Rough Groove

Palm Sunday in Paete, 2

…continued from Palm Sunday in Paete, 1

A loudspeaker blares off from above and the people looking up sees the priest and his sacristans perched on a balcony. They head closer and a prayer starts. In a few moments, the priest initiates the blessing. The palaspas (palm fronds) are raised up, moved, swayed as people try to jostle to come closer. This is done about three times as those from the back moves in while the people at the center moves out to give them the opportunity to have thier palms blessed. The priest then steps down, the crowd goes back to their cordoned off places and in a few minutes the procession will start.

The carroza, pulled by several men starts while the frenzy of middle aged and old women lay down their tapis to pave the way for the procession. The young girls in white paces forward, strewing the cut multcolored foils along the way. Their faces serious, trying not to smile as if it would be a sin as they let out a melody, a song of osanna.

A span behind the long line of girls, the priest in full regalia follows, his red stole flowing with its yellow tassels while his right hand is carrying a more elaborately designed palaspas. He is trailed by his “apostles.” The women are now lined, kneeling. When the priest passes, they grab the end of the stole, kiss it, stroke it, or press it against their forehead. After which, they grab their tapis move hurriedly to the front and lay it down again. This is done the entire length of the processional path all the way to the altar. Curiously, I have not witnessed this in my home province in Cebu. The same is also done in Bulacan, Lucban and probably other areas in Central Luzon. I’m not sure, however, if this is true in the northern or southern part.

At the church’s portal which is shut, the priest knocks on the door, the lay persons and sacristans open it and then they enter. The image of the Christ on a donkey is then pushed inside where the young girls, apostles and choir are gathered infront of the right sidealtar. By now, the church is full of townsfolk carrying their individual palms. Some are standing at the side and center aisles, some are at the back while others are content to hear mass outside as there are no more pews to sit on.