After Holy Week in the Philippines

by: F.C.  Irorita

As we all return to our homes after a long vacation, we also return to our daily lives and routines. But as Christians, we should also bring home with us the things we learned this past Holy Week and Easter. Whether you are on vacation in the Philippines or a permanent resident in the country, if you’re a Christian, it is important that we reflect on the importance of the Holy Week and of Easter.

What is the Holy Week and Easter for you? Many people consider this as a time for vacation and relaxation, and they tend to forget the true meaning of these events. We get our holidays on these days so that we would be able to reflect on their meaning, but sadly people do not.

The Holy Week should be celebrated with the sacrifice of our Lord in our minds. We should always remember that we continue to live and that we still have hope for salvation because of God’s love for us. Jesus’s sacrifice through His death should always be commemorated and seen as a Holy reminder of His love for us.

Meanwhile, Easter should give us hope and strengthen our faith in Him. Jesus’s resurrection from the dead shows us the power of God and how much he could do for his faithful servants. Jesus as the Son had been very faithful and obedient to the Father, and through His faithfulness we all get the benefit of hope for Salvation. Meanwhile, as a reward for his faithfulness, The Father raised The Son from the dead, a proof that God rewards those who serve Him well.

If you would like to take your time in it and want to have a bit of an adventure, there are places that you could go to where you can have the peace and quiet to help you focus on your meditation and reflection.
The Lenten exhibit in Taytay, Rizal is a good place to meditate in. The exhibit showcases different artworks of events that happened during Jesus’s time leading up to His death, giving you a better insight to His suffering and inspiration in your faith.

There are also Retreat Houses scattered all throughout Metro Manila that you can visit to meditate in. They usually provide services for devout Catholics and even sometimes provide lodging and food, although some might ask for compensation.

Wherever you go for these meditations, it might be necessary for you to procure short term rents in fully furnished apartments. Temporary housing might be necessary too if you’re planning to meditate for a longer time. But whatever the cost of these housings would be for you, it is nothing compared to the blessings you will receive if you reflect on the Holy Week and Easter and take these lessons to heart.