16
April 2016
MetroVan Independent News
MVINEWS.COM
LIFESTYLE
The "Not So" Holy Week
PINOY MIXX
By Rene Orobia Durian
Holy Week in Alaminos
Holy week in the Philippines is usually
spent with an odd mix of solemnity and
festivity. In some places, rituals and
extreme religious fanaticism are being
observed practiced with fervor and
enthusiasm.
In some provinces there is pabasa, a
weeklong chanting of Christ’s sufferings
and crucifixion. Another long time tradition
is the penitensiya, usually performed by
male adults as they walk along the streets
half naked while whipping their bloodied
wounde d backs.
As we weaved through throngs of
vehicles in the North expressway going
to Alaminos City on the early morning of
Maundy Thursday, groups of penitents
welcomed us in the streets of Pampanga
and Tarlac.
The blaring sound of women doing
the pabasa served as the musical score
for these penitents -- some of them were
carrying a makeshift cross re-enacting
Christ’s journey to Calvary.
The sight of the early Maundy Thursday
penitents roaming the highways and the
scorching heat of the noontime sun is
indeed a firm reminder that summer has
started.
My annual Maundy Thursday routine
is usually Visita Iglesia, a visit to at least
seven churches while doing the Stations
of the Cross.
Alaminos City Mayor Arthur F. Celeste
Holy week in the Philippines is
usually spent with an odd mix of
solemnity and festivity. In some
places, rituals and extreme religious fanaticism are being observed practiced with fervor and
enthusiasm.
This year, as I had already visited almost
a hundred churches during my pilgrimage
a couple of years ago in Europe. I decided
to take a respite and take a moment of
reprieve in Hundred Islands.
Preparing for TourGo
Not to be disrespectful of the Holy
Week, I have decided to be in Alaminos on
Maundy Thursday to prepare for an event
at the Lucap Wharf on Saturday and Easter
Sunday.
The event is the 3rd Pangasinan
Motorcycle Road Show, which RAV Events,
our company, had organized with the City
of Alaminos.
The city mayor, Ar thur Celeste,
graciously accommodated us and
extended all the amenities possible for the
success of the event.
The Mayor’s working committee head,
Dr. Emmilou Gellado was as committed
to extend the support together with the
hardworking Ms. Venus Balgua, who
was ever present in every step of the
preparation.
The only disappointment was when one
has to deal with a tourism officer who is
the anti-thesis of the essence of tourism.
Understandably, the person could be
undergoing some pressure in making the
city as profitable as possible, but tourism
is not only about profit. It also means good
manners and tact both in words and in
action.
Hundred Islands is Pangasinan’s
gem. It will profit in its own way due to
the Mayor’s dedicated effort to create the
amenities that is due the tourism standards
and requirements.
The person running the tourism office
must realize that tourism is not only about
profit but the creation of an image that will
keep the tourists and guests coming back
to a place where they are well taken care of
Holy week penitent.
Photo by Rene Orobia Durian
and treated with hospitality and the warmth
of a Pangasinense, a unique brand found
only in Alaminos.
Mangrove Planting and Boodle
Fight
One of the highlights and exciting
part of the TourGo event is the mangrove
planting at Barangay Bued in Alaminos.
Our Easter was celebrated with
mangrove planting in lieu of the Easter egg
hunt. Seedlings, like eggs also signify new
life and rebirth, thus the mangrove planting.
As some of us may know, mangrove is
one of nature’s best contributions to food
production. The mangrove serves as the
haven for small fishes, which allows them
to grow and mature. It is also the place for
other marine life and biological nutrients to
thrive and grow.
During typhoons, mangroves serve also
a protection for the surge. They lessen the
impact of the surge.
Our group planted over a hundred
mangroves in addition to the mangrove
forest in Barangay Bued.
After a backbreaking hike through the
Boodle Fight Breakfast at the Bued mangrove with
Alaminos City administrator, Dr. Gellado.
mud of the mangrove forest, the group
was treated to a feast of native longganiza,
milkfish, tomatoes and onion salad, brown
rice and steaming coffee rice.
How could we complain? Bucolic life
and cuisine is incomparable to city life.
Everything is fresh, organic and natural.
WHO DA WHO?
Mangrove planting with Rene Durian, Venus Balgua, Cleinn Caspe, Ager Kiocho and Vanju Alvaira.