CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Catholic church authorities may have become more outspoken against selling Holy Week in the country as tourist attraction, but the Department of Tourism (DOT) here remains unfazed in promoting bloody Lenten practices in this province.
This early, the regional DOT office has issued suggestions for the tourists’ itinerary for Holy Week, including actual crucifixions of purported penitents in Barangay San Pedro Cutud in this city on Good Friday.
Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday on April 17 and ends on Easter Sunday on April 24.
Over the weekend on Catholic Radio Veritas station, Infanta Bishop Rolando Tirona frowned on such crucifixions as “an act reserved only to Jesus Christ”, although he did not find carrying crosses as objectionable.
He said making bloody practices during Holy Week as tourist attraction was “unacceptable” and amounted to “manipulation of our faith.”
DOT regional director Ronaldo Tiotuico emailed to media yesterday such itinerary, titled “Things to do This Holy Week”, which merely reminded Christians of traditional practices such as attending Mass on Domingo de Ramos or Palm Sunday, the singing of the Pabasa in barangays, the Visita Iglesia, among other practices.
The itinerary, however, was specific on where to go on Good Friday: “Proceed to Brgy. San Pedro Cutud (San Fernando, Pampanga) at 7:00 in the morning to witness the Via Crucis or Way of the Cross (a 51 year old street drama on the Passion of Christ written and performed by local residents).”
The DOT email came with a file photo of true-to-life crucifixion in San Pedro Cutud.
“At 12:00 noon, join thousands of people to witness actual crucifixion of a host of seven to 10 penitents. Or an optional visit to Barangay Lourdes Northwest in Angeles City where another crucifixion takes place between 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.,” the DOT itinerary cum invitation said.
The DOT also noted that “in churches all over, rites and ceremonies start shortly after noon with the Las Siete Palabras or Seven Last Words, homilies and meditation on the seven final utterances of Christ at Calvary, which end at 3:00 in the afternoon, traditionally believed as the hour of Christ’s death.”
For the DOT, Black Saturday or Sabado de Gloria is time to lure tourists to shop.
“Go shopping for Kapampangan delicacies, arts and crafts in San Fernando, Betis, San Matias and Mexico (Pampanga). Sabado de Gloria is highlighted by the evening Mass with the blessing of the fire and water as well as the renewal of the faithful’s baptismal vows,” the DOT said.
The DOT also urged tourists on Easter Sunday to “proceed to Sto. Tomas, Pampanga at 8:00 in the morning for a whole day festivity of religious events (salubong), street dancing (Sabuaga Festival), trade fair and variety shows including fireworks in the evening.”
“Witness their Sabuaga Festival featuring a showering of petals on the image of the Virgin Mary. Petals and confetti will literally rain on the processional route around Poblacion, starting 2 p.m. as revelers join groups coming from the town’s seven barangays in street dancing.”
The DOT also said the other alternative would be to “go instead to any church (in Pampanga) to witness the most elaborate ‘Salubong’ at 6:00 in the morning (a traditional religious event which portrays the meeting of Christ and His mother, Mary, after the resurrection in an elaborate drama participated in by local residents dressed as angels and different biblical characters). The festivity usually culminates in a colorful fireworks display.”
This early, the regional DOT office has issued suggestions for the tourists’ itinerary for Holy Week, including actual crucifixions of purported penitents in Barangay San Pedro Cutud in this city on Good Friday.
Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday on April 17 and ends on Easter Sunday on April 24.
Over the weekend on Catholic Radio Veritas station, Infanta Bishop Rolando Tirona frowned on such crucifixions as “an act reserved only to Jesus Christ”, although he did not find carrying crosses as objectionable.
He said making bloody practices during Holy Week as tourist attraction was “unacceptable” and amounted to “manipulation of our faith.”
DOT regional director Ronaldo Tiotuico emailed to media yesterday such itinerary, titled “Things to do This Holy Week”, which merely reminded Christians of traditional practices such as attending Mass on Domingo de Ramos or Palm Sunday, the singing of the Pabasa in barangays, the Visita Iglesia, among other practices.
The itinerary, however, was specific on where to go on Good Friday: “Proceed to Brgy. San Pedro Cutud (San Fernando, Pampanga) at 7:00 in the morning to witness the Via Crucis or Way of the Cross (a 51 year old street drama on the Passion of Christ written and performed by local residents).”
The DOT email came with a file photo of true-to-life crucifixion in San Pedro Cutud.
“At 12:00 noon, join thousands of people to witness actual crucifixion of a host of seven to 10 penitents. Or an optional visit to Barangay Lourdes Northwest in Angeles City where another crucifixion takes place between 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.,” the DOT itinerary cum invitation said.
The DOT also noted that “in churches all over, rites and ceremonies start shortly after noon with the Las Siete Palabras or Seven Last Words, homilies and meditation on the seven final utterances of Christ at Calvary, which end at 3:00 in the afternoon, traditionally believed as the hour of Christ’s death.”
For the DOT, Black Saturday or Sabado de Gloria is time to lure tourists to shop.
“Go shopping for Kapampangan delicacies, arts and crafts in San Fernando, Betis, San Matias and Mexico (Pampanga). Sabado de Gloria is highlighted by the evening Mass with the blessing of the fire and water as well as the renewal of the faithful’s baptismal vows,” the DOT said.
The DOT also urged tourists on Easter Sunday to “proceed to Sto. Tomas, Pampanga at 8:00 in the morning for a whole day festivity of religious events (salubong), street dancing (Sabuaga Festival), trade fair and variety shows including fireworks in the evening.”
“Witness their Sabuaga Festival featuring a showering of petals on the image of the Virgin Mary. Petals and confetti will literally rain on the processional route around Poblacion, starting 2 p.m. as revelers join groups coming from the town’s seven barangays in street dancing.”
The DOT also said the other alternative would be to “go instead to any church (in Pampanga) to witness the most elaborate ‘Salubong’ at 6:00 in the morning (a traditional religious event which portrays the meeting of Christ and His mother, Mary, after the resurrection in an elaborate drama participated in by local residents dressed as angels and different biblical characters). The festivity usually culminates in a colorful fireworks display.”
