Philippine’s Lenten Tradition
Pabasa
Pabasa or aptly
translated is “reading”. Pabasa is one of the oldest tradition practiced in the
Philippines wherein a “mambabasa”
sings the book the “Passion of Christ” in a certain melody.
As to how and where the Pabasa started remains a mystery to
most Filipinos but it is a tradition handed down from generation to generation.
Even most organizers themselves have no clue as to how and why it is being
practiced. I once asked an organizer why they do the Pabasa and they just
answered that their parents did it before and they just inherited the
tradition.
The organizer is called the “Hermana or Hermano Mayor,” the person or people reading is called
the “mambabasa.” The Pabasa should not exceed 24 hours if on
the rare occasion it reaches the 24 hour limit the Pabasa would close whether
they were able to finish the book or not. Meals and snacks are served 24 hours
for free which makes the Pabasa somehow a very festive event. The
Hermana/Hermano is the one who buys and prepares the foods and drinks, their
expenses covers even the sound system, electricity used at night and the
flowers that adorns the altar. The chairs, tables, religious idols are also
provided by the Hermano/Hermana Mayor.
The Mambabasa sometimes sing for free, which is a very
common Filipino quality called “Pakikisama”
wherein a person gets nothing out of doing something but they do it as a favor
for the Hermano/Hermana. I remembered years ago when my grandmother became a
Hermana and the Mababasa were not given anything but food to eat. I used to
think it was an awful job being a mambabasa but in those days being a Mambabasa
is a part of one’s sacrifice called “panata”
which means these people do the reading year after year as a part of their
penance. These days there are Mambabasas who charges the Hermana/Hermano
certain fees to cover for their transportation and allowance, as one person
once argued that a laborer deserves his wages.
One can never appreciate the Pabasa unless you experience it
first hand, so couple of years ago I decide to “Magbasa” or to read. I read or sang during a holy week in a Pabasa
melody I have heard since I was a little girl. Well, it was tiring, I felt my
throat constricted singing for hours but it was worth it. My experience was
exhilarating in a way I can never describe. There’s a certain lightness in
spirit I experienced that I can never put into words, it’s like walking among
the stars.
As for me Pabasa is one of the most beautiful and uniquely
Filipino tradition which I am proud of.
Sinakulo
Senakulo is a play performed on a stage or on the street. It
is a play based on the book “The Passion
of Christ,” it is somewhat a re-enactment of what Christ went through
during His last days as a man.
As a child I have seen this Senakulo performed on the streets of Moriones and again a segment
of it for a couple of years during Lent
as part of the Panata. Panata is something a person or people
do year after year without compensation, it is a part of penitence Filipinos
do. One could appreciate the effort of
the performers, they do it complete with props and costumes. Although most Senakulo I have seen was done in Tagalog
which our National Language one could never deny the sincerity by which it was
done. During my college years I have
seen Senakulo as a play peformed on
the stage of the Cultural Center of the Philippines where I paid several
hundreds of Pesos just to see it, and it was performed by known artists or
actors. Somehow this Senakulo lacks
the sincerity by which it was done because I know that it was not a part of any
Panata.
Much like the Pabasa
no one have an idea of how, where and why Senakulo
started, but I know it is much older than the movies like Jesus Christ
Superstar or Jesus.
Penitensya
Penitensya aptly translated
as penitence. One can see this in various parts of the Philippines.
In Pampanga, there are people who would nail themselves on
the cross using real nails, hammer and wooden cross. This act is one of the
most popular practices because of the media mileage the International Media
gives. On the streets of Manila where I live there are men walking along the
streets beating themselves by whipping their backs by their handmade whips and
wiping fake blood on their backs.
Of all the Lenten tradition being practiced in my country Penitensya somehow makes me wonder of
the sincerity of motive as to why people do it. I was told that people do it to
lessen the sins they have committed, or to somewhat ask for forgiveness, and
people do it year after year as another part of their Panata.
Visita Iglesia
Visita Iglesia aptly translated at Church visitation. It is
done by visiting 7 churches by walking from church to church on the evening of
Maundy Thursday. On every church on will have to pray certain passages on a
prayer book entitled “The way of the Cross” which can be bought at any
religious store. I have tried doing this practice several years ago with my
husband and kids, and somehow one of my many wishes was granted. Doing the
Visita Iglesia amazed me by the number of people who are also practicing this
tradition, they come in multitudes, with their families or friends or lovers.
Inside every church you can feel serenity and a quiet feeling of peace. Maybe
this is the reason why people do this tradition.
Visita Iglesia have been a tradition and practice for so
many years and this tradition is still alive and kicking up to now.
