Echiverri leads ‘pabasa’ at Caloocan offices

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri led City Hall officials yesterday in the traditional “pabasa,” a ritual chanting of the life, suffering and death of Jesus Christ, the sung recounting of the Passion of Jesus Christ in the vernacular, for the Holy Week.

“The pabasa is more than a tradition for us Christians, but one way of cherishing and giving importance to the great sacrifice of our Savior,” Echiverri said.

The pabasa, which began at around 1 p.m. yesterday, was held at the City Hall main plaza on Mabini street while another was held the quadrangle of the City Hall North.

Echiverri has also ordered the Cultural Affairs and Tourism Office to simultaneously arrange free film showing of “The Passion of the Christ” at the covered courts of Barangays 186 in Camarin and 176 in Bagong Silang and Barangays 8 and 30 in Dagat-Dagatan and 4th Avenue areas, respectively.

He directed members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Reformed Department of Public Safety and Traffic Management (RDPSTM) to secure churches and bus terminals that are expected to receive crowds of devotees and those going home to the provinces for the Lenten break.

Echiverri also directed the PNP and RDPSTM to put up an assistance desk for motorists in strategic areas. – Jerry Botial