Ash Wednesday in Philippine history

Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, was introduced to the Philippines over 500 years ago with the arrival of Spanish missionaries. Filipino Catholics traditionally attend Mass to receive ashes on their foreheads, a ritual symbolizing mortality and repentance. By the 19th and 20th centuries, the observance was deeply ingrained in Filipino culture, marked by fasting, abstinence from meat, and church rituals that usher in the 40-day Lenten season. The ashes are prepared by burning palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday, linking one holy season to the next. Many Filipinos wear the ash cross all day as a public sign of faith and penance. As a child studying in Catholic school, I and my classmates would always look forward to having a cross placed on our forehead and try as much as we could not to be unkind throughout the day. The tradition’s resilience is evident in the way it adapted during crises – during the COVID-19 pandemic, churches modified the ritual by sprinkling ashes on the crown of people’s heads instead of touching foreheads, to maintain hygiene. Even with masks and distancing, Filipinos in 2021 continued to flock to Ash Wednesday services, praying for an end to the pandemic.

Historically, Ash Wednesday has sometimes coincided with pivotal moments of conflict in the Philippines. One notable convergence was during World War II, when it fell during the Battle of Manila. As American and Filipino forces fought to liberate Manila from Japanese occupation, it arrived amid scenes of devastation and suffering. While liturgical observances were subdued due to war, it’s remembered as an Ash Wednesday when the ashes of war literally filled the city’s air.  Over the years, it has occurred against a backdrop to political and social upheavals. During the buildup to the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled the Marcos dictatorship, one day after Ash Wednesday 1986, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference issued a pastoral letter denouncing the fraudulent snap elections and exhorting Filipinos to protest peacefully. This moral indictment, coming at the start of Lent, galvanized many faithful to join the non-violent uprising that restored democracy. In 2004, Ash Wednesday happened to coincide with the 18th anniversary of the EDSA People Power revolt. Commemorations that year combined religious observance with calls to safeguard democracy. Even as activists held peaceful rallies, the Philippine National Police noted that a “God-fearing” and spiritually grounded force was better prepared to serve, highlighting how the ritual bolstered morale during a politically charged event.

Social activists have used Ash Wednesday to highlight social justice issues. In 2014, Filipino farmers staged a “poverty protest,” urging land redistribution while wearing ashes and praying. Similarly, on March 2, 2022, Father Robert “Running Priest” Reyes marked passersby with ashes outside the election commission, demanding honest elections. These acts show how Ash Wednesday extends beyond churches, calling for mercy and reform.  Despite its sacred nature, Ash Wednesday has seen tragedy. On February 14, 2024, a termite-weakened church floor in Bulacan collapsed during Mass, killing an 82-year-old choir member and injuring at least 50 others. A day meant for reflection became one of mourning.

There are more examples we can cite, but Ash Wednesday has always played a role in Catholic Filipinos. It remains a time for Filipino Catholics to reflect on faith, community, and country. It has seen the Philippines through colonial rule, wars, dictatorships, and pandemics, adapting in practice but never losing its meaning. It often mirrors the nation’s state: in times of peace it is purely devotional; in times of crisis it is a source of strength. It is a reminder that even as Filipinos wear a mark of humility on their foreheads, they also carry an enduring spirit – one that seeks both spiritual renewal and social transformation in the Lenten journey toward Easter.