Holy Thursday

Once again, Filipinos find themselves reflecting on the deeper essence of their cultural and religious traditions.

Holy Thursday, part of the Holy Week observances, is not just a significant religious event; it is a moment of introspection and resilience, particularly in times of crisis.

Holy Week holds a special place in my heart. My late mother used to tell me that I was born on a Black Saturday, thus her parents wanted to name me Dolores (Spanish for sorrow) in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows, or Nuestra Señora de los Dolores. The name embodies the deep sorrow and anguish that the Virgin Mary felt during the Passion and Crucifixion of her son, Jesus.

Funny, but my mother chose to name me after her favorite beauty queen, Cynthia Ugalde, who won the Miss Philippines-International crown and competed for the world title in 1964, the year I was born. My grandfather, Elias, only knew about the name change when he saw my birth certificate. As a sign of “rebellion,” my grandfather still called me Dolores whenever he was asked who I was.

I noticed that my birthday often fell during Holy Week, sometimes on Holy Thursday or Good Friday. “Patay ang Diyos,” I used to tell my classmates when they wanted an ice cream treat on my birthday, mimicking the way my grandfather said it to me seriously whenever he visited and found my siblings and me noisy.

The problem with childhood memory is its tendency to distort the past, transforming fleeting moments of innocence into idealized narratives that shape our identities. It reminds us that the essence of who we are is often intertwined with the shadows of who we once were.

As a grown-up, I still find that memory of my grandfather resonant. It somehow excuses me from spending much on my birthday celebrations, or from not spending at all whenever it falls during Holy Week, in deference to Jesus’s suffering. Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday, was the night of the Last Supper and Jesus’s betrayal, the night before He was crucified on Good Friday to save the world from sin. I do not wish to betray Him by being joyful, especially on this day.

The Lenten season embodies selflessness and sacrifice. External circumstances may shake it, but the core values of compassion, community and faith remain steadfast.

In the face of the oil crisis and the war in the Middle East, Holy Thursday offers an opportunity to assess our own contributions to the community welfare. Bless the community pantries and the bayanihan spirit among relatives and neighbors, helping one another face economic challenges and hardships. The teachings and death of Jesus transcend mere ritual; they challenge us to act with generosity and empathy and to live frugally.

Let there be a truce from all the political noise and greed, so we can all pause and pray for forgiveness and guidance. “Patay ang Diyos,” my wise grandfather used to say. It simply means to be quiet and humble.

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