CEBU, Philippines – Call it unfortunate that an incident caused by a bikini show, which was out of place during the Lenten Season, marred what would have been a great Holy Week in Bantayan Island. But the good news is, only a very few who went to Bantayan Island knew about this because the majority of the people went to Bantayan Island on Holy Thursday and on Good Friday in order to attend the centuries old procession, where life-size statues are used on very huge carrozas that fill the entire width of the street.
These statues and the carrozas that carry them are handed down from generation to generation and often, the families that sponsor the carroza for a particular year all come down to Bantayan Island not just to prepare the carroza for the procession, but also to attend a family reunion and the official turnover of the carroza for next year’s Holy Week processions.
What makes the Holy Week procession in Bantayan Island unique is that they have two processions, 20 carrozas for Holy Thursday and another 20 carrozas for Good Friday and they all depict the various events written in the Bible as to the final moments of our Lord Jesus Christ.
On Holy Thursday, the first of the long line of carrozas is the Last Supper. This carroza has a long rectangular table that seats all the Twelve Apostles, including Jesus Christ and it really fills up the entire stretch of the road. This is followed by the carroza of the Agony in the Garden, then the betrayal and arrest of Jesus by Judas. Then there’s a huge carroza with Jesus in front of Pontius Pilate, then it is followed the scourging at the Pillar, then the Crowning with thorns, and then it culminates with the towering carroza of the Escario Family… Jesus falls for the first time. But the procession doesn’t end there, as there are smaller carrozas following behind.
One thing unique in the Bantayan Island procession is that the procession is joined by whole families: fathers and mothers with their children in tow, many of them dressed in honor of their favorite saints or devotions. Children dressed like St. Peter or our Lady of Carmel or dressed as St. Michael the Archangel or toddlers with angels wings. Most of these families come from the neighboring islands surrounding Bantayan Island. They bring their children as offerings to God during the procession, which is a no small sacrifice. Most of these families are fisherfolk, who live in their motorized bancas that double as their temporary home while they attend the procession.
On Good Friday another set of carrozas are lined up for the procession. This time, it is led by Peter denying Jesus with the cock crowing reminding him of the prediction of Jesus. Then it is followed by Jesus being stripped of his garments, then another carroza of Jesus being nailed on the cross. One of the most beautiful scenes is the carroza of the Hubahib-Yap Family showing Jesus on the cross between two thieves with his Holy Mother at the foot of the cross being comforted by St. John and Mary of Magdala.
Then there‘s the carroza of Jesus hanging from the cross when the Roman Centurion Longinus is thrusting his spear into his side, with blood and water gushing from his wound. Then there’s the beautiful carroza of the Pestaño Family with Jesus being brought down from the cross with helpers on ladders, gently giving Him to his mother. Then this is followed by the famous “Pieta” Jesus in the arms of his grieving mother, which has been depicted in marble by the great artist Michelangelo in the Vatican. This is owned by the Mabugat Family and is centuries old.
There’s one of the largest carrozas with Jesus being laid in the tomb inside a cave and finally the most awaited carroza of all, the Santo Entierro or the dead body of Jesus decorated only in splendid silvery white. The Santo Entierro is followed by the carroza of the Mater Dolorosa and the largest group of people following behind the two carrozas.
Two beautiful processions during Holy Week in Bantayan Island that that have been happening in this beautiful island every year for centuries now. When it all began, the word “tourism” did not even exist. But today the hundreds of thousands of devotees are joined by thousands of foreign and domestic tourists, because this is a one-of-a-kind religious and cultural event.