KUWARESMA

   Kuwaresma a Cebuano term for Lent adopted from the Spanish word Cuaresma is a special and holy time for prayers and fasting as a way of penance. Over the years changes have been made to the practices of the Lenten season, but the focal point remains the same, to Repent from Sin, to Renew our Faith, and to Prepare to Celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Kuwaresma and lasts for 40 days, not including Sundays. Fasting and abstinence are observe on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, the faithful fast and abstain from meat specifically on Fridays of Lent as a way of sacrifice… giving up something of craving and luxury as a form of penitence.

The number 40 is the traditional number of judgment and spiritual testing as referred to the following Biblical passages: the 40 days Moses spent on Mount Sinai with God (Exodus 24:18); the 40 days and nights Elijah spent walking to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8); the 40 days and nights God sent rain in the great flood of Noah (Genesis 7:4); the 40 years the Hebrew people wandered in the desert while traveling to the Promised Land (Numbers 14:33); the 40 days Jonah gave in his prophecy of judgment to the city of Nineveh in which to repent or be destroyed (Jonah 3:4).

Lent is also a manifestation of the 40 days Jesus Christ spent fasting in the wilderness. Satan tempted Jesus three times and was triumphant over the devil’s deceits (Mt 4:1-11). Faithful follows Jesus Christ’s example by spending 40 days in spiritual discipline before the celebration of Jesus Christ's triumph over sin and death.

The sixth Sunday in Lent, commonly called Palm Sunday, marks the beginning of Holy Week, the final week of Lent immediately preceding Easter. Worshippers carry palm fronds to church to be blessed by the priest. Faithful bring them home and make small crosses out of it and place it on doors, windows, and walls, in the belief that fronds can ward off demons and misfortunes, it is considered by the Church as sacred.

Wednesday of Holy Week, Holy Wednesday also known as Spy Wednesday because this day commemorates Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus for 30 silver pieces (Matt 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:1-6). This is also the day that Jesus was anointed with an expensive jar of alabaster by Mary sister of Martha at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper (Matt 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-19). Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume (John 12:3).

Thursday is known as Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday, and is a day Christians commemorate the Last Supper shared by Jesus Christ with his disciples. The main observance of the day is the last Mass before Easter which includes a re-enactment of the Washing of the Feet of the Apostles, and is followed by the procession of the Blessed Sacrament before it is placed in the Altar of Repose.

Throughout the day, the faithful observe the customary "Visita Iglesia" Church visit, which usually involves going to seven or more churches to meditate on the Way of the Cross; by evening this includes a visit to the Blessed Sacrament in the Altar of Repose.

The next day is Good Friday, on which Christians remember Jesus' crucifixion and burial. Biyernes Santo is a public holiday, commemorated with a traditional play of the Passion of Jesus Christ which focused on His Last Seven Words or Siete Palabras succeeded by a Solemn Town Procession.

The Holy Saturday, the Saturday of Holy Week, also known as the Great Sabbath, Black Saturday, or Easter Eve is the day after Good Friday and the day before Easter the last day of Holy Week. It commemorates the day that Jesus Christ’s body lay in the tomb and continues the observance of silence and solemnity. Preparations are made for the Easter Vigil and Mass, this involves the making and hanging of a dummy of Judas Iscariot in the old acacia tree on the foot of the Parish Church, the dummy will be burnt before the unveiling. Holy Saturday lasts until dusk, after which the Easter Vigil is celebrated, marking the official start of the Easter Season, the service start with a fire and the lighting of the new Paschal candle.  After the Vigil, a procession is observed leading to the Sugatan or Arkosan where church statues and icons covered with purple veils are dramatically unveiled. After the presentation and unveiling, faithful will go back to the church for the Easter Mass.

Sugatan or Arkosan is a structure made of bamboo poles forming like a gazebo with ceiling decorated with cloud-like pieces of arts with gigantic petals which will open when its time for the angel to go down from heaven to unveil Mother Mary.

      

Easter Sunday morning is marked with joyous celebration, the first being the dawn ceremony called the SUGAT (Cebuano for "meeting") that re-enacts the reunion of Christ and his mother after the Resurrection. Statues of the Risen Christ and the Virgin Mary are borne in two separate processions that meet at a designated area called a Sugatan or Arkosan, previously for many years at the seaside area near the pavilion about half kilometer from  the church. Statues may include any or all of The Three Marys (Mary, mother of James, Mary Magdalene, and Mary Salome), Saint Peter and Saint John the Evangelist in the processions.

The Virgin Mary is clothed or veiled in black or purple to express her bereavement. From the ceiling of the Sugatan which is lavishly decorated with arts to symbolize heaven, huge petals will open, lights will appear and a girl dressed as an angel will come out suspended in mid-air, sings the Regina Coeli, and then dramatically removes the black veil to signify the end of Mary's grieving. Confetti and flower petals are showered on the statues, the air resounded with pealing bells and fireworks, followed immediately by the Easter Mass… Jesus Christ is risen! Alleluia!

FLORES DE MAYO (SANTA CRUZAN)

Flores de Mayo or Flores de Maria is a Philippine wide Catholic festivity celebrated during the month of May. It is a celebration in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a CONTINUING tradition despite the radical changes in cultural and religious orientation of the new age.

In the Philippines, the month of May is considered to be the most flowery and the most fruitful month of the year… the scent of fragrant flowers fills the air and the sight of trees embellished with fruits is distinctive as the rains start to pour. Flowers and fruits are abundant anywhere in the Philippines and therefore are used as offertories during thanksgiving rites.

Flores de Mayo is said to have been introduced by the Spaniards to the Philippines and is believed to have started after the Vatican proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854.  This may also have been extracted from the publication circa 1867 of Mariano Seville’s translation of the devotional Flores de Maria where flowers are offered to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Nationwide the festivity is called Flores de Mayo which means Flowers of May and is also known to many as Flores de Maria which means Flowers of Mary.

For the entire month of May each day is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Children dressed as angels with basket full of petals and cut flowers march down the center aisle of the church or chapel, offering the flowers to the image of the Blessed Virgin. Followed by the devotees old and young alike with hands holding cut banana trunk decorated with wild flowers gently attached to a “tukog” coconut leaflet’s bone or stick pierced around it. Hymns to the Virgin Mary are sung throughout the offering while novena prayers are said before the floral offering.

Prayers, Praises, Devotion, Faith, and Thanksgiving to the Blessed Virgin Mary are few reasons for the observance of Flores de Mayo. Highlighted with different religious activities makes the celebration more meaningful and more festive which certainly will leave a mark in your heart. Santa Cruzan is one of the activities and is celebrated in honor of St. Helena who discovered the relics of the True Cross or the Holy Cross. Queen Helena was THE MOTHER of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great who embraced Christianity which ceases the persecution of the Christians in the Roman Empire. Constantine regarded himself as Emperor of the Christian people and is revered as a Saint for his EXAMPLE as a "Christian monarch."

There are many versions how St. Helena found and discovered the True Cross or Holy Cross, but this one seems interesting, as follows:   Some 300 years after the death of Jesus Christ at the Cavalry, Queen Helena found 3 crosses and asked 3 of her sick servants to each choose and touch only one cross. THE CROSS that healed her servant miraculously was believed to be the same cross where Jesus Christ died.

In the Parish of Catmon, Cebu, the Santa Cruzan is the culminating activity of the Flores de Mayo which is originally held every 31st of May. The Santa Cruzan is celebrated starting with a Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary within a Holy Mass. Before going to Church, all participants, the little angels, flower letter bearers, kids with FLOWER BOUQUET will all lined up in the street fronting the current Hermano-Hermana Mayor residence, then off to Church for the Novena and Holy Mass. The walk is headed by the letter bearers of the angelic salutation "AVE MARIA", a girl or a LADY WEARING a long white dress and a white veil.

After the Mass, Hermano-Hermana Mayor for the next year’s celebration will then be determined through luck. Candidates will pick one rolled paper from among the many, all are unmarked except for one for the lucky one. Then, parade will follow going to the current Hermano-Hermana Mayor’s residence for salo-salo or lunch. The parade is featured with dancing, singing, and laughing accompanied by the jolly beat of a local brass band.

Games and Fluvial Parade (Biray-biray) will follow after the feasting (salo-salo). The games will wind up late afternoon, while the Flores de Mayo Youth Organization “FYO” Officers and Members are busy preparing the community plaza stage for the Santa Cruzan IN THE EVENING.  Procession will commence the activity later on the day and is joined in by town belles in ornate gowns like queens portraying various biblical and historical characters and their handsome escorts under the hand-carried bamboo arches adorned with fragrant native flowers. It is a procession of live biblical characters, headed by St. Helena and her son St. Constantine the Great holding the Holy Cross.

Each Biblical Characters will be presented at the town plaza and will walk from the entrance gate and into the stage accompanied by customary music and their life’s narrative piece. The evening event is simply called SANTA CRUZAN. After the event, the floor of the plaza will be opened to all disco lovers… dancing, dancing, and more dancing.

TOWN FIESTA

FIESTA

Let’s talk about “Town Fiesta”… “Fiesta” is music to the ears of many Filipinos and bring smiles to their faces. For most, fiesta is a special time with friends and relatives, lots of food and activities, and most importantly is a celebration of faith.

Why are we celebrating Town Fiesta annually?

It was during the Spanish colonial period that fiesta was introduced as a tool to help teach Filipinos the Roman Catholic faith and during this period, many communities were named after a particular saint. Those communities under the administration of a priest would rise to full municipal status and eventually, established as a municipal government. Thus, the celebration of the feast day of a patron saint is also the celebration of the town’s existence and identity.

Our municipality of Catmon was named after a tree abundant during the time. Every 10th of February Catmonanon from everywhere gather together to celebrate its feast day. Why February 10? Do we celebrate this day to remember the establishment of our municipality? Or is it to honor our patron saint?

Fiestas in the Philippines are celebrated honoring the Patron Saints. The saint’s feast day can be the day of their actual death or a day assigned by the Church. Typically, the Church only assigns a day when the day of death is unknown. And if the Church isn’t sure of the date of death of some saints, other calendar dates are sometimes chosen — such as the day that the saint was canonized.

In our case, our Patron Saint is Sr. San Guillermo or St. William known as William the Hermit and William the Great. He died on February 10, 1157, beatified in 1202, and his feast day is celebrated worldwide every 10th of February, the day of his last breath. This is the very reason why we celebrate our feast day on February 10, to honor our Patron Saint… TO COMMEMORATE HIS PENITENT LIFE AND HIS LAST DAY ON EARTH.

It is sad to note that in some places fiesta has become merely a social event. The honoring of the saints has been largely forgotten. Let us understand and hold on to the very reason why we celebrate town fiesta.

MISA DE GALLO

            Misa de Gallo or “Mass of the Rooster” was started as an ordinary early morning mass to allow the farmers to hear the words of God before going to their respective farming field. It was introduced by the Spanish Missionaries as a way of instilling the values of the Christian Faith and as a tool for the Filipinos to deepen their understanding and belief.

 On December 16 of 1587, the Missionaries introduced the nine days dawn Masses to prepare the people spiritually for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The bell starts ringing as early as 3 in the morning to wake the people up for the 4 in the morning mass. The culmination of the nine day mass was at midnight of December 24 and we termed it as Midnight Mass.

 The practice was passed on to generation after generation and became a part of our culture. During our time, I can remember very well after the mass, people make different kind of noises, firecrackers, torotot, or just simply shouting Maayong Pasko, some mount a bunch of empty cans to their bike and drive around the plaza, then to the poblacion area. Indeed, Christmas is very Merry and Happy for us Catmonanons. Then, these merry making is followed by the Noche Buena… YUMMY, yes, Y – U- M – M – Y… I can just imagine the biko, puto wrapped in banana leaves triangular in shape, budbud pilit, sikwate, budbud kabog, bibingka,.. ug uban pa.

 The tradition is still enjoyed by many today, and I hope it will continue for a much longer time.

BLESSING YOUR ELDERS

Blessing your Elders

“Maayong buntag, udto, hapon, gabii… diha Manoy, Manang…” or blessing your elders is a Filipino tradition that shows respect for someone older than you. It involves bowing the head, taking the hand of the elder, and placing it on your forehead. It may look strange if you’re unfamiliar with the practice, but in reality, you’re asking your elder for his/her blessing. The elder may respond, “God bless you.”

Filipino children today still bless their elders to show respect. It is done when the elder is seen for the first time during the day. There is no age limit. You normally bless the ones two generations or more older than you. These people are your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents and family friends. A child usually blesses people around their parents age or older. Even an adult in their 30′s or more still bless people older than them. Young children are initially directed by their parents when to bless until they learn to do it on their own.

ANGELUS

ANGELUS

In the Philippines, the ringing of church bells is still done for the Angelus every 6:00 pm. In the past, Filipino families at the sound of the bell would kneel before their home altars and pray the Angelus. The rite is called the orasyón, from the Spanish oracion, (prayer/litany/recitation), and children playing outside must come home before the family prays the Angelus. In traditional Spanish-Filipino families, the Angelus is recited in Latin.

Wherever you are, whether outside or inside the house, and Whatever you are doing, when you hear the sound of the Church Bell for the Angelus, you must stop, stand or kneel, do the sign of the cross, bow your head, and pray. After the Angelus the younger people must bless those who are older within reach as a sign of respect, this is when I was about eight or ten years old. I even remember, as a kid playing near the seashore, almost every late afternoon Padre Patricio Alcazaren walked around the town and whenever he was near, all my playmates and other kids stopped playing and ran toward the Priest to bless.

How about nowadays, are we still doing this?