Rough Groove

Infanta flagellant-penitents, 2

Continued from Infanta flagellant-penitents, 1

I first came across the Infanta flagellant-penitents last year while reading the book Cuaresma, edited by Gilda Cordero-Fernando and published by Bookmark. Its really a very good reference coffee table book despite the bad binding of its soft covered version which I have. The first time I saw the photo and I was struck.

The flagellant-penitents start the preparation as early as Palm Sunday, or depending on what free time they have. Usually, as they are mostly farmers and/or laborers, they only have this day and Maundy Thursday to come up with their ritual costume.

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Infanta flagellant-penitents, 1

Infanta is balmy and refreshing with its long coastline and beautiful blue beaches that the long and drawing ride from Makati to Siniloan via Sta. Cruz on public transport, taking almost 6 hours to negotiate is easily forgotten. Of course, there’s the shorter ride via Rizal but I opted to take the latter. The familiar smell of the sea and its salty breeze hits you instantly as the jeepney I took, full with passengers ranging from beach worshipers looking forward to a long weekend to travellers hoping to catch the last trip to Polillo Is., to townsfolk from Mauban and Infanta returning to their hometowns from Manila or tending business in Laguna in time for the important last days of Holy Week.

I came to this westerly town in the upper reaches of Quezon province, crossing the Sierra Madre to witness and document the flagellant-penitents. Unlike what one sees in most of Metro Manila and Central Luzon, those in Laguna wear skirts of dried banana leaves (but unfortunately, as what I saw in the Laguna towns like Pakil, Siniloan and Kalayaan, this practice is slowly disappearing). The ones in Infanta goes further: besides wearing these skirts, a floral headdress is donned, a stunning visual indeed!

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Semana Santa 07: Three images

What kept me busy during the last Semana Santa or Holy Week?

Quezon: Decorated flagellants early morning don a beautiful headress made from leaves and flowers.

Makati City: Tucked in one of the premier city’s many barangays, an almost 80 year old Senakulo is still being performed. My Senakulo portfolio.

Paete, Laguna: The pre-hispanic Ritual of the Dead is performed on a centuries old Santo Intierro

Related posts:

Semana Santa 07: Senakulo Kristo

Wet Lent, in Infanta, Quezon

It’s rather unusual that this year’s Semana Santa is rather wet. Weather forecasters say that its because of the ITCZ or intertropical convergent zone currently affecting the country that’s bringing showers. Especially that I’m now in Infanta, Quezon and the weather seems gloomy.

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In Paete

The pagsusuob of the image of the Santo Intierro here in Paete was just held earlier this morning and really, it was something that you cannot just forget. The pagsusuob is a ritual that is one of a kind probably in the Philippines (and possibly the world?) wherein the iconic image of the dead Christ is ritually bathed (more like daubed with cotton) in a mixture of lambanog (a local spirit that has high alcohol content akin to vodka) and agua de cologna (an aromatic or perfumed liquid). Then a makeshift tent is placed over it comprised of wooden frames and blankets. The image is then smoked for almost 5 hours.

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