The Parish Church of Santa Maria, Laguna

         The town and parish of Santa Maria turned out to be the last in the province of Laguna that I was able to visit. Situated at the northern edge of the province and already bordering Rizal province, it is not a place one simply passes through. Since it lies away from the main highway, getting there requires a deliberate effort—and, given the traffic conditions in Rizal, a fair amount of patience.

         The opportunity came during a trip to Real, Quezon, on our way to Polillo Island. On the return journey, we made a detour to Santa Maria. At the church façade, I noticed a historical marker indicating that it was founded as early as 1602. Although the church has been rebuilt several times due to earthquakes and an uprising, traces of its earlier structure remain visible—particularly in its thick and simple façade and belfry, which quietly preserve its past.

        Just before the welcome arch stands another marker identifying Santa Maria as the rice granary of Laguna, a fitting introduction to a town whose character is shaped as much by its history as by its agricultural life.

The Welcome arch upon entering the town embedded with the Marilag Festival of Santa Maria

Our Lady of the Angels Parish Church, Santa Maria, Laguna

The parish convent

 

HOLY WEEK IN PALO

It has been twelve years since I last spent Holy Week in Palo. In recent years, I would usually travel to other provinces during the Holy Week break. This year, however, I was invited to serve as commencement speaker for the graduation ceremony of Sacred Heart Seminary, which fell on Palm Sunday. I therefore decided to remain in Palo for the duration of Holy Week, returning to Manila only on Good Friday.

 

GRADUATION AT THE SACRED HEART SEMINARY

A formal picture taking with the Sacred Heart Seminary fathers in their ferraiolo with Abp. John Du. 

The graduation rites at the seminary were scheduled for 10:30 a.m. As I vested in my doctoral toga in canon law, the seminary fathers donned their ferraiolos for the ceremony. It was Msgr. Urbina who insisted on this detail, wishing to distinguish clearly the formators from the graduates—a gesture both symbolic and dignified.

The Seminary Fathers together with the graduates. 

Four kinds of academic robes. 

PALM SUNDAY CELEBRATION AT THE PALO CATHEDRAL

I arrived from Manila early that Sunday morning, just in time for the 6:00 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral, presided over by the Archbishop.

The blessing of palms was done at the back of the Cathedral. The Penitentes in white pointed hood and the cast for the Cenaculo on Good Friday were already in their garb. 

The cast for the Good Friday cenaculo attending the blessing of the palms. 

The Sea Guinon Resort in MacArthur, Leyte just opened a few days before. 

BIKING TO PASTRANA- CASTILLA-PALO

With most of the barangay roads now paved, I even found time for a brief personal excursion. I changed my bicycle tires from size 48 to 37—the smallest available at the local shop—and on Holy Wednesday took them out for a 36-kilometer ride through the interior barangays of Palo to Pastrana, returning via Castilla.

Passed through the interior barangays of San Antonio, Palo to Manaybanay, Pastrana. 

There was still this rough road from Manaybanay to Cancaraja, Pastrana. 

Had coffee at the Pastrana convent with Fr. Mony. 

Passed by the Mission Station of St. Teresa of Calcutta in Castilla, Palo. 

With the mission priest Fr. Gerald and a Canossian Sister. 

Passed by the residence of Noel and Thelma in Castilla. 

Another rough road from San Isidro, Palo going out to the highway in Libertad. 

Back at the Palo Cathedral after a round of 36 kilometers. 

INVESTITURE OF NEW PENITENTES (TAIS-DUPOL)

Back at the Cathedral, I could not help but notice the presence of many penitentes, already organized and evidently well-formed. It was clear that their participation was no longer merely ceremonial but intentionally penitential in character. I was told that the minimum age had been lowered to sixteen, with sixty-two new recruits this year alone.

The Archbishop presided over the Investiture ceremonies of 62 new Penitentes in the afternoon of Holy Wednesday. These are males at least 16 years old and above.  Single penitentes don a blunt (dupol) hood, while married penitentes don a pointed (tais) hood. 

The new Penitentes in their uniforms.

HOLY WEDNESDAY PROCESSION

Another development that struck me was the Holy Wednesday procession, something I do not recall from my time as parish priest in Palo. This year, thirty-two carrozas took part. These same carrozas would appear again in the Good Friday procession, but with a notable distinction: on Holy Wednesday they were simple and unadorned, whereas on Good Friday they appeared in full splendor, richly decorated with fresh flowers. During the morning prayers at the Cathedral on Good Friday, I also observed that the statues had been vested in mourning black, further intensifying the solemnity of the day.

After the investiture ceremonies of the Tais-Dupol, the procession followed with 32 carrozas. 

After the procession, there was the pintakasi of confession. The priests from the Seminaries and the vicariate joined in hearing confessions of the faithful from 6:30pm up to 11pm. 

CHRISM MASS

In the morning of Holy Thursday, all the priests from the archdiocese joined in the Chrism mass where the holy oils where consecrated and the priests also renewed their priestly promises before the bishop.

After renewal of priestly promises and the kiss of peace with the bishops, the priests received some gifts courtesy of the bishops and some lay groups and individuals. 

MASS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

The evening of the Lord's Supper started at 5pm. Standing on the sides and the middle isles were the Tais-Dupol penitentes. 

The archbishop washing the feet of parishioners representing the different working sector of the parish. 

After the bishop washed the feet of the parish representatives, the concelebrating priests also kissed the feet of the parishioners. 

ALTARS OF REPOSE

St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Pastrana, Leyte

St. Anne Parish, Sta. Fe, Leyte

St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, Libertad, Palo, Leyte

St. Roch Chaplaincy, Archbishop's Compound, Brgy. Arado, Palo, Leyte

St. Joaquim Parish, San Joaquin, Palo, Leyte