SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Stakeholders and tourists celebrating the Lenten season in this free port would have the opportunity for both spiritual recollection and pleasurable holiday vacation here with a weeklong program prepared by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and freeport tourism establishments.
According to Raul Marcelo, SBMA deputy administrator for tourism, the Subic program will depict Filipino Lenten traditions and culture, particularly the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ, while providing entertainment and enjoyment to the audience.
Marcelo said the Subic Lenten celebration would start on April 5, Sunday, with the re-enactment of the triumphant entry of Jesus to Jerusalem, which Catholics refer to as Palm Sunday, and the blessing of palms right after the Holy Mass to be celebrated at the Freeport’s San Roque Chapel.
From thereon, other Holy Week events here would include the “Pabasa” or the reading of the life, passion and death of Jesus Christ, which shall be held Monday to Tuesday; a procession on Holy Wednesday; Mass of the Last Supper and Washing of the Feet, Vigil at the Altar of Repose and Visita Iglesia on Maundy Thursday.
On Good Friday, meanwhile, devotees are expected to flock to the San Roque Chapel for the traditional “Via Crucis” at the Way of the Cross garden in the morning and the Veneration of the Cross in the afternoon.
There will also be a grand procession with the Santo Entierro, or the image of the dead Christ as the centerpiece.
Free musical concerts will also be staged at the Boardwalk area on Holy Thursday and Good Friday: Kristogenesis, a local adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar and “Heal Me Lord”, which features celebrities like Karylle, Christian Bautista, Ricky Davao, Iza Calzado, Jacky Lou Blanco, Kyla, and Yvette Ocampo, among others.
For Black Saturday, an Easter Vigil Mass will be offered, while on Easter Sunday, the SBMA will be sponsoring the Subic Bay Easter Egg Hunt for children at the SBMA Chapel grounds after the “Salubong” procession and celebration of the Holy Mass.
A Black Saturday concert featuring Manila’s 6Cyclemind and local bands will also be staged for free in the evening of April 11, at the Freeport-Olongapo junction along Magsaysay Avenue in Olongapo City.
SBMA officials expect the whole Freeport community to join the Holy Week events here.
“The Philippines is the only Christian nation in Asia, that is why Filipinos are known to be fond of fiestas and other religious festivities, which show our devotion and gratitude to our Creator and Redeemer,” SBMA Chairman Feliciano Salonga said.
For his part, SBMA Administrator and CEO Armand Arreza said, “With all the blessings that the Subic Bay Freeport is getting, this will be the best time to recollect our deeds and offer our thanks to the Great Provider.”
Salonga and Arreza have just signed 31 new contracts with a total committed investment of P1.5 billion through a mass contract signing held at the Formosa Hall of the Subic Bay Gateway Plaza last Wednesday, April 1.
Noting that the infusion of new investments occurred despite the global financial crisis, Arreza said that Subic continues to grow “as if it is not affected by the global crisis.”
“This is something we have to be thankful for, and this is the right time to do this,” he added.
Arreza said that the SBMA and other stakeholder groups in the Freeport have joined in organizing this year’s Holy Week activities in coordination with the SBMA Tourism office and under the guidance of SBMA Chaplain Fr. Audie Mozo, Jr.
According to Raul Marcelo, SBMA deputy administrator for tourism, the Subic program will depict Filipino Lenten traditions and culture, particularly the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ, while providing entertainment and enjoyment to the audience.
Marcelo said the Subic Lenten celebration would start on April 5, Sunday, with the re-enactment of the triumphant entry of Jesus to Jerusalem, which Catholics refer to as Palm Sunday, and the blessing of palms right after the Holy Mass to be celebrated at the Freeport’s San Roque Chapel.
From thereon, other Holy Week events here would include the “Pabasa” or the reading of the life, passion and death of Jesus Christ, which shall be held Monday to Tuesday; a procession on Holy Wednesday; Mass of the Last Supper and Washing of the Feet, Vigil at the Altar of Repose and Visita Iglesia on Maundy Thursday.
On Good Friday, meanwhile, devotees are expected to flock to the San Roque Chapel for the traditional “Via Crucis” at the Way of the Cross garden in the morning and the Veneration of the Cross in the afternoon.
There will also be a grand procession with the Santo Entierro, or the image of the dead Christ as the centerpiece.
Free musical concerts will also be staged at the Boardwalk area on Holy Thursday and Good Friday: Kristogenesis, a local adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar and “Heal Me Lord”, which features celebrities like Karylle, Christian Bautista, Ricky Davao, Iza Calzado, Jacky Lou Blanco, Kyla, and Yvette Ocampo, among others.
For Black Saturday, an Easter Vigil Mass will be offered, while on Easter Sunday, the SBMA will be sponsoring the Subic Bay Easter Egg Hunt for children at the SBMA Chapel grounds after the “Salubong” procession and celebration of the Holy Mass.
A Black Saturday concert featuring Manila’s 6Cyclemind and local bands will also be staged for free in the evening of April 11, at the Freeport-Olongapo junction along Magsaysay Avenue in Olongapo City.
SBMA officials expect the whole Freeport community to join the Holy Week events here.
“The Philippines is the only Christian nation in Asia, that is why Filipinos are known to be fond of fiestas and other religious festivities, which show our devotion and gratitude to our Creator and Redeemer,” SBMA Chairman Feliciano Salonga said.
For his part, SBMA Administrator and CEO Armand Arreza said, “With all the blessings that the Subic Bay Freeport is getting, this will be the best time to recollect our deeds and offer our thanks to the Great Provider.”
Salonga and Arreza have just signed 31 new contracts with a total committed investment of P1.5 billion through a mass contract signing held at the Formosa Hall of the Subic Bay Gateway Plaza last Wednesday, April 1.
Noting that the infusion of new investments occurred despite the global financial crisis, Arreza said that Subic continues to grow “as if it is not affected by the global crisis.”
“This is something we have to be thankful for, and this is the right time to do this,” he added.
Arreza said that the SBMA and other stakeholder groups in the Freeport have joined in organizing this year’s Holy Week activities in coordination with the SBMA Tourism office and under the guidance of SBMA Chaplain Fr. Audie Mozo, Jr.
