SUBSCRIBESemana Santa 06: Good Friday, 2 – procession preparations
Lucban, Quezon.
Good Friday morning (and even the previous day, Maundy Thursday) and families owning the images for the traditional Good Friday (previous year, also Holy Wednesday –> it was just declared by the parish priest that procession be limited to Good Friday) procession are busy sprucing up the carrozas (carriages> or andas (the platform for the image that is borne on the shoulders). New clothes (or newly washed) is donned on the various images. Century old vestments are taken out of its keeping place, flowers are ordered, the carrozas/andas, especially those antique ones with silver metalworks are cleaned and polished. Traditionally, the families farm hands come over during this time to help in the preparations.
Two things: First, its now common place to see fresh flowers decorated on the carrozas. A few years ago, when times were a bit hard, plastic flowers were used. This was to keep the costs low since the procession was usually Holy Wednesday and Good Friday. And for those keeping the image of the Mater Dolorosa, the procession is three times, including the Easter morning procession of the salubong. Second, traditionally, the old rich families who owns the antique images usually assign a hacienda (vast farm lands) to the image’s name. The purpose of this one is that any income from the harvest will be used to help defray the costs for the image’s procession. Just imagine that the family will have to pay for the upkeep, new clothes, flowers, maintenance of the carrozas, and food for the farmhands who will help in the preparations as well as provide food and honorarium to those who will stay and pray for the vigil. This is also one of the causes of rifts in the family or clan since it usually involves great amounts of money and there are always convenient reasons to say that an expense was made for this and that.
Between 1500H and the procession time, usually 1700H, one by one, the images are drawn and pulled to the church. The andas is borne on the shoulders of the men who will carry it to the church and take their assigned place. The faithful, usually garbed in their Sunday’s best with usually a rosary and a candle at hand now gather near their favorite carroza.
In most provincial towns and Lucban is no exception, this is also an opportunity for families to show off. People will definitely compare who has the grandest carrozas. The most opulent image’s vestment. The most expensive bouquet of flowers spent and who’s people are well uniformed (those carrying the andas or pulling/pushing the carrozas are sometimes in uniform).
Men doing the finishing touches on the image of the Mater Dolorosa (left) and the Black Nazarene (right). This is also a family affair that involves the parents, children, grand parents as well as relatives and neighbors.
Left, the image of the Tres caidas (Third Fall) at the side street being decorated. Right, the Santo Senor Sepulcro now loaded to its carroza where in a few hours, it will be the focus of everyone’s attention as it slowly passes the narrow streets of Lucban.
Left, a cart holding the generator follows the carroza/andas. When darkness falls, the bulbs are lighted. In Lucban, there are still carrozas, two infact, that still uses candles for the light. Enclosed in glass bulbs. Just beautiful. Right, the image of the Mater Dolorosa being carried to position before the procession. Note the wooden stick being carried by the man at far right. When the andas is not moving, these stick, together with 3 other pieces is placed under the horizontal wood to prop it up.
Carrozas and andas in position before the procession. In some towns, the images can be as few as five to as many as a hundred. In Lucban, there were 18 images on procession.
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: Maundy Thursday
Semana Santa 06: Good Friday, 1
