Church relies on collections for Lent, Sugat expenses

CEBU, Philippines - Among the other spiritual activities-confessions, procession of the Stations of the Cross, the Siete Palabras, etc.-during the Holy Week, Catholics consider the traditional "Sugat" as the most influential and anticipated event this Lent.

Sugat is the re-enactment of the rising of Jesus Christ from death, showcasing a role play presentation of Mama Mary welcoming her Son.

In any other event, whether of a private or public institution, one of the things to be considered by the organizers is to identify the source of fund that would finance the activity.

Being a non-profit institution, the Church is largely dependent on the donations and collections during masses for the maintenance of the institution's building and other basic needs.

Church funds

Funds for church events would also come from its revenue sourced from the first and second collections and contributions from society groups, companies and concerned individuals.

Moreover, part of these proceeds is allocated for the customary observance of Sugat, said Rev. Fr. Daniel Mata, the parochial vicar of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

"Well, kining tanang gasto nato sa Sugat gikan gyod ni sa second collection ug ang uban sa donations for our Siete Palabras," Mata revealed to The FREEMAN. "So, we are always grateful to the generosity of the people."

One of the church's main expenses in organizing this Lent tradition is buying food for the participants, barangay tanods, security personnel and other people who are working for the event.

"Wala kitay gihatag nga sweldo nila gawas sa mga panday…pakan-on lang nato tanang tawo nga motabang nato sa kalihokan," the priest said, saying, that Sugat is purely a community participation where parishioners help one another to celebrate Jesus Christ's resurrection.

The government also sends police to help in the security during the occasion, he noted.

Mata also said the Cathedral is tapping people who can help them in the production and choreography in this year's Sugat for mere voluntary work.

He added people also give donations specifically for the Sugat celebration: "Everything is liquidated gyod so that we can trace tanang galastohan."

Mata also noted they could roughly spend an estimated P50, 000 for all the expenses: stage, backdrop, costume, food, etc.

On the other hand, the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Magallanes St., Cebu City also observes Sugat every Easter Sunday but it spends only a little amount of money.

"Pinobre man ning among Sugat kay maggasto ra mi para sa pagka-on sa among mga performers, acolytes ug guards," said Floro Enerlan, the parish secretary. "Ang importante ra gyod among mabuhat ang re-enactment sa pagkabanhaw ni Jesus."

He claimed their parish can hardly raise funds considering the small number of parishioners who visit the church. 

"We always experience deficit tungod sa ka gamay sa among makolekta," Enerlan said.

This is the reason why Mt. Carmel Parish uses old materials and costumes and employs volunteers for the event to be able to save resources.

Meanwhile, Father Mata stressed that Sugat is still very relevant in today's generation: "This is a reminder nga naay paglaom ang kinabuhi. The death represents the dark side in our life. We should not always rely on that. Let's face the bright side." (FREEMAN)