Philippines Undiscovered #Holy Week in the Philippines #Pabasa
by: Mary Ann Bolanos This article is written for my relatives and friends all around the globe to remember the days of childhood spent in the Philippines. "Pabasa" or reading of the "Passion of Christ" is a tradition in the Philippines during Holy Week. A family sponsors a "pabasa" when Holy Week comes around. Pabasa po Kami Courtesy photo by Arnel E. Hutalla The "Pabasa" is a prayerful song that sings the History of Salvation, a story of how mankind is saved from the eternal fire of hell by Jesus, the Son of God. The song book is written in Filipino in different dialects: Tagalog, Bicol, Pangasinense, Kampangpangan and Visayan. A famous 20th century English Filipino writer, Esperanza Gonzalez had written an English version, requested by her Fil-Am colleagues so they can pray the book whenever its Holy Week. The "Pabasa" usually starts on Holy Monday, because Holy Wednesday is busy day, people will be helping out at the Parish Chur