Embracing faith, tradition, devotion
Catholic faithful raise their palm fronds outside the Baclaran Church to have them blessed by a priest. At right, a young girl weaves palm leaves at Sacred Parish in Quezon City on 22 March.
In the predominantly Catholic Philippines, Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, an intense religious observance leading to Easter Sunday. This significant event is celebrated with great fervor and tradition, reflecting the deeply rooted faith of the Filipino people.
A woman devotee lights a candle at Baclaran church in Parañaque City on Saturday. The soft glow of flickering candles illuminate the air with prayers and reverence.
Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where crowds welcomed Him with shouts of “Hosanna” and waved palm branches, symbolizing victory and peace. In the Philippines, this day is marked by elaborate processions and rituals, with devotees waving palm fronds as they reenact the joyful scene of Jesus’ entry into the holy city.
Lenten self-flagellants in Bulacan whip themselves as a form of penance for sins or seek spiritual purification.
KING RODRIGUEZ
Palm Sunday processions are a spectacle of faith and devotion in many towns and cities across the country. Dressed in their Sunday best, participants gather at churches to receive blessed palm leaves, often intricately woven into crosses or other designs. These palm fronds are then carried in procession, accompanied by hymns and prayers, as the faithful march through the streets, symbolically welcoming Jesus into their midst.
Throughout Holy Week, Filipinos engage in various religious practices and observances to commemorate the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This period is marked by solemnity as believers reflect on Christ’s sacrifice and the significance of his resurrection.
