Rough Groove

Semana Santa: Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday and there was not much to do in Lucban that I decided to travel the lakeshore towns of Laguna. First stop was at Pagsanjan. The town is the tourism capital of the province with the main crowd drawer, the worldfamous Pagsanjan Falls that fell into disrepute a few years ago due to the presence of pedophiles and scheming boatmen. But that has already been addressed now and its luster has shone again. The church is whitewashed and has undergone a major renovation that, unfortunately, only the old convent, its ageless stone walls still bear the original feel of antiquity. A shrine of the Lady of Guadalupe, I entered the sanctuary and already, many faithful were either doing the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) and some women were praying, holding candles, on their knees and slowly moving to the altar. Once they reach it, they pause, pray, bend, make the sign of the cross, stand and leave. Some of the women, those in white were still wearing the veil, quite a rarity during these times.

After Pagsanjan, I was hoping to get to Paete, then to Pakil, to Siniloan and probably visit Mabitac, Famy and Sta. Maria but when I reached Kalayaan, I saw some flagellants. I then remembered the Infanta penitents and was thinking that it might be possible to catch them there. So I decided right there and then to proceed to Siniloan and catch a jeepney to Infant. Around 2.5 hours away.

I reached Infanta in Quezon province via Siniloan and traveling on the back of the southern portion of the Sierra Madre. Its blue waters were just inviting but when I arrived in the far flung town, I was just disappointed when I was told that its only in the morning of Good Friday that the flagellants are around. After a brief lunch and some halo-halo, I went back to Siniloan. From there, I went back to Lucban.

There was a vigil at the church of Lucban that night but not much. Me and Jayson Maceo with his friends went to where the Santo Senor Sepulcro was now placed. The whole setup was just awesome. It really looked like a wake. Lots of flowers, lights and visitors who came inside, touched, prayed and kissed the feet. Outside were tables for the Pabasa.
I retired back to my hotel room after the visit.

The faithful in Pagsanjan Church. These women, were doing one of their Holy Week panata/activities when I came inside the church. Note that the women still wore veils, a rarity in most churches now.

Still in the same church, people doing the Via Crucis or way of the cross. Part of the visita iglesia wherein catholics visit 7 churches and do two of the fourteen stations in each church.

Back in Lucban, evening, devotees visit the house of Jayson Maceo’s cousin to venerate the image of the Sto. Senor Sepulcro. Just like a dead’s wake, there were many flowers, and outside tables and chairs for the visitors and for the Pabasa. This is also part of the vigil in the run up to Good Friday.

Related posts:

Series 31: Semana Santa 06
Semana Santa 06: Santo Señor Sepulcro
Semana Santa 06: Dressing the Santo Señor Sepulcro
Semana Santa 06: Domingo de Ramos, 1
Semana Santa 06: Domingo de Ramos, 2 and Pabasa
Semana Santa 06: Via Crucis
Semana Santa 06: Senakulo
Semana Santa 06: Flagellants
Semana Santa 06: Paete and Pakil processions
Semana Santa 06: Good Friday, 1