Semana Santa 06: Good Friday, 3 - the Procession

May 12th, 2006

Good Friday procession in Lucban seems festive despite the somewhat seriousness of the occasion. Never have I imagined that there are really this many Lucbanons who come together in the church to attend the Lenten activities. There were 18 carrozas and andas that participated this year with a mixture of new and antique images. It should be noted that, as told to me, a few years ago, the images were more than 18. Also, most antique images got destroyed during WWII when the Americans bombarded the church where the parishioners placed their imahens thinking that it would be spared. Save for a few images and pieces of heads and hands like that of the Senor and San Juan, to name a few, the rest went up in smoke. Because of the length and the number of participants, just when the Santo Senor Sepulcro came out of the church that, after a few minutes, the starting image of the procession came.

Left, the image of the Pacencia during the procession as it slowly winds its way through the narrow streets of Lucban. The route is not always regular as it is changed from time to time. Right, The image of the Sta. Veronica approaching the church.

Left, the image of the Pieta, after the procession. Right, a girl getting the flowers decorating the andas of the Santa Marta of which my friend, Jayson Maceo takes care of. The flowers are considered blessed by the faithful and thus special.

Left, one of the carroza bearing the image of the “Ang Pananalangin” (an image of the praying Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, another antique image dressed in equally antique vestments still is lighted with candles. Two carrozas had this one while the rest used electric bulbs with the generator trailing behind. Right, After the Senor left the church for the procession, those who were left behind the church formed lines to kiss, touch and venerate the wooden cross placed at the altar. The sacristan frequently wipes the wood with cloth wet with alcohol and sometimes with aromatic oils.

Left, people lining up to touch the cross at the altar. Right, after Jayson Maceo’s Santa Marta was delivered back to their house, snacks of pansit (noodle dish), lumpia (spring rolls) and buns was served to the delight of those carrying the andas. And me too