My Holy Week in Tagaytay!

by Therese Choong
“Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

Holy Week in the Philippines is a Holy week like no other.

As a community, we adjourned to our parish, 'Our Lady of Lourdes' here in Tagaytay, Philippines for the Holy week celebrations.

Right from Maundy Thursday's liturgy to Easter Sunday, the parish was filled to the brim with people. In fact many were left standing for the entire duration of the mass/service.

The altar had already been prepared with 12 empty chairs for 12 men representing the apostles to allow their feet to be washed. Who are the people who will fill these vacant chairs left by the apostles? As I pondered, I felt we are all called to lead exemplary lives, called to be quality disciples, and to go boldly, just as we are, limited in understanding, sinners, to take up our positions and allow God to love us and send us forth like the early disciples.

Good Friday service was a very reverent experience. Every parishioner stood throughout the long readings and participated fully. In the Philippines, there is also a procession after the mass to commemorate the death of Jesus. This procession, call

ed the Mater Dolorosa (the Sorrowful Mother), took place on the main street of Tagaytay, where the normal peak hour traffic went alongside the procession.

The Easter Vigil was very well attended and in fact many parishioners stood throughout the 3 hour mass because there just wasn't enough room. As the church dimmed its lights, there was a hush, an awaiting. The 'Hallelujah's have not been sung in a long while. 40 days to be exact. And now, each one lighting their candle, each little light being passed on, the church now, once again lit with hope. And all the different versions of Hallelujahs are now sung,

And Finally on Easter Sunday. As the priest preached, Easter is like God's Valentine's day for us, showing us His immense love on that cross and letting us rise with him.

Though the masses were in Tagalog, we intensely felt the unity of the church as it worships together- many languages, many countries, many people, but one holy and apostolic church.