SM Cinema CinExclusive presents RISEN in time for Holy Week

POTATO ON THE GO NEWS FEED (Movie):

Are you looking for a movie that is just in time for the Lenten Season or Holy Week?  Then check this out!

Just in time for Holy Week: SM Cinema presents a cinexclusive entitled “RISEN:” an action, mystery, and drama film as told by a roman soldier commanded to disprove rumors of a risen Messiah in order to prevent an uprising in Jerusalem.  

Four Blessings and A Smile -- Our Visita Iglesia in Bulacandia

BAYANIHAN REPUBLIC:

Every Holy Week, our family and relatives have a tradition -- Pabasa (day long chanting of Jesus Christ's story), Walk to Kapitangan and sometimes Prusisyon (procession of biblical images).  That's why it's a NO NO for me to go elsewhere at that time of the year since our family have a yearly Lenten practice and a reunion as well.  How can I let go of such wonderful tradition and bonding time right?  Anyway, while planning for this year's Holy Week activities, my Tita Elvie and I thought of something different this time around.  And that gave birth to the idea of a day long, Bulacan-wide Visita Iglesia!

Visita Iglesia is a Catholic tradition done every Holy Week to pray and remember Christ's life, death and resurrection.  This is just like the Stations of the Cross where people stop and pray every station (there are 14 stations) that represents a stage in the Passion of the Christ.  In Visita Iglesia on the other hand, each church represents a station.

ABS-CBN Prepares Holy Week Programs to Inspire Filipino Viewers

POTATO ON THE GO BULLETIN (TV):

What's your plan for Holy Week?  Are you going out of town or are you staying home?  As more and more Filipinos go out of town for vacation, I believe many of us still prefer staying at home (or visit our hometown and stay with our folks).  And for the home bound peeps, they look for things to do during idle time.  Some stock DVDs while others look for things to watch on TV.  And gladly, our TV stations have felt this need and year on year, have been providing service to us by providing programs suitable for the season.  And this is what ABS-CBN has prepared again this time to inspire the Filipino viewers during the observance of this coming Holy Week. 

Manila Archbishop Chito Tagle

Reflect and be inspired this Holy Week as ABS-CBN airs some of its heartwarming specials, dramas and Star Cinema movies, and best documentaries beginning on Maundy Thursday (April 25) until Good Friday (April 26).

Click here to read full story >  Cont... ABS-CBN Prepares Holy Week Programs to Inspire Filipino Viewers

Talk the Walk... the Good Friday walk to Kapitangan

 Bayanihan Republic:

Like the "pabasa", the "lakad sa Kapitangan" (walk to Kapitangan) is another Holy Week activity I grew up with. There's nothing spectacular about this tradition except that we get to walk in woods and rice fields, see the standard Filipino Catholic activity like Via Crucis and penitensya, eat native dishes at the street, buy "langis" (oil) that said to possess healing power, witness the crucifixion of Mother Paring, an old woman who make herself crucified each year during Holy Week and of course bond with my cousins.

Photo shows a man who volunteered himself to do the penitensya.

I had the chance to do the traditional walk again last Good Friday. Well it's still the same thing except that most walk ways are cemented now (and thank God rice fields are still beside the cemented road) and the main street going to Kapitangan looks like a tiangge / bazaar! Well, at least, stalls for native dishes and products are as prominent as the "Divisoria" like goods. My cousins and I started the walk at 4 AM and reached Kapitangan at around 7 AM. We left the place at 8 AM and didn't wait for Mother Paring's version of crucifixion which takes place at 12 NN. I don't have a sleep yet at that time and honestly, I went there for the walk and not for that ceremony.

Video shows a man allowing himself to be scourged as act of penance during Holy Week.

Well, I actually witnessed it before and I didn't see any splurge of blood since I think, the yearly nailing makes is similar to putting of earrings - pierce the ears once and putting accessories will be blood free later on. Ooops, I don't like to play CSI agent or even judge here. They have my respect like with any other people's belief as long as their ways do something good for them that do not step on other people's rights. If the "penitensya" and crucifixion is something that uplifts their faith, then so be it. Let's all live in peace and enjoy life's mixes! =)

The Walk

Walking started at 4AM!

Everyone's excited for the long walk.

A stop at one of the farm lands

Reaching Kapitangan 

We finally reached the place but we took a breakfast first.

We're not in Divisoria.  This is the new Kapitangan.

Sanpit Harold's family buying a pet bird.

The long line to Kapitangan chapel.

The Penintensya
 

Penitensya

 There are people who wanted to follow Christ the literal way.

 

Effects of El Nino

 Drought hits the town too!

The "palaisdaan" (fish pond) is filled with mud now.

The Walkers
 

Sanpit Harold enjoying the fresh air with the toy bird.

Niece Queen looking at the toybird they just bought.

Sanpit Jessa talking to our nephew Harvy.  Is she explaining the El Nino phenomenon?

Sanpit Ruel possessed by anime or K-pop culture!

 It's a four hour walk with almost zero sleep but everyone had a good time!

 The Leoncio Cubs =)

Pabasa lives on and enriches relationships, spirituality and culture

 Bayanihan Republic:

After Christmas, Holy Week is the next most awaited occasion in our family as it brings us to valuable traditional activities that were started decades ago.

On Holy Thursday, we have the "pabasa" (public reading), an activity where people chant the book that narrates the Passion of the Christ. In pre-colonial Philippines, poems are not read but sang or chanted (like in epics Lam-ang and Alim). That I think is the reason why pabasa is done that way.

On Good Friday, we have the "Walk to Kapitangan" which I will blog next, the "prayer at Barihan" and "prusisyon at Barasoain". Come Saturday, since there are plenty of kids, we usually have a swim. =)

My Tita Elvie said they started in 1986 and Tatay (that's how we call our grandfather) were very much happy to learn that everyone's eager to do this Filipino tradition for it will not only bring the family together but it will also enrich our spiritual life.

the Leoncio's pabasa 2010

They are 13 siblings so you could imagine how fun and disastrous it is to bring us all together. =) The pabasa usually starts at 12 MN and ends at around 7 PM. Good food also accompany those who give effort and time reading and reflecting the life of Christ. And that's something that excites us too. At midnight, chicken sopas, chicken sotanghon and arroz caldo take turns each year. At lunch time, there should always be fish bundled with vegies and of course meat for the minors and seniors. Okay okay, we sometimes skip the rule! =) During merienda (afternoon snack), ginatang halo-halo and pancit are the favorites!

Tita Elvie doing the pabasa

Kids taking over

 Cousins Jelly and Myther grew up in this tradition that's why they can easily remember all the tones.

the book that we read during pabasa

Tita Elvie (left) showing grand daughter Rochelle (right) how to read the "pasyon".

In our family, it's glad to know that the young ones embrace the tradition which their peers may find "uncool".

One of the best singers in the clan, Nina shares her angelic voice in the activity.

Jessa and Nina used to be toddlers and just played around during our pabasa. Now, it's their turn to get serious! =)

Cousin Noemi makes a birit rendition. Inang (our late grandma) always wanted to do it the traditional way. We used to try to chant the verses using pop tunes. =)

Good food accompany the tradition. Photo shows Tita Elvie preparing the ingredients for merienda - pancit bihon and ginatang halo-halo.


 
Tita Tina checking the rice.

Insan Myleth, Tita Nene, Mama and Tita Elvie taking a break.

Inihaw na bangus await those who did the pabasa at dinner time! At lunch time, menudo and lumpiang sariwa were served!

The tradition is also a bonding time for the entire family. Photo shows (from left): Tita Tina, Mama, Sanpit Ruth, Tita Manlou and Tita Elvie.

I also remembered bringing my very good friends in Malolos to experience this wonderful tradition of our family. So if you've been invited here, that means you are an extended part of the family! =)

Tita Elvie said that she first planned of doing this just for nine years but it eventually became part of our lives. "Tuloy-tuloy 'to habang nabubuhay ako pero masmaganda kung ituloy nyo (This continues as long as I live but it would be better if y o u will continue the tradition)," added Tita Elvie.

And all I could say is why not? The tradition doesn' t only bring us closer to each other but to God as well as we read, go back and reflect on the life of Jesus - making our Holy Week celebration meaningful yet enoyable. To add, culture thrives only if people makes traditions functional in their lives and not just ceremonial. And I think families doing this will be able to keep a distinct Pinoy culture.