Holy Week Observance 2007

The Holy Week observance of the town Sto. Tomas, Pampanga is truly unique. The Semana Santa is the most joyful and colorful event in the town, it is a tradition the town of Sto. Tomas is proud of. The holy week observance this year started with the nine days novena and mass for the Mater Dolorosa. After the nine days novena, there was a procession for the Virgen Dolorosa en route to the parish of St. Thomas the Apostle. A Misa Concelebrada was held for the Feast of the Mater Dolorosa wherein the Estabats were part of the procession later in the evening. The Estabats were 12 young ladies dressed in formal gowns during the procession of Mater Dolorosa, Holy Wednesday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. They were also trained to sing and have choreographed acts especially at Easter Sunday, accompanied by a violinist. The Mater Dolorosa Oficiales were consist of the Hermana Mayora, the main head; Mayordoma, in charge of the Misa Concelebrada and musical bands; and the Secretaria, in charge of the meal after the Misa Concelebrada. The election of the next Mater Dolorosa Oficiales took place at the Hermana Mayora?s house, after the meal.

In commemoration of the death of Christ on Biyernes Santo, there was a re-enactment of the station of the cross wherein the people who joined the procession were barefoot. The Easter Sunday is the most anticipated and celebrated day of the Holy Week because Christ has risen from the dead. The procession at 4:30 in the morning ushered the beginning of the event. The procession took place from the two parochial chapels of Sto. Tomas ? the San Vicente chapel which had the image of the Risen Christ and from the San Bartolome chapel ? the Virgin Mary. It was also called the ?Salubong? wherein the images of the Risen Christ and the Virgin Mary met after the ?Pusu-pusuan?. The ?Pusu-pusuan? is a huge man-made case apparently heart-shaped decorated and placed usually above and in front of the Church. Annually, a young girl is chosen to become an angel who would be put inside the ?Pusu-pusuan?. It has multiple layers which can be opened after each song of the angel. When the last layer was opened, the angel was sent down carefully to pick up the black veil of the Virgin Mary which was covered unto her face symbolizing her grief over Christ?s death.

After the 6 a.m. mass, the procession or parade of the Risen Christ followed. It is the highlight of the event mainly because of the Sagala. The Sagala consists of chosen males and females dressed in beautiful gowns and barongs. First on the parade was the ?ati-atihan?, signaling the beginning of the parade. Few meters away were the Ciriales and their escorts, whom each carried cross symbols; the Banderada and her escort were on the middle; followed by the 12 Estabats, little girls as angels and a boy as the Oncesario; then the Atlung Maria (Three Marias) with their escorts, the middle of which served as the Ciru Pascual; then the image of the Risen Christ and Virgin Mary; and lastly, the musical bands. The parade would pause at designated places wherein the Estabats would form a circle to sing and wave their hands unto the air and then dropped petals of flowers toward the end of the song.

At 12 noon, people gathered at the Plaza to witness the ?explosion? of Judas? body replica wherein mostly, the children were the ones enjoying the show. And at night, there was a jamboree in celebration also of the feast day of St. Thomas the Apostle. Balikbayans and relatives usually from Manila go back to Sto. Tomas every Holy Week to witness this truly one of a kind celebration and commemoration of the Passion and Death of Christ.