Here’s List of Holy Week Traditions in the Philippines and What Christians Do
HOLY WEEK TRADITIONS PHILIPPINES – Here are some of the practices that many Filipinos observe during the religious celebration.
The Philippines is one of the countries across the globe that is greatly dominated by Christian populace. Being a Christian country, the people highly observes religious practices and one of the annual celebrations that is filled with different practices is the Holy Week.
Countless Filipinos most especially devotees of the Catholic Church observes the Holy Week which is held in the last week of lent. It is the time that Christians deeply commemorate the sufferings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ from death.
Most often, during the Holy Week, many people spend their time in prayers and reflecting on the life and sufferings of the Son of God. There are also many Filipinos who practice the Holy Week traditions which come in different kinds in the Philippines.
This year 2025, the Holy Week runs from April 13 (Sunday) to April 20 (Sunday). With regards to the Holy Week traditions in the country, here are some of the practices widely observed by Filipinos:
Seven Churches Visitation
One of the most popular Holy Week traditions in the Philippines is the Seven Churches Visitation or also called the Visita Iglesia. In practicing this tradition, the people visit seven churches to pray before the Blessed Sacrament in each. Usually, the people do it on a Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Fasting
Another prominent tradition in the Philippines during Holy Week is fasting. Many people refrain from eating meat on the days leading to Black Saturday. Many people also eat food moderately and refrain from the feeling really full after a meal.
Siete Palabras
Most people usually stay at their homes during the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday which are two (2) of the holidays in the Philippines this April 2025 as approved by President Bongbong Marcos. Most likely, many people will surely watch the Siete Palabras on the Good Friday.
The Siete Palabras features the seven (7) last words of Jesus Christ. They are often performed in churches and these are aired on televisions. The airing usually begins at 12 noon and ends at 3:00 p.m., the hour when Jesus Christ died — also the hour of His and mankind’s triumph as the people are saved from sin.
Pabasa
The Holy Week traditions in the Philippines also include the Pabasa, an uninterrupted reading or chanting of the Passion, an early 16th Century epic poem narrating the life, passion, and death of the Son of God. It is often practiced on Maunday Thursday and it includes the washing of the feet of the disciples by Jesus Christ.
Senakulo
The Senakulo is one of the Holy Week traditions that was widely observed in the Philippines before but it is rarely practiced now. It is the reenactment of the suffering of Jesus Christ leading up to His death on the Cross. Many people usually attend to this event to watch it live and reflect on the sufferings of the Son of God.
Salubong
Many people also join the Salubong which is held in the morning of the Easter Sunday. This Holy Week tradition commemorates the meeting of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and Jesus Christ after the Son of God rose from death. It is called Sugat by the people in Visayas.