What does Easter mean to Filipinos?

Despite of the influence of the globalized consumerist and materialist culture of the West, Filipinos commemorate the Passion of Christ in deep personal and communal reflections.

The Holy Week ends with the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. Resurrection may mean many things to different people but Christians are unanimous in the belief that it is the sum of all teachings regarding redemption and salvation. Easter Sunday is a joyous day for Filipinos. However, it is less festive and pompous than Christmas and town fiesta celebrations.  

The feast of the Risen Christ is the most solemn feast among the festivities in the Philippines. Catholic churches all over the country start the Easter morning celebration with the pre-dawn ritual called Salubong which re-enacts the meeting between Risen Christ and His Mother. And before this pre-dawn re-enactment, the faithful await the resurrection of the Crucified Christ by attending the Easter vigil.

                                                                                                                                     

            Other religious denominations also hold festivities in the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. In spite of their disagreements on traditions and practices, the different Christian churches in the Philippines seem to have a consensus that resurrection should be celebrated on the same day—Easter Sunday.  Indeed, Christ’s resurrection unifies humankind with His great love and sacrifice.

             Resurrection has deep personal meaning to people who suffer from different physical and mental afflictions. It signifies hope for those who suffer from physical and mental pain. It deepens their faith to the Savior whose death in the Cross gives meaning to the pain and suffering that they endure. It heals and delivers them from hopelessness and void. It refreshes the weary hearts and gives clarity to the confuse minds. It lightens the burden of those who have been psychologically beaten by the weight of the world.

            Resurrection has a deep communal meaning in the lives of people who suffered from extreme calamities and misfortunes. One can still feel the grief and loss of those who survived when super typhoon Yolanda flattened the Visayan soil. The insanity and bleakness of the void that engulf the lives of the survivors are simply senseless. The pain and hopelessness were everywhere and seemed endless. How could anyone survive the curse of coming out alive when all others around them have died?

Life would still be meaningless up to this day for those survivors if Christ had not risen from the dead thousand years ago. The resurrection of Jesus deepens their faith in a God who knows all and assures them of bright future in spite of calamities and deaths.  

Resurrection inspires us to act communally so that we could rise together from deprivation and isolation. Christ has risen. We are called to rise with Him and work for the salvation of humankind.