It must have slipped the minds of many of us that Lenten will start tomorrow. Those who follow the Roman Catholic Church usually attend Palm Sunday, where priests bless special fronds. Catholics then celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ the following Sunday. This is done after spending a week remembering the different events in his earthly life. Most traditional families take a dip in the nearby beach to mark Christ’s rising again, a ritual that complements the sweltering heat. Modern families, on the other hand, join Easter egg hunts --a somewhat commercialized way to pay homage to the season.
The weekend before is most particular, as it somewhat defines what is yet to unfold. For instance, most individuals scamper to terminals and ports to go home. Those who want to take advantage of the long holiday choose to spend it in their hometowns. Nothing beats the comfort of family while enjoying the familiar sceneries in the procession and gobbling down the classic binignit. I look forward to seeing the internet flood our feeds with memes on the nuances of creating this staple dish. While many people focus on enjoying the days ahead, our authorities work to ensure our safety.
They stay hands on deck in areas where people may converge. Of course, they don’t limit their presence to terminals,they also monitor tourist attractions and churches. They now carry out a security plan to give us that sense of safety. As we approach the elections, authorities are now doubling their efforts. In fact, unknown assailants gunned down a mayoralty candidate last Thursday in Leyte while the victim was campaigning. Just when we thought we had started to move away from senseless crimes, another one hits us. We wonder how those behind it can sleep at night.
The Commission on Elections will also stay vigilant, knowing that many political aspirants might take advantage of the season. It’s easy for candidates to align their messaging with Church ideals and link it to their campaigns. Our election laws clearly prohibit campaign activities during holy days to uphold their sanctity. I’m certain God doesn’t want to hear false promises during the time of year when we observeHoly Week. Still, this period offers a good opportunity for personal reflection. I continue to wonder how difficult it is to follow regulations, let alone govern a local government unit.
The emotions for this weekend are rather mixed --excited to enjoy the free days ahead and anxious about what may transpire. We have entered a period of uncertainty, which makes it difficult to trust that everything will be alright. The recent turn of events, both locally and nationally, has left many of us feeling unstable about what lies ahead. Yet we remember the essence of Lent. One has to retain that faith in God --regardless of belief-- that the universe will allow everything to fall into place.
As for me, I can't wait for this weekend to pass so we can finally get everything over with. Enjoy the days ahead.