There are lots of things to wow you in that cul-de-sac town but let me focus in one thing that I really like. I'm a catholic and was raised with steeped values, perfected by Catholic Education (and being detoriarated by wordly influence right now,haha, but that's beside the point).

Every Semana Santa our place prepares for the upcoming event. I don't know if it's just me but Buhi is a palce were you can spend the holy week in a prayerful mood. 

It all begins on the Palm Sunday where palm fronds are blessed. These is done to commemorate the triumphal entry of our Lord Jesus to Jerusalem before his tragic death.

Parish Youth selling palm fronds for Domingo de Ramos

At the onset of the holy week, a new aura dawns upon the town. Many balikbayans will be returning to Buhi to partake in this holy celebration, thus the becomes also an avenue or time to rekindle old relationships. It's fun getting to know many people.

By Mierkules Santo, people will flock to the church toi participate in the first procession of the week. Age old and newly commissioned santos are brought out on their glittering carrozas bedecked with flowers. This procession is relatively short as only a number of pasos (santos on top of the carriages) are included in the line up.

Attaching San Pedro to his silver carroza

In the procession proper, many altar knights accompany it .

 

      On Maundy thursday, people get to involve themselves in acts of penance. This is done in a more personal manner. But there are some who choose to act it out publicly.  Like these one who had his face covered. Accompanying him our his friends who take turns in beating him up

On the afternoon of the day, there will be a washing of the feet and vigil of the Holy Eucharist. this ceremony is just awe-inspiring. After the ceremonies of the washing, four men will step out from the sacristy carrying a palio.

Sample of a Pallo

Then they will be going around inside the church in a procession to enthrone the Holy Eucharist at an altar made for this occasion. Then people take turns in keeping vigil before the Host.

Comes Friday people flock by the family towards the Buhi Church to make the Way of the Cross (Via Crucis) and to confess. This goes on until a little before twelve noon. By noon the Siete Palabras begins. this event is a superb event to be at. A grand orchestra plays in between the sermon of the priest on the last words of Jesus. After the seventh word, the wooden image of Jesus Christ is taken down from the cross and venerated.

By six o'clock the "excited crowd" prepares for the procession. Buhi is an old town replete with very old santos. Some of the pasos joining the procession are family heirlooms and dates back before the 20th century.

The Agony in the Garden paso

For those who would like to know, only rich and affluent families were given the privilege to own a santo. As they are the only ones capable of sustaining the very expensive task of taking care of it. This images have tracts of land dedicated to them by the Dons and Donas of late. It is interesting to note that majority of the images are owned by the Noble family, an illustrious family of Buhi then and is still now. Other images are by the Buenaflor clan. But the Infantes are the ones who are the camareros (santo caretaker) of the Sto. Entierro (Dead Christ). This means a lot to the prestige of this old family because only to the richest is the image given/assigned, being the main focal point of the whole semana santa.

Our very own San Pedro with the chicken.

Salome

Magdalena

Veronica

The Tres Marias, together with San Pedro are formerly owned by the Buenaflor Family.

The Noble images.

San Juan Evangelista

Mater Dolorosa

 The Sto. Intierro by the Infante Family.

The youth are given assignments by the parish to portray different scenes in the Passion of Christ. The assigned youth  groups all do their best to outdo each other in a friendly manner. As it is taught in business school, competition turns out best for the customers (for our case it may be spectators :D ).

My friend practicing

The real Deal! (La limpia el Rostro)

Descent from the Cross

Nailing to the Cross

After the procession, the family taking care of the image sponsors a Caridad or charity. It basically looks like a fiesta sans the fanfare as it is a time of "mourning". Our family typically servemeat only on Holy Wednesday and  veggies and fish on Good Friday.

OTW home (La Via Casa!)

Caridad: Devotees taking their dinner while San Pedro awaits outside

At ten pm another procession is held called soledad. This is an  reenactment of the plight of the Sorrowful Virgin in finding his Son's burial place. The route followed is vice-versa the way taken earlier. 

Black Saturday, the town is eerily quiet, save for the chanting of people reading the Passion in a singing manner, the Pabasa. It is emperative that all behave in this day, to pray and meditate. By seven pm there is a pinagbalo where the Easter Angels get to practice at the castillo (the hollow structure you usually see within the parish grounds).

Pagtonton

 

By ten pm the blessing of the fire begins outside the church walls. Fire symbolizes the light that Jesus brought into this world thus the ceremony. Within it is also the blessing of Holy Water. People attend this celebration armed with candles and bottles/jugs of water for blessing.

At four am is the much awaited pagtonton where one by one, the easter angels are lowered down from the castillo to give their messages. After the last angel has finished his/her piece, he/she takes off the black mourning mantle of the Virgin Mary and thus happens the Salubong. After these ceremonies, a Mass will be celebrated.

The Virgin Mary in her Mourning Cloak

The Resurrected Christ after the Salubong

This events are commonly found throughout the Philippines. What makes it different is the geographical location of the town and the mystique that it holds. So wanna get a dose of religious experience? Plan your trip to Buhi on the next Semana Santa. O:)    

The Author with Angelic Wings :)