Filipino Christians Focus on Easter’s Religious Significance, First, It’s About Jesus and His Resurrection
by Edwin Quinabo
For millions of Filipino Christians around the world it’s the most sacred time of the year – Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday March 24 and finishes on Easter Sunday March 31.
Holy Week concludes 40 days of the annual Lenten season (this year starting on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14), a time when the faithful immerse themselves in deep prayer, fasting, penance and almsgiving, all for the purpose of nurturing a deeper relationship with God, Christians say.
Pope Francis said, Holy Week marks “a time of grace that the Lord gives us so that we may open the doors of our hearts and our communities, and to go out to meet Jesus and others, also to bring the light and joy of our faith.”
From Palm Sunday to Easter
Biblical scholars debate the timeline of events that punctuate Holy Week and whether they happened within this short period of time of one week, but they estimate that starting from Passover, the dramatic events in the last days of Jesus occurred rapidly.
TIMELINE. What were these events said to have occurred during Holy Week? Sunday (Palm Sunday) — Jesus enters Jerusalem on Passover.
Monday – Jesus clears the Temple overturning tables of money changers and market sellers-traders which disturbance gave the Romans and religious leaders fuel to seek him for questioning.
Tuesday – Jesus preaches at the Mount of Olives where he is questioned by the Pharisees and Sadducees. Intense conflict begins to break out in Jerusalem as talks spread of Jesus being the Messiah, the savior and liberator of the Jews.
Thursday (Maundy Thursday) – Jesus shares the Last Supper with his disciples from which Catholics later instituted the communion or Holy Eucharist. That evening, Roman soldiers arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Friday (Good Friday) – Jesus stands trial before the Sanhedrin (Jewish council) led by the high priest Caiaphas. Jesus is accused of blasphemy which is punishable by death and is turned over to Pilate (then Roman governor) who elects to have the crowd decide on who to crucify and who to set free between Jesus and the zealot Barabas, a convicted prisoner. The crowd chose Barabas. Jesus then is sentenced to death, tortured and crucified on Golgotha. Biblical scholars estimate Jesus died that late afternoon around 3:00 pm.
Saturday (Holy Saturday) – Jesus’ body rests in a tomb.
Sunday (Easter) — Jesus rises from the dead.
Hawaii Filipinos observing Holy Week
Edna Bautista, Ewa Beach, a Catholic-Christian, said she and her husband attend all masses during the Easter Triduum–from Maundy Thursday and Good Friday to either Holy Saturday or Easter Sunday, along with her parents who serve as eucharistic ministers at church. After a busy Triduum, she said they simply celebrate relaxing with a meal and movie on Easter Sunday.
“It’s refreshing to witness the Elect get baptized into the Catholic Church on Easter Vigil [Holy Saturday]. We see the salvation that Christ brings to souls, and I pray that more find and practice the faith, especially in a time when many people have sadly fallen away and become easily susceptible to twisted and misguided influences,” Bautista said.
Alyssa Laureta, Honolulu, said she normally celebrates Easter by going to Sunday service at Pearlside Church with family and friends followed by sharing a meal with her loved ones.
Marline Corpuz, a Catholic-Christian, attends Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ewa Beach or St. John the Baptist in Kalihi on the Easter Triduum. “Some years I feel nostalgic, so I bring my family to St. John’s, the Church of my childhood, during some days of Holy Week. Otherwise, it’s more convenient to attend our neighborhood church in Ewa,” she said.
Bautisa and Corpuz are among some 263,000 Catholics in Hawaii or about 15% of the state’s population. It’s believed just over 40% of Hawaii Catholics are of Filipino ancestry.
In Hawaii, there are many Filipino Catholic clubs under the umbrella organization Diocesan Congress of Filipino Catholic Clubs (DCFCC). A local Office for Filipino Ministries helps to bring over priests from the Philippines to work in Hawaii. It was founded by Father Henry Benedict Sabog, the first priest of Filipino ancestry ordained in Hawaii in 1960. Prior to that before Hawaii became a state, Philippines-ordained priests were sent to the islands to help build the local Roman Catholic Church.
Today, at any given time there are between 30-50 priests of Filipino ancestry working in the state, the highest number among ethnic groups in Hawaii.
In 2021, the Philippines celebrated 500 years of Catholicism which was brought to the country in the early 16th century when Spanish missionaries and colonists brought over their religion, beginning in Cebu. According to the 2020 Census Population and Housing, there are about 85.5 million Catholics in the Philippines or 78.8% of the country.
Cardinal Antonio Luis Tagle, former archbishop of Manila now a cardinal and third highest rank in the entire Roman Catholic Church, is believed to be on a short list of Papabile (Pope-To-Be) after Pope Francis. Known by insiders as a charismatic evangelizer, Tagle’s skills are said to be favorable in this time that the Church is looking to expand evangelization in Asia and Africa, as well as expand their reach in the new frontier of digital evangelization.
Pope Francis said during his historic visit to the Philippines in 2015: “Filipinos everywhere are known for their love of God, their fervent piety and their warm devotion to Our Lady and her rosary. This great heritage contains a powerful missionary potential.”
Sharing the Gospel and serving in ministry
It was through Christian missionary work that Laureta’s life was radically changed, she says. When she was a student at Hawaii Pacific University, she met a team of campus missionaries and faith-filled students. “They came into my life and demonstrated God’s love for me,” she explains. “As a sophomore in college, I was lost, depressed, unsure of my future, and didn’t know what my purpose in life was. It was because of this campus ministry that allowed me to fill a void in my heart that nothing of this world could fill – but only God could.”
Seven years later, Alyssa and her husband Vien, are now Campus Missionaries with Every Nation Churches & Ministries. “We work with college students on UH Manoa, UH West Oahu, Leeward Community College, and Hawaii Pacific University. Just as my life has been changed by discovering love, passion, and a purpose in a growing relationship with God, I believe He is calling us to reach this next generation for them to experience the same.
“Our heart and desire are to engage, establish, equip and empower young leaders to unashamedly share the Gospel wherever they go and to make a difference wherever they are. We are also passionate about sharing with others how God is moving in the next generation and ways we can partner to raise and reach them together,” Alyssa said.
Bautista served in the marriage sponsors ministry and helped prepare engaged couples for the Sacrament of Marriage. Edna and her husband have been married for over 27 years. “I believe that a Christ-centered marriage is a strong foundation for building a happy and stable family life which positively leads to creating good and safe communities. It is important with these Christian principles to pay it forward and be the best example of Christ that we can be,” she said.
Corpuz is not in ministry of any kind, but says she is active in perpetuating the faith among her family. She explains, “as the eldest sibling, I’m the one who coordinates our Easter dinner each year which is a large celebration for all my siblings, their families and mine. We grew up with this tradition of Easter being a very special day in the year. And I want this tradition for our children and grandchildren,” Corpuz said.
Filipino Holy Week and Easter traditions
On Palm Sunday Mass, woven palm fronds or palapas blessed by a priest are handed out to congregants as a reminder when the son of man riding a lowly donkey was welcomed with waving palm leaves. On this day, Jesus’ arrival was met with jubilation by some of his followers as word spread quickly among Jews that the Messiah was making his glorious arrival.
Filipinos bring home their palm fronds and place them on a table set up for Holy Week that typically includes a cross, Jesus and Mary statues and fresh flowers. The fronds are believed to bring blessings into the home.
On one of the days in Holy Week typically before Good Friday, Filipinos practice the old custom “Pabasa ng Pasyon” (reading of the Passion) or “Pabasa” for short at a family member’s home. At these gatherings women lead the Pabasa. In the traditional way, they kneel before the temporary Holy Week alter – while the men gather behind them also facing the altar.
A related tradition that’s often done at the same gathering is the “Pasyong Mahal,” a sixteenth century epic sonnet portraying the life, crucifixion and eventual resurrection of Jesus. The Pasyong Mahal is sung in a eulogic, melodic lament, and with a palpable sadness in the voices of the lolas (elderly women) leading it. The entire narration is done in a group chant in acapella with a lead vocalist narrating it. In some cases, there is musical instrument accompaniment like a guitar or more elaborately a rondalla (multiple instrument) ensemble when done in public spaces.
Typically, tears are shed as the faithful sing and meditate on the suffering of Christ. Dressed in black (traditionalists wear a black or purple veil) as in a funeral, the epic Pasyong Mahal can last for hours. The idea is that the faithful participants are with Christ during his agonizing, long physical death.
That solemnity of the Pabasa and Pasyong Mahal culminates on Good Friday. In the Philippines, there is an extreme tradition that’s discouraged today but still practiced called the penitensya or penance that involves magdarames (those who volunteer to share in someone else’s sorrow) practicing self mortification of the flesh such as hitting oneself on the back with leather straps or crawling, lying down, or walking barefooted in a Good Friday procession that reenacts Christ’s journey carrying the cross.
The magdarames orflagelantes (flagellants) believe not only that they are giving penance for their sins and others’ sins but comforting the Lord by capturing this spirit of oneness in spirit and sorrow with him. The ultimate act of penitensya is the actual crucifixion of three chosen penitents. The penitensya in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines, have Catholic-Christians from around the world flocking there to witness it.
Today, more commonly, Good Friday customs most Filipinos follow in and outside the Philippines is simpler by attending the Stations of the Cross followed by Mass where attendees practice the pahalik, a devotion that involves kissing the image of the dead body of Christ on the cross.
Easter, Christ is Risen
Concluding Holy Week is Easter Sunday when Christians celebrate the risen Christ who rose from his death by crucifixion after the third day. Easter in the Philippines is called Pasko ng Pagkabuhay or Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay.
“As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples…’” Mark 16:5-7.
Christians believe Jesus’ crucifixion was the heavy ransom Christ voluntarily paid for the sins of mankind so that all who believe in him can have salvation. Easter represents hope in eternal life and renewal of Christians’ faith in Jesus Christ.
Celebrations that mark the resurrection of Christ can be found across the Philippines from big cities to small towns. One of the most popular Easter processions is called the salubong that depicts the end of suffering by the removal of a black veil over the statue Mary.
Nonreligious Easter practices
The nonreligious celebration of Easter has children searching for eggs or artificial eggs with small prizes or money in them.
“When I lived on the mainland, I had foodie friends from around the world who shared their culture and cuisine with me. Sometimes I still try to incorporate those Easter traditions into my own celebrations—from eating Polish paczkis (jelly-filled donuts) or Portuguese malasadas the day before Ash Wednesday and Mexican capirotada (bread pudding) during Lent to dying eggs red like the Greeks and baking braided breads like the Ukrainians for Easter. Sometimes I would make pastel-colored puto, because I think they look like Easter eggs, and share these sweet Filipino rice cakes on our international table. There are so many fascinating Easter traditions around the world, and I loved how our global get-togethers show both the diversity and unity as Christians,” Bautisa said.
Laureta describes her typical Easter events. “We would do activities together like color eggs, fill eggs for the egg hunt, and just eat good food and sweets all day. During the egg hunt, it has been always competing on where the ‘golden egg’ is and who would find it.” She said one memorable Easter, “One year an egg had $50 inside and that golden egg was balancing on our uncle’s beer bottle he was holding, but no one thought to look there until all the eggs were taken in the yard.”
Meaning of Easter
In St. Thomas Aquinas’ critically acclaimed Meditation for Each Day of Lent, he said, “there was not any more fitting way to free the human race than through the Passion of Christ. In the Passion, He [Jesus] gave us an example of obedience, humility, constancy, justice and of other virtues also, all of which we must practice if we are to be saved. Christ suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow His steps.”
Bautista said, “What makes Christianity unique is not that Christ died as people do, but that He rose from the dead, which is a tenet of our faith. He represents hope and love in an imperfect world. Because of our human failures, Jesus sacrificed His life for me and for all us sinners so we can be redeemed. As a Catholic-Christian, I try to follow His example and strive to do good on Earth and one day to be with Him in Heaven. Per the Great Commission, it is our duty to help others get there, too.”
Laureta said, “Easter is a reminder of the pain Jesus endured through the crucifixion on the cross and the victory he won through the resurrection from the grave. What this means for us is that there’s hope and assurance that no matter our past or present circumstances, Jesus offers forgiveness and the promise of eternal life to all who believe in Him.”
Corpuz gets emotional whenever she thinks about what Jesus did on Easter. “I am so thankful to God for sending His son Jesus whose death on the cross saved us from our sins. We’re all sinners and undeserving of eternal life in heaven. How loving of God to have found a way for us to be redeemed and share eternal life with Him,” she said. “And Jesus’ dying on the cross was that way. This is why we celebrate Easter with pure joy and gratitude.”
