CUARESMA IN NORTHERN PHILIPPINES

 

The coastal town of Pasuquin in Northern Philippines celebrates its Holy Week with much religiosity and solemnity. The celebration starts on Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos) and ends on Easter Sunday (Domingo de Resurrecion). Each year, townspeople from all walks of life come together to celebrate the Most Holy Passion and Death of our Lord.

 

There are a total of 3 processions during Holy Week in Pasuquin. Holy Tuesday, better known as "Estacion General", Good Friday (the Holy Burial) and Easter Sunday (the "Encuentro" or "Sabet" in Ilocano). The images in the procession are popularly known as "santo" (saint). All images that partake in the Semana Santa processions of Pasuquin are made of wood in "de Vestir" (to dress up) style. These images are owned by different families in the community and are being dressed in vestments specifically made for each santo or santa. Often, these vestments are embroidered with fine gold and silver threads, or adorned with appliqués; precious and semi precious stones and other designs. Most of the images wear wigs, made from abaca, jusi, synthetic materials, or even real human hair. Aside from that, each image has an aureolla (halo) or diadema (crown), or a combination of both; or an emblem that represents a specific title. These accoutrements are sometimes made of precious metals - gold, silver, bronze or brass.

 

The large wheeled processional carriages are called "carrozas". Locally, this is called as "caro", though the latter name is more commonly used in most areas. In other parts of the country, the carrozas are more popularly known as andás. The processional images are enthroned in their respective carrozas with floral arrangements and elaborate lighting fixtures.

 

For centuries, only seven (original) Semana Santa images of Pasuquin were processioned around town during Holy Week. Not until 2007 when 3 devotees/parishioners have volunteered to include their own processional images namely, Santa Maria Salome, Maria Cleofe and La Piedad (Pieta).

 

With the guidance of then Parish Priest of St. James the Greater Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Hermogenes "Jojo" Saturnino, a total of 6 additional images joined the festivity the following year - Santa Martha, Maria de Betania, Madonna of the Passion, Jesus y Mujeres de Jerusalem (tableau), San Jose de Arimathea and Maria Santisima de las Angustias bringing a total of 16 processional images.

 

In 2009, Nuestra Señora Dolorosisima de la Soledad owned by Agnes Aguinaldo joined the procession for the first time.

 

In 2010, Nuestro Señor Desmayado was added by camarera (Ilocos Norte Prosecutor) Maria Rinah Calija.

 

In 2011, new camarera Mrs. Jenny Serrano-Ibali added "La Oracion en el Huerto" (The Agony in the Garden) in the procession along with mario Guerrero's ECCE HOMO (Santísimo Cristo de la Humildad en su Presentación al Pueblo).

 

In 2012 , camarera Maria Rinah Calija added La Traicion and Nuestra Senora de las Lagrimas.

 

More parishioners have witnessed the outcome of the 2010 processions and were convinced to have more Holy Week images added in the future. These are Nstra. Senora de Gran Dolor, Santa Juana de Cuza, San Nicodemus.

 

PARROQUIA DE APOSTOL SANTIAGO EL MAYOR

(ST. JAMES THE GREATER PARISH, Pasuquin Ilocos Norte)

 

CAMAREROS y CAMARERAS:

 

SEÑOR SAN PEDRO - Socorro Quipones San Antonio

SAN JUAN EVANGELISTA - Celia Padaong

SANTA MARTHA - Porfirio Nelson Castillo

MARIA DE BETANIA - Marshal Daguio

SANTA SALOME - Larry Orque, Jr.

MARIA CLEOFE - Mario Guerrero

LA VERONICA - Esperanza Reyes Villafuerte

MARIA MAGDALENA - Rey Aguinaldo

SAN JOSE DE ARIMATHEA - Mario Guerrero

LA TRAICION - Maria Rinah Calija

LA ORACION EN EL HUERTO - Jenny Serrano-Ibali

ECCE HOMO - Mario Guerrero

NUESTRO SEÑOR DE LA COLUMNA - Larry Orque, Jr.

NUESTRO SEÑOR DESMAYADO - Maria Rinah Calija

JESUS Y MUJERES DE JERUSALEN - Mr. & Mrs. Sixto Guerrero

NUESTRA SENORA DE LAS LAGRIMAS - Maria Rinah Calija

MADONNA OF THE PASSION - Mario Guerrero

NSTRA. SRA. DEL ROSARIO EN SUS MISTERIOS DOLOROSOS - Larry Orque, Jr.

MARIA SANTISIMA DE LA ANGUSTIA - Larry Orque, Jr.

NUESTRO PADRE JESUS NAZARENO - Vicky Castulo Aten

L A PIEDAD (PIETA) - Florfina Manrique Calvan

NSTRA. SRA. DOLOROSISIMA DE LA SOLEDAD - Agnes Aguinaldo

SANTO ENTIERRO - Victoria de Luna Josue (Recamadera)

MATER DOLOROSA - Annie de Luna Pasion

CRISTO RESUCITADO - Lilia Batuyong Malapira