I find it amusing how people flock to the church during several Holy days of obligation: Christmas, New Year (not so much), Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday as well. Sometimes I ask myself, is it only in the church that we pray, ask for special intentions (primary reason), ask to be cured from any illness (another primary reason), or ask for special blessings. Like the blessing of the palm leaves, people believe will guard them from evils if they have one put on the front door. Being a Catholic country, a lot of our kababayans spend Holy Week as a vacation. Sure, no problem about that but we have to remember the real reason why we are having a few days off. Not just to go to the beach and have fun. Not just to drink oneself to stupor nor dance until the flesh is too weak to move. We have a few days off to cleanse our “spirit”, to reflect the purpose of our being here in this world, to pray not just to ask for blessings but to thank God for sending His Son to die for our sins.

Ooopps, sorry, I got carried away, didn’t mean to preach. Must be the atmosphere. My two daughters are now in the province, spending time with my parents. My tween insisted having this vacation because she wanted to participate in the Wednesday and Friday procession.