Semana Santa 06: Good Friday, 4 - Procession of the Senor

May 15th, 2006

The afternoon procession of Good Friday, is the most significant part of the lenten observance that is the Holy Week and the central focus is the Santo Intiero, or as in the case of Lucban, the Santo Senor Sepulcro, now encased in a glass “coffin” is pulled and pushed along the streets of the town. What struck me with this activity is the similirity with the Black Nazarene procession in Quiapo.

Its mainly the men’s domain when the final carroza, the image of the Senor inside a glass “coffin” moves. Men in barefoot and whiteshirts shirts pull the rope that is tied to the carriage starting from the house of the family hosting the image. It is then carried to the church and from there, follow the route of the procession. The feeling is like that of Quiapo, but on a smaller scale and contrasting with the shirt wherein in that place, they’re wearing maroon shirts.

Left, before the main procession, men already gather near the house where the Senor is but a good number also gather around small round tables drinking a few glass or two before joining the procession that’s why its no surprise that one can see drunk men joining in the cortege. In the previous years when the carriage is still borne on the shoulders of men (now it has wheels, just like that of the Black Nazarene) the carriage moves left, right, forward and back along the route.

Right, once the image enters the church, these young men use bamboo clappers, usually former sacristans and converges on the choir, since the bells and anything metallic are now muted. Its a very beautiful sound and rythm that emanates from these wooden devices and coupled with the frenzy going on under them and one of the spectacular sound and scenery, a very exciting if not stunning image of faith unfolds before ones eyes!

Left, the bamboo clappers up close. A pole is split and these rectangular holes are made.

Right, the cortege of the dead Christ as it moves out of the church to the procession route. Just like the Black Nazarene, handkerchieves and shirts are thrown in to the image where a man, standing, wipes it on the glass and throws it back.

Left, because of the lenght and slowness of the procession, the cortege of the Senor only arrives 2 - 3 hours after it leaves the church. But again, once back inside and the frenzy to touch the carriage is magnified.

Right, after past an hour when the seeming chaos dies down and all men seem to have touched the carriage and calms down due to exhaustion, the women, on the other hand, starts to circle the image waiting for the signal from the caretaker, Jayson Maceo’s father, says that the carriage should now be brought back to the house. Once it is given and the excitement again builds. Women laugh and sometimes shriek when the carriage seem to go out of its way. But then, compared with the men’s procession, its tamer and more subdued.

Left, once it reaches the house and the women will take the image from the glass container and slowly bring it, overhead, inside the house where it is again laid. People start to mill around and kiss and touch the image. The women who were left outside will now await the distribution of the flowers and bouquets that decorate the carriage.

Right, a piece of the Senor’s rope that is tied around its waist distributed by Jayson. Strongly perfumed in some flower essential oils, devotees would want to have this one which many will use as a talisman, a lucky charm or to be placed in their home altars. Me, while not really believing, carry this one inside my wallet