MACABEBE, Pampanga—It was 59 years ago when a group called Everybody’s Club started a “bloodless” Lenten tradition in Barangay San Isidro, here.
Pampanga—notably at the cities of Angeles and San Fernando—is the country’s center of self-flagellations during Holy Week. At least six villages in San Fernando and two in Angeles are known to hold crucifixion rites on Good Friday.
Everybody’s Club has been creating replicas of Jesus Christ’s stations of the cross since 1956. Every year, the club chooses what to replicate among the 14 stations of Jesus. Then it will imitate the scenario of the station chosen and create the costumes for club members representing Mama Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Roman soldiers, and the apostles, to name a few.
The 14 stations of the cross were all represented and each displayed at vacant lots and façade of houses along major roads in San Isidro and villages near the municipal hall.
The tradition went on for almost 60 years but it was during the time of Mayor Annette Flores-Balgan when the Maleldo activity “grew and improved,” San Isidro Barangay Captain Romy Manansala said.
Macabebe Tourism Officer Katherine Flores said Balgan started to support the tradition shortly after she became mayor in 2010.
Flores said the two-term mayor had given financial subsidies to the participating clubs and groups. She said the mayor had given cash gifts to winners because it was then a competition. Flores said the municipal government and the clubs chose to forgo the “cash gifts” last year because “they were celebrating the Passion and Death of Jesus through religious rites that showcased devotion.”
She said there was still a competition in 2014 and trophies were given to the top winners.
Flores said this year, they decided to completely let go of the prizes and contests. She said a subsidy of P6,000 each was given to the 13 groups or clubs that participated in this year’s Holy Week traditions.
“It was all voluntarism to express faith and love for God. All were winners,” Flores said.
“A club had spent at least P300,000 for their station. The money came from volunteers. They wanted to have a permanent station of the cross so they don’t have to build a temporary one every year,” Balgan said.
Image credits: Leo Villacarlos