Salubong 2011

It was 4:00 am when my brother woke me up to tell me that it is time to go the the Plaza to see the Annual Easter Salubong. Salubong in Tagalog literally means come across or meet at a certain point. This is an annual Filipino Catholic Tradition where there are two Processions, the ladies together with the Virgin Mary with the Black Veil and the Men together with the Risen Christ. They will roam around a certain route until they meet at a certain point in the Town Proper.

At the point where they will meet, Angels will start singing the Regina Coeli, a Latin Prayer which is substituted to the Angelus every Easter. It goes something like this:

Regina coeli, laetare, alleluia:

Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia.

Resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia.

Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, Alleluia,

Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.

Then in the middle of the Celebration, a little boy will be reciting a poem about the Resurrection of Christ and the lead Angel will be removing the Black Veil of the Virgin Mary showing that the Virgin Mary has now rejoiced at the sight of His Son. After that, Christ and Mary together with all the devout parishoners will march together on their way to the Church at the sound of the karakol, a traditional Filipino Band March that is done and danced along the streets every Town Fiesta.

This is truly one of the best parts of the Holy Week in the Philippines, People gather to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. Being a Christian, I have always believed that these are just rituals and commemorations that truly shows how rich the Filipino culture is and how relevant the Spanish People have influenced Filipino Traditions then and up until now.

Mabuhay si Hesus! Sapagkat sya ay muling nabuhay! At mabubuhay magpakailanman!

Long Live Jesus! For He has risen! And will reign forever!