Holy Week Flashbacks

I was eleven years old in 1952 (70 years ago) when I first noticed that Holy Week activities are different from the daily church services. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends 40 days later on Palm Sunday. The 40-day period is a reminder of the 40 days of fasting and prayers of Jesus before his crucifixion.

Monday after Palm Sunday, normal activities start to slow down up to Wednesday. Thursday, called Jueves Santo or Holy Thursday is when we felt the impact of Semana Santa. On Jueves Santo, in 1952, Davao City becomes very quiet. There are fewer cars; radio music were either classical or religious. San Pedro church was crowded for the evening Mass. I remember it was hot; I felt thirsty, sleepy, the many manluhods and manindug kita’s, the statues all covered with white cloth, the long readings involving the celebrant priest, the readers and commentators. From Holy Thursday to Saturday, there were no radio music, movie houses were closed, no calesas/jeeps, no PAL flights, the streets were empty. On Biernes Santo at 5AM, we walked to the stations of the cross along Bonifacio Street waiting for the procession of the way of the cross. Noontime San Pedro church was again crowded for the Siete Palabra or seven last words/statements which for me at that time seemed long and dreary. I was sleepy, hungry, sweating. At 5PM, we then joined the crowd milling in the ICC compound and in front of the church for the Santo Intierro Procession covering Claveria, Bonifacio, Legaspi and San Pedro Streets. The statue begins to shake in front of the City Hall when people start reaching/grabbing the flowers on the carosas. Visita Iglesia was not yet popular because there were very few churches in the 50s.

Saturday morning, activities start to pick up. The lighting of the fire, the ringing of the bells and the removal of the coverings of the statues marked the joyous celebration on Saturday evening. I remember my mother would smile and clap her hands when the San Pedro Church bells start ringing. She would tell us to jump so we can grow taller. Sunday dawn was special for us. My parents would bring us to San Pedro Church for sugat/encuentro which used to be in front of the church until it moved to Bolton St. and later to Rizal Park because the crowds were getting bigger. I was fascinated by the angels floating around Sta. Maria and Cristo (portrayed yearly by different volunteers) throwing flowers and singing in Latin. The thick abaca ropes tied around the wrists and arms of the angels did not matter.

What struck me today was that almost all the angels were girls. We do not have this in 2020 and 2021. With the help of the heavens, we can and will continue this tradition. This is part of the life of the people of Davao City. The finale was the beach party/lunch because the beachline from Lasang, Sasa, Sta. Ana, Magsaysay, Times Beach was clean and open to the public.