Easter Festival

Easter is the most important annual religious feast in the Christian calendar, commemorating the crucifixion of Christ and his resurrection three days later. As a child I was brought up to regard Easter as a time of reflection to contemplate the vicissitudes and solemnity of life, and though I have not attended church for decades I still prefer to mark Easter quietly.

This is not always so in the Philippines; with the largest Christian population in Asia, Easter is widely celebrated throughout the islands, often quietly. But in keeping with the vivacity and verve of the Philippine people some of these celebrations transform into street theater as penitents often go to extremes in atoning for their sins.

Lenten Rites

One such Easter festival is the San Pedro, Cutud, Lenten Rites. These Lenten Rites are a Holy Week re-enactment of Christ’s passion and crucifixion which takes place in Barangay San Pedro Cutud, around 3 k.m. from San Fernando, Pampanga.

Each year on Good Friday, a dozen or so penitents are taken to a rice field in the barrio of San Pedro, Cutud. The Lenten Rites process has then nailed to a cross with two-inch stainless steel nails disinfected in alcohol. The penitents are taken down when they feel cleansed of their sins. Other penitents flagellate themselves using bamboo sticks tied to a rope.

It is a moving experience for many tourists and well–wishers, especially those not caught up in the religious fervor, but as a demonstration of one’s faith and belief it is unrivalled.

Moriones Festival

The Moriones Festival is a more colorful Easter festival and takes place during Holy Week on Marinduque, an island south of main Philippines; island of Luzon.

Morion means "mask" or "visor," the moveable part of a warrior’s helmet. Moriones, on the other hand, refers to the masked and costumed penitents who march around the town for seven days searching for Longinus, a Roman centurion who, though blind in one eye, speared Jesus on the cross. Moriones roam the streets from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday scaring the kids or engaging in antics to draw attention to this folk-religious festival that re-enacts the story of Longinus.

The festival is characterized by colorful Roman costumes, painted masks and helmets, and brightly–colored tunics. Boac and Sta. Cruz, the biggest town in Marinduque province, hold a re–enactment on the evening of Good Friday when Longinus, punctures Jesus with his spear and blood droplets from the wound restores the sight in Longinus' blind eye. One of the highlights of this Easter festival is the ‘Via Crucis’; a re-enactment of the suffering of Christ on his way to Calvary.

Men inflict suffering upon themselves by whipping their backs, carrying a wooden cross and sometimes there is even a crucifixion. They see this as atonement for their sins. This weeklong celebration starts on Holy Monday and ends on Easter Sunday.

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