It's the beginning of the Holy Week in Manila, and it's just another working day here in Hong Kong. Holy Week has changed so much the past decade. During the 80s and 90s, those 5 days leading to Easter Sunday were really considered sacred days. Most people would be in Visita Iglesias, or just home relaxing and reflecting. A lot would go up to Baguio to cool off, but still engage in the Holy Week festivities. Now, Holy Week is the best excuse to go to Boracay and party.
I miss the Holy Weeks of yore when all the stores were closed, there was nothing on TV except "Jesus of Nazareth", "INRI" and the "Lovingly Yours, Helen Holy Week specials." Although it was definitely boring, it gave a lot of solemnity to the event. Back then, when Lolo and Lola were still alive, we weren't even allowed to run around and play during Good Friday and Black Saturday because we should be in mourning. Plus, we weren't allowed to bathe after 3pm on Good Friday as well.
So what did kids like me do back then? I remember we'd just hang outside the neighborhood with our friends: The dela Merceds, the Garays, the Reyeses, the Famorcans, and all other adopted "Gandia kids." Most of the time we'd talk and eat, then by 6pm we'd go with our respective families to mass. It was so relaxing back then: no cinemas, no malls, no supermarkets, no sari-sari stores. Thus, people were forced to sacrifice, forced to reflect, forced to just relish the silence that Holy Week brings.
But now, everyone's open even on Good Friday: Malls, restaurants, 7-11s, Mini-stops. And up to a certain extent, I'm sure call centers are open since the west doesn't honor the Holy Week as much as we do. With the advent of cable TV, you can still have your HBO and Nickelodeon even during the holiest of days. And of course, the beaches are supposedly Sodom and Gommorrah around this time. I say "supposedly" because i've never experienced it first hand. They're just stories passed down to me by friends.
I guess it's true that as time changes, priorities of people change. When life was simpler, the Holy Week was equally simpler. Now, with so much distractions, Holy Week is the best excuse to indulge in those distractions. And being the old fogey that I am, the former is my personal preference. Yup, as my Mom said, if you start missing "the old days" it's the surest sign that you're getting old. And I guess I am.
2 comments:
hey! i miss the old traditions of the holy week, too. before, we'd spend it in my father's hometown in ilocos where people still observe holy week traditions like the reenactment of Christ's washing of the feet on jueves santo, siete palabras and the procession of the santo entiero on viernes santo, blessing of fire and the procession of the virgen dolorosa on sabado de gloria, and the salubong on domingo de ramos.
im with my extended family during these days which i think make the holy week extra special. for the last seven years ive spent it in the city, and people have become less mindful of the lenten season's message.
nagvisita iglesia nga kami last thursday, pero nagpunta pa rin kami ng roxas boulevard para maglamyerda. nakakaguilty tuloy. hehe..
Happy easter by the way!!! =)
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