Kadaugan sa Mactan

Kadaugan sa Mactan

Kadaugan sa Mactan is an annual reenactment of The Battle of Mactan at its site on the beach of barangay Mactan which features Lapulapu's victory on April 27. The events include a fluvial procession of decorated bancas (canoes) representing magellan's three ships, the planting of the Cross of Magellan, the baptism of the natives followed by the battle. Kadaugan sa Mactan literally means "Victory at Mactan" used to be called Bahugbahug sa Mactan.

http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Kadaugan_sa_Mactan

Cutud Lenten Rites

San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites

San Fernando Pampanga

San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites in City of San Fernando, Pampanga. There are three crosses with nailed men on the top of the hill with spectators, both local and foreigners, watching them.

The San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites is a Holy Week re-enactment of Christ’s Passion and Death which takes place in Barangay San Pedro Cutud, City of San Fernando, Pampanga in the Philippines.

It includes a passion play culminating with the actual nailing of at least three penitents to a wooden cross atop the makeshift Calvary.

Events

Every year on Good Friday or the Friday before Easter a dozen or so penitents - mostly men but with the occasional woman - are taken to a rice field in the barrio of San Pedro Cutud, 3km (2 miles) from the proper of City of San Fernando, Pampanga and nailed to a cross using two-inch (5 cm) stainless steel nails that have been soaked in alcohol to disinfect them. The penitents are taken down when they feel cleansed of their sin. Other penitents flagellate themselves using bamboo sticks tied to a rope.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Pedro_Cutud_Lenten_Rites

Salubong Festival

Salubong Festival
Pampanga

The Salubong is a Filipino tradition done early in the morning of Easter Sunday, wherein the images of the Risen Christ and Sorrowful Mother symbolically meet in a pre-dawn procession. While many parishes have moved it to late Saturday night for convenience, the real traditional Salubong happens right before dawn.
I was actually wondering if the pusu-puso was still being used in Pampanga. I should have asked. Anyway, I watched the Salubong in San Fernando late Saturday night which was quite simple.
The Bacolor salubong or pusu-pusuan was also at midnight and they used the pusu-puso! The photo above is from Tom Joven.
The next morning, I proceeded to Minalin and Santo Tomas to witness the Pakbung Hudas Easter Sunday festivities. And lo and behold, the opened pusu-puso were hanging from the church gates! The Salubong in Minalin was at 4 a.m. while the one in Santo Tomas was at 5:30 a.m.

The puso-puso is a fine example of folk art used for the Salubong. It's basically shaped like a bud with several layers of petals made out of cardboard, papel de hapon and crepe paper. Hidden above the pusu-puso is a little girl dressed as an angel. The veiled image of the Sorrowful Mother is brought under the pusu-puso.
Layer by layer, the pusu-puso opens, raining petals and confetti on the images of the Mater Dolorosa and Risen Christ. With the opening of the last layer, doves fly out and the little girl, who sings Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia (Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia), is lowered on a swing just right over the head of the Mater Dolorosa so she could take off the veil. Once the veil is removed, fireworks are lit, the marching band starts playing and the crowd applauds. The Easter Season has begun.

http://www.ivanhenares.com/2010/04/pampanga-salubong-procession-on-easter.html

Semana Santa

Semana Santa

History

Holy Week in the Christian year is the week immediately before Easter. The earliest catholic allusion to the custom of marking this week as a whole with special observances is to be found in the Apostolical Constitutions (v. 18, 19), dating from the latter half of the 3rd century and 4th century. In this text, abstinence from flesh is commanded for all the days, while for the Friday and Sunday an absolute fast is commanded. Dionysius Alexandrinus in his canonical epistle (AD 260), refers to the 91 fasting days implying that the observance of them had already become an established usage in his time.
There is some doubt about the genuineness of an ordinance attributed to <>, in which abstinence from public business was enforced for the seven days immediately preceding Easter Sunday, and also for the seven which followed it; the Codex Theodosianus, however, is explicit in ordering that all actions at law should cease, and the doors of all courts of law be closed during those 15 days (1. ii. tit. viii.). Of the particular days of the "great week" the earliest to emerge into special prominence was naturally Good Friday. Next came the Sabbatum Magnum ("Great Sabbath", i.e., Holy Saturday or Easter Eve) with its vigil, which in the early church was associated with an expectation that the second advent would occur on an Easter Sunday.
There are other scriptures that refer to the traditions of the Early Church, most notably The Pilgrimage of Etheria (also known as The Pilgrimage of Egeria) which details the complete observance of Holy Week in the early church.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Week

Moriones Festival

Marinduque

Holy Week

The Moriones is an annual festival held on Holy Week on the island of Marinduque, Philippines. The "Moriones" are men and women in costumes and masks replicating the garb of biblical Roman soldiers as interpreted by local folks. The Moriones or Moryonan tradition has inspired the creation of other festivals in the Philippines where cultural practices or folk history is turned into street festivals.

Festival

The Moriones Festival is known widely as one of the most colorful festivals celebrated on the island of Marinduque and the Philippines. Morion means "mask" or "visor," a part of the medieval Roman armor which covers the face. Moriones, on the other hand, refers to the masked and costumed penitents who march around the town for seven days searching for Longinus. Morions roam the streets in town from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday scaring the kids, or engaging in antics or surprises to draw attention. This is a folk-religious festival that re-enacts the story of Saint Longinus, a Roman centurion who was blind in one eye. The festival is characterized by colorful Roman costumes, painted masks and helmets, and brightly-colored tunics. The towns of Boac, Gasan, Santa Cruz, Buenavista and Mogpog in the island of Marinduque become one gigantic stage. The observances form part of the Lenten celebrations of Marinduque. The various towns also hold the unique tradition of the pabasa or the recitation of Christ's passion in verse.Then at three o'clock on Good Friday afternoon, the Santo Sepulcro is observed, whereby old women exchange verses based on the Bible as they stand in wake of the dead Christ. One of the highlights of this festival is the Via Crucis. A re-enactment of the suffering of Christ on his way to the calvary. Men inflict suffering upon themselves by whipping their backs, carrying a wooden cross and sometimes even crucifixion. They see this act as their form of atonement for their sins. This weeklong celebration starts on Holy Monday and ends on Easter Sunday.

Background

The term "Moriones" was concocted by the media in the 60s, but local inhabitants have kept the original term, "Moryonan". Many practitioners are farmers and fishermen who engage in this age-old tradition as a vow of penance or thanksgiving. Legend has it that Longinus pierced the side of the crucified Christ. The blood that spurted forth touched his blind eye and fully restored his sight. This miracle converted Longinus to Christianity and earned the ire of his fellow centurions. The re-enactment reaches its climax when Longinus is caught and beheaded.

History

In Valencia, Spain, there is an identical celebration called Festival de Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians Festival). It is almost certain that the word "Moriones" was derived from "Moros". Another possible derivation is from the Spanish word "murió" (root:morir) meaning death. The origin of the festival is traced to Mogpog and the year 1807 when the parish priest of said town, Fr. Dionisio Santiago, organized it for the first time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moriones_Festival

Ang Pista ng Moriones ay isa sa makukulay na pagdiriwang sa pulo ng Marinduque. Ang Morion ay nangangahulugan “maskara”, na parte ng armor ng Romano na ipinapantakip sa mukha noong panahong Medyibal. Ang Moriones ay ang mga taong nakasuot ng maskara at nakagayak, na nagmamartsa paikot sa bayan, sa loob ng pitong araw sa paghahanap kay Longhino. Ang isang linggong pagdiriwang na ito ay nagsisimula sa Araw ng Lunes Santo at nagtatapos sa Pasko ng Pagkabuhay.

Kaugalian

Umpisa pa lamang ng Lunes Santo, ang mga mamamayang nagtitika ay nagsusuot ng mga damit na mistulang sundalo sa sinaunang Roma o senturyon. Ang kanilang matitingkad na costume gayun din ang makukulay na mga maskara ay nakakapagbigay ng paniniwala na sila ay matatapang at malulupit na mga sundalo. Sa kanilang paglibot, sila ay gumagawa ng mga practical jokes sa mga lokal o di kaya ay tinatakot ang mga bata. Ang iba naman ay nagiiba ng boses na mistulang tinig ng ibon. Kasama sa pagpepenitensya nila ay ang pagitiis na maglakad at maglibot sa buong bayan sa ilalim ng matinding sikat ng araw. Ang kagawiang ito ay ang pagsasadula sa paghahanap ng mga senturyon kay Longinus.

Kasaysayan

Ayon sa alamat, si Longinus, isa sa mga sundalong bulag ang isang mata at nakasaksi sa pagpapako ni Hesukristo ay ibinaon ang kaniyang espada sa tagiliran ni Hesukristo upang matiyak na siya ay tunay na patay na. Tumilamsik ang dugo sa matang hindi nakakakita ni Longinus at himalang ito ay biglang gumaling at nakakita. Dahil dito, siya ay nagbalik-loob at naging isang Kristiyano.

Hinabol ng mga sundalo si Longinus sa buong kabayanan hanggang siya ay nahuli at hinarap sa isang aktor na tumayo bilang si Ponsyo Pilato. Ang iba ay tumayo bilang mga Pariseo upang husgahan siya at noong Pasko ng Pagkabuhay, si Longinus ay hinatulan sa kaniyang pagbabago ng relihiyon sa pamamagitan ng pagpugot.

http://fil.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Pista_ng_Moriones