EDITORIAL — Holy Week, Helly Week

It’s officially Holy Week because Palm Sunday has come and passed.

But then again, it can also be described, with no disrespect meant, as Helly Week because it is the hottest time of the year. According to the Cebu City Government, temperatures will hit a high of 40 degrees Celsius by Holy Tuesday, around noon to 1 P.M., while the following days may see 38 to 39 degrees Celsius around 10 A.M. to 3 P.M.

This heat index is classified under “extreme caution” by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

No relief is in sight with Cebu not projected to get any rain in the coming days, also according to PAGASA.

Now many people are joking that they have to get used to the heat because it’s going to be hot where they are going after they die.

Levity aside and other distractions aside, we shouldn’t forget we have religious obligations during Holy Week.

Holy Week isn’t called that for nothing. Some of us can even argue that it is more important to Christians compared to Christmas season, because it is during this time when Christ fulfilled his role in mankind’s salvation. Christ was born during the Christmas season, and being born happens to every one of us, but it’s during the Lenten Season when he fulfills his role of getting crucified, dying, rising from the dead, and saving mankind, which doesn’t happen to anyone else.

So much can distract us from observing these sacred days. Aside from the heat, which can lead to medical complications if not dealt with properly, we also have the coming elections, upon which a lot is riding.

The “heat” doesn’t just from the weather; it also comes from the charged political atmosphere in the country right now where many are pitting one political camp against another, forgetting that there are people in between.

This Holy Week let’s not lose sight of the meaning of this season even as we go about our lives, even as we head to the beaches and provinces to cool down, even as we strategize politically, and even as we keep ourselves safe from the heat, weather-wise and otherwise.