Holy Wednesday in Paete; a Moving Lenten Experience

Some several years ago, my dad would "aya" us to go to different old towns like Paete in Laguna and Baliwag in Bulacan, to watch their much awaited Holy Wednesday Processions. These 2 different towns have something unique to look forward in their Processions. In Paete you get to watch 3 different "Salubongs" (Yes their Salubong is held every Holy Wednesday, but this is a different Salubong). This 3 "Salubongs" or Encounters of 3 different images, first the meeting of the Sorrowful Mother and Jesus carrying the cross, the second Veronica (the woman who wiped Jesus' face) and Jesus carrying the cross, and the last the Sorrowful Mother and Veronica. This last 2 images move, as if they were real people. Both their head and  their hands move, thanks to some attached strings on the arms and necks of the images. This adds more drama during the "Salubong". While in Baliwag, you get to see almost 90 different "carozzas", depicting Christ's Passion, starting from his Public Ministry to his death on the Cross.

The Moving Images of Paete: Mater Dolorosa (Left), Santa Veronica (Right)

Going back, "pagnagaaya si daddy, madalas di na tutuloy." Eventually after those numerous "ayas" to Paete and Baliwag, we were not able to go to those two different towns on Holy Wednesday. In 2009 Dad became the PPC President of St. Andrew's Parish, making us unable to leave Parañaque the whole week. Eventually this year dad wasn't the PPC President. On Holy Monday of this year, the Old Formation Council of St. Andrew had a recollection, and most of them made "aya" to Paete on Holy Wednesday, because one of their members, Tito Tito, whose late wife was a native of Paete and because it was a tradition for their family to go to Paete every Holy Week. So almost all of them agreed on to go to Paete on Holy Wednesday. Come Holy Wednesday, it was our family, and a friend who was part of the Formation Council, went to Paete. 

We left Parañaque at 3:00pm, and we had to drop by my dad's college friend who was a balikbayan to her Hotel in Alabang. I was not loosing hope, that we would be late for the start of the Procession. At the time we were at Los Baños it was around 4:00pm, and Lo and Behold it was so traffic it made me loose hope that we would be able to reach Paete on time. We were still somewhere in Victoria, when it was around 4:30pm and I was loosing hope, I was pretending to cry with Tito Bong at the back. At around 5:00pm we were at Pagsanjan, and their procession hasn't started yet. Tito Bong said "panigurado sabay-sabay yan magsisimula kaya wag kang mawalan ng pag-asa." Finally we arrived at Paete at around 5:40pm and the Procession hasn't started yet, good thing the church was just a street away from the ancestral house of Tito Tito's wife, where we stayed at. We arrived at the Church at around 5:55pm, wherein the 4th "carozza" just left the Church, I was like "Thank God, we arrived here at Paete safe and sound, and we were able to see almost all of the carozzas"

Traditionally, San Pedro was the one to lead all the Holy Week Processions, with the different Apostles except for San Juan, who is to accompany the Sorrowful Mother at the last part of the Processsion.

Clockwise from Top Left: St. Peter, St. Andrew, St. James the Great, St. Philip, St. Bartholomew, St. Simon the Zealot, St. Jude Thaddeus, St. James the Less, St. Matthew, St. Thomas

The "carozzas" come out of the church, where in at the door they Introduce the images, by reading some passages from the Bible of that scene, while for the saints they read a short story on the life of that saint.

Here are the other "carozzas":

The Public Ministry

The 5 Gospels of the Lenten Season of Liturgical Year A

2 more Tableaux on the Public Ministry of Jesus, the First Miracle at the Wedding at Cana and the Anointing at Bethany

The Passion Scenes

Clockwise from Top Left: The Entry to Jerusalem, "Ang Pamamaalam",
The Washing of the Feet, The Last Supper

Clockwise from Top Left: The Betrayal of Judas, The Arrest, Jesus before Caiaphas,
"Ang Pagdadamit ng Puti", "Ang Pagpapahula", The Denial of Peter

Clockwise from Top Left: The Scourging, "Señor Desmayado", The Crowning with Thorns,
Jesus before Pilate, "Ecce Hommo", "Señor dela Pacencia"

The Way of the Cross

The Death on the Cross

The Bethany Sibling: Lazarus, Martha and Mary

The other Disciples: Veronica, Nicodemus, Joanna, wife of Chuza
and Mary, mother of James the Less

The Three Marys

Mary and the Beloved Disciple

As the Last Part of the Procession was leaving the church, I was surprised to see San Pedro entering the Church Plaza. I asked, "Tapos na ba yung Prusisyon at pumapasok na ang mga Caro?" Tito Tito, said that the first "Salubong" will be held at the Church Plaza, that is why the "Carozzas" were re-entering the Church Plaza. When the "carrozas", were already piling up in the plaza, they took another exit out of the Plaza, to continue the Procession. When the Image of the Nazareno, arrived at Plaza it stopped at the center of the Plaza, where the "Salubong" would take place. Since the Nazareno was already in the Plaza, the following "carozzas" cannot  continue with the Procession, they had to wait for the "Salubong" to finish. Finally all of the other "carozzas" arrived at the Plaza, except for the Dolorosa. The Dolorosa, passed through a street  near the Church yard. To add more to the drama of the "Salubong", she entered the Church Plaza alone. After entering the Church yard, they parked her "carozza" in front of the church and they brought her down from the "carozza" for the Salubong. A man started chanting a Poem as the Image of the Dolorosa was coming near the image of the Nazareno, as if the Blessed Mother was rushing to see her suffering son. As the image of the Dolorosa came closer to the Nazareno, a man and a woman was chanting as if they were the Blessed Mother and Jesus having a conversation as they meet on the road to Calvary. The head and hands of the Blessed Mother were moving as if she was touching, wiping and talking to Jesus. It was so Dramatic, I even had goosebumps as they were chanting. This chanting is similar to the "Saeta" of Sevilla, Spain. After the Salubong they returned the Dolorosa to her carozza, and they continued on with the Procession going to the Second Salubong. 

Oh bunsong minamahal ko

maganda kong bagong tao!

anong salang nagawa mo,

at ikaw ay ginaganito?

di ko mabatang totoo.

Iyang Krus na iyong pasan

bunso ay iyong bitiwan

at kita ay hahalinhan

ako kaya’y mabubuhay

sa lagay mo ngang iyan.

Aakuin kong lahat na

ako ang papapatay na

Poon ko’t ng mabuhay ka!

ano pang aking halaga

kung ikaw’y di na makita?

Anong aking pangyayari

ako’y tunay na babae?

hayo na’t sundin mo yari,

bunso ko at mangyayari

kung loobin mong sarili.

Nguni’t ang bahala’y ikaw

batid mo ang aking damdam

sampu nang karalitaan,

tunay ang mukha’y mahusay

dibdib ay puno ng lumbay.

Since we had an early lunch, and we came from Manila, we returned to their ancestral house to have dinner. Good thing the procession passed by their house. We had a sumptuous dinner; they prepared native dishes from Paete, which were really good. After dinner I asked one of their relatives if I may see the Friday Head of the Dolorosa (Their family owns the Dolorosa of Paete). I was so stunned to see the beautiful head of the Dolorosa. According to their 2000 Holy Week Souvenir Program, the Friday head was brought by the Spaniards to Paete, together with the Santo Entirerro.

Ulong Pang-Biyernes 

An Image of the Sto. Niño, also owned by their Family. This Sto. Niño
 is brought out during their Salibanda Festival, a festival to honor the Christ Child in Paete 

The Chapel of the Dolorosa

After having dinner we went to “Liwasang Bayan”, to watch the third the “Salubong”. As we arrived at “Liwasang Bayan” we saw the image of Santa Veronica, arriving for the third “salubong”, after some minutes, the procession passed by ”Liwasang Bayan”. Finally the Dolorosa arrived at “Liwasang Bayan” for the third “salubong”. The third “salubong”, is the meeting of the Blessed Mother and Veronica, wherein Veronica showed her veil to the Blessed Mother, which imprinted Christ’s face. 

While waiting for the Procession to pass by, I took some pictures of the Antique Image of the Santa Veronica

The family's workers, placing Veronica's veil, in preparation for the third "salubong"

Santa Veronica, showing her veil, which imprinted Christ's face

The Mater Dolorosa of Paete, blessing Veronica

The Dolorosa after the Salubong

As we were heading back to the Ancestral house, I noticed smaller scaled images of the Holy 
Week Images in Paete. I learned that they also have their own version of the Caru-Caruhan, like 
the ones held in Binangonan in Rizal. They process the smaller images around town during Holy Tuesday. 

Our hospitable hosts for the night, the Cadayona - Quesada Family.

We left Paete at around 10pm and safely returned to Parañaque at around 12mn. Truly the Holy Wednesday Procession in Paete was really a moving experience!

The Dominican Saints of the Holy Rosary

San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila
The Filipino proto-martyr, Lorenzo was born in Binondo, Manila. As a young man he became a member of the Rosary Confraternity. Implicated in crime of unclear circumstances, he left hi wife and children and set sail for Okinawa in 1636 together with other Dominican Missionaries. Arrested they were brought to Nagasaki where they underwent hideous torments for their Christian faith, giving up their souls to God on September 28, 1637.

San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, Pray for Us!

Beata Juana de Aza

The mother of St. Dominic, she was beatified by Pope Leo XII in 1828. Devotion to her persisted through the centuries despite the poverty of records. The mother of three priests, one of whom died a death of heroic charity and two who were raised to the altars of the Church, can safely be judged to have been not only a valiant woman but also a saintly one. Her picture, as that of any mother can be seen reflected in her sons.

Beata Juana de Aza, Pray for Us!

Beata Margarita de Castelo

Born a dwarf, deformed and blind, Margaret was abandoned by her parents but found refuge on the homes of the poor. By her radiant charity, she became a source of hope and consolation for the poor, the outcast, the sick and the imprisoned, to whom she ministered tirelessly as a Lay Dominican. She is Patroness of Pro-Life Philippines.

Beata Margarita de Castelo, Pray for Us!

Santo Tomas Khoung
Thomas Khoung belonged to a noble family in Tonkin and could well be a son of a Mandarin. A Christian since childhood, he became a priest and a Dominican tertiary. He was imprisoned many times because of his faith. When he was in his 80's in 1859, he was arrested again. The judge tried in vain to make him trample on the crucifix and invited him in vain to persuade his Christian followers to apostatize but he firmly replied "To redeem mankind, Christ voluntarily suffered death. I too, want to give love for love, spilling all my blood for him." While he was genuflecting to adore the crucifix, his head was cut off, it was the 30th of January 1860.


Santo Tomas Khoung, Pray for Us!

San Francisco de Capillas
Francis was born in Baquerin de Campos, Palencia, Spain on August 14, 1607. He entered the Dominican Priory of St. Paul of Valladolid. He arrived in Manila in February 1632, where he was ordained priest. In 1641, he attended the Provincial Chapter held in Manila and asked the new Provincial to send him to China. In 1642, he left for China with his friend, Fr. Francis Diez. He went to the villages and town in Fogan and Funing converting huge numbers of Chinese. He was captured and remained incarcerated for two months. He died on January 15, 1648. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2000.

San Francisco de Capillas, Pray for Us!

San Vicente Liem dela Paz
The first Vietnamese Dominican, he was born in Tra'Lu in 1731. He received the Dominican habit in Manila and continued his studies at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Intramuros. Already a priest, he asked to return to his land to work among his people; he labored for 14 years until he was captured and martyred on November 7, 1773.


San Vicente Liem dela Paz, Pray for Us!

Santa Magdalena de Nagasaki
She was left on her own resources at the age of twenty two when her parents perished in the great persecution in Japan. She placed herself under the direction of a Dominican, Father Jordan of St. Stephen, and received the habit as a tertiary. At a public hearing presided over by the Mandarin, after her arrest and torture, she stood up and cried out for her profession of faith. She was martyred in 1634.


Santa Magdalena de Nagasaki, Pray for Us!

San Juan Macias
A cooperator-brother like St. Martin, he was born in Rivera, Spain in 1585. Embracing the Dominican way of life in 1623, he became a porter and set about at once serving the poor who came to the priory gate for alms. He is distinguished for his great devotion to the rosary and untiring supplications for the souls in purgatory.


San Juan Macias, Pray for Us!

San Martin de Porres

Today's humble saint, son of a white Spanish father and a black Panamanian mother, was born in Lima, Peru in 1579. As a boy, he learned the art of healing. As a Dominican, he served as infirmarian,, healed the illness of the poor and also of animals. He led a life of profound prayer, penance and extraordinary spiritual gifts. He is the patron saint of the poor and the sick.

San Martin de Porres, Pray for Us!

Santa Rosa de Lima
The first saint of the America, she was born in Lima, Peru in 1586. An intelligent and efficient woman, she took St. Catherine of Siena as her model. At 15, she received the habit of the Third Order Dominican. In obedience to her parents, she did not enter the convent but lived at home a humble life of penance and mystical prayer.


Santa Rosa de Lima, Pray for Us!

Santa Catalina de Ricci

Remarkable for her spirit of penance and life of contemplative prater, she received many extraordinary favors from God including the mystical espousals and sacred stigmata. Nonetheless, she was also an eminently  practical person and an able administrator for 36 years as prioress of her community

Santa Catalina de Ricci, Pray for Us!

.

San Juan de Colognia

Born in Germany towards the end of the 16th century, he was sent to work in Holland, where he brought relief to the Catholics cruelly persecuted by the heretical Calvinists. With 18 other religious of different Orders and secular priests, he was hanged in 1572 for the defense of the Holy Eucharist and the Primacy of the Pope. He was beatified in 1675 and was canonized by Pius IX on June 29, 1867.

San Juan de Colognia, Pray for Us!

San Luis Beltran

The Patron of all Dominican Novices and formation personnel, he volunteered for the foreign missions and was sent to Latin America. There he labored  for over seven years among hostile Indian tribes of Columbia, Venezuela and the West Indies. He converted countless numbers through the miraculous gift of tongues.

San Luis Beltran, Pray for Us!

San Pio Quinto
Elected Pope in 1566, he accomplished great reforms in the Church, notably among the clergy and in the Roman Missal. By his prayers, especially the rosary, this Pope of the Rosary obtained from God the naval victory for the Christians in Lepanto. After fulfilling every duty of the "Pastor Bonus", he died on May 1, 1572


San Pio Quinto, Pray for Us!

Getting Up Close to the Queen

Last October 13, 2012, I was so fortunate to Get Up close to the Miraculous and Regal Image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, of the Navy of Manila, or popularly known as "La Naval de Manila". The Image was commissioned by Governor General Luis Perez Dasmariñas and was carved by a Chinese Pagan in 1593. The Head and Hands of the Virgin and the whole Niño is purely made of Ivory.

The Image of "La Naval de Manila" venerated at

Sto. Domingo Church Quezon City

It was around 5pm, when we left Parañaque. We hurried, so that we may reach the 6:30pm Novena Mass in Honor of the La Naval, though traffic got into are way as we were passing by Legarda and España. We arrived at Sto. Domingo at around 6:50pm, good thing it was still the Gospel. I thanked here for letting us arrive at Sto. Domingo safely. During Communion I prayed to her, that she may let me go near here for the Besa Manto. What added the Drama while I was praying, was the Tiples de Sto. Domingo and Mrs. Thea Perez-Tiongson, singing the O Beata Mater, which started to make me teary-eyed.

O Beata Mater

O Beata Mater et intacta virgo 
Intercede pro nobis
Speciosa et suavis es in delicis tuis
Sancta Dei Genitrix

Tola pulchra et non est in te 
Tola pulchra es et macula originalis non est in te

Tola pulchra es et macula originalis non est in te

Pulchra est et decora Filia Jerusalem

Terribilis, terribilis ut castrorum acies ordinate

Pulchra est et decora Filia Jerusalem

Tu Gloria, Tu Gloria Jerusalem

Tu Gloria, Tu Gloria Jerusalem

Tu laetitia, Laetitia Israel

Tu laetitia, Laetitia Israel

Tu laetitia Israel

Tu honorificantia, populi nostril
O Beata Mater

Right after the Communion Rev. Fr. Giuseppe Pietro Arsciwals O.P., gave some words of thank you for all of those who attended the 9 Days of Novena in Honor of the La Naval, because that night was the 9th Day of Novena to the La Naval. To conclude the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the Tiples de Sto. Domingo, sang the very Famous, Despidida ala Virgen. (Lyrics of the Despidida ala Virgen Below) The church was filled with the Angelic Voices of the Tiples and of the People Singing inside the Church. 

Despedida a La Virgen 
Adios, Reina del cielo
Madre, Madre del Salvador

Adios, adios!

Adios, dulce prenda adorada

Dulce prenda adorada de mi sincero amor
Adios, Reina del cielo, adios, adios.
Madre del Salvador, Madre del Salvador
De tu divino rostro la belleza al dejar
Permiteme que vuelva tus plantas a besar;
He quedado O Maria, abrasado en tu amor,
Quedate adios Señora, adios, adios.
Dame tu bendicion, dame tu bendicion.
Madre amorosa prenda de amor
Adios, adios!

While the Tiples was still singing, the People started to Line Up at the Nave, so that they may be able to get up close to the La Naval first. I too hurried to the Nave so that I may Line Up too for the Besa Manto. Here are some Pics of the La Naval that I took before she went down the altar for the Besa Manto:

While we waiting for our turn to go near the La Naval, we took the time to pray the Holy Rosary as one family. It was Praiseworthy for the Dominicans to place a Line for the Elderly Ones and the Sick, at the Left side of the Sanctuary. When we Finished praying the Holy Rosary, I took this time to Observe the Preparations for the Fiesta in the Church. Here are some Pics I took as I was observing the Preparations for the Fiesta in the Church.

The "Baldachino", after the La Naval had went

down.

The Dome of Sto. Domingo

The Sanctuary full of People.

The Sanctuary

The Pipe Organ, half way finished.

Floral Arrangements at the Steps of the Sanctuary

Mang Rolly preparing the Stage wherein the La Naval will be removed her Carozza.

The Altar Table

White Flowers

Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted 

As I stepped on the sanctuary I started to take Pictures of the La Naval from the Front of the Altar Table. I was amazed that I had good shots of her from afar. Here are some pics of her from the Altar Table: