CBCP creates online version of Pasyon

MANILA, Philippines -  The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has come up with an online version of the Pasyon, the traditional narrative of Jesus Christ’s passion, death and resurrection.

“This is for those Filipinos working in countries, where there is no Church, or those working at sea and have no way of going home this Holy Week,” CBCP Media Office director Monsignor Pedro Quitorio said.

Quitorio urged the public to visit the website www.visitaiglesia.net and listen to the compressed version of Pasyon.

“The audio of all the 21 chapters of the Pasyon is uploaded there,” he said.

The Pasyon is traditionally held in the Philippines every Holy Week, beginning Holy Monday until Black Saturday.

People usually sing the Pasyon in makeshift altars in different parts of the country.

Lines of the narrative are systematically woven into standard poetry with stanzas of five lines, with each line having eight syllables and is most of the time accompanied by music.

The Pasyon is usually broadcast to the whole community using a megaphone.

The CBCP earlier launched the online “Visita Iglesia” through its website www.cbcponline.net

The website offers to the public the seven famous churches in the country including: the Manila Cathedral Basilica and San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila; Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila; San Lorenzo Ruiz Church and Santo Niño de Tondo Parish in Tondo, Manila; Nuestra Senora de Remedios in Malate, Manila; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine in Parañaque City.

Aside from seeing the façade of the featured churches and to complete the Visita Iglesia experience, the host also included the 14 Stations of the Cross with the corresponding prayer.

Quitorio stressed the project is not aimed at encouraging laziness among the faithful.