A Lenten Procession on Good Friday

Every year on Good Friday, the parish of St. Andrew in Paranaque in Metro Manila holds a traditional lenten procession. Hundreds of parishioners pull and push over 40 hundred-year-old floats along the crowded streets of what some might consider to be amongst the more deprived areas of the city. The statues they carry depict the saints who are said to have played a role in both the life and death of Jesus.

The route they follow is approximately 8 kilometres long and the procession lasts several hours, finishing well after dark. At times the procession is extremely slow moving, as telegraph wires frequently hang down directly in front of the elevated statues, thereby blocking their path. On such occasions, the wires need to be painstakingly raised by individuals accompanying the floats, who carry long wooden poles specially for this purpose. At other times the streets are so narrow that it's almost impossible to move in any direction at all.

I was fortunate to experience this touching event, thanks to the kind invitation of my friend Cari, whose family was responsible for the 5th float in this year's procession.

What I found particularly interesting were the people who lined the different streets which the procession went down. Living in the bubble of the comfort of Fort Bonifacio, it is only rarely that I get the chance to leave its security and venture out across town into the kind of environment that most Filipinos know only too well. Consequently, it was a real pleasure to share in an event which is evidently very close to so many people's hearts. Thank you Cari and Paul for making it possible.

Holy Week in the Philippines

With over 75 million Catholics, a number which is growing steadily each day due to the ever-increasing birthrate, it is scarcely a surprise that Holy Week is commemorated with such intensity throughout the Philippines.

Just two hours north of the capital in the village of San Pedro Cutud, 50,000 tourists from all over the world converge each year on Good Friday to witness a most bizarre and gory spectacle. The day begins with 5,000 masked male barefoot flagellants whipping themselves to demonstrate public penitence for their sins. After this ritual, around a dozen worshippers give thanks to God by volunteering to get nailed to crosses by locals dressed up as Roman centurions. Whips can even be purchased for 300 pesos (around US $8) as rather gruesome souvenirs before the crucifixion ceremony begins.

Thankfully, here in Manila, the public displays of faith by individuals, couples and families are far less extreme. Instead, they are more personal and individualised, and Bonifacio High Street commemorated the occasion by erecting 14 Stations of the Cross.

At various times during Holy Week, long queues formed of people wishing to carry a heavy cross upon their shoulders. 

Others chose to bear the considerable weight of just one part of the cross instead.

At the station commemorating the Garden of Gethsemane, mirrors were placed on the lawns to encourage people to reflect, both literally and metaphorically.

There was an oversized replica of the Crown of Thorns at the station of The Curse.

While visiting the station of the Crucifixion, many took the opportunity to symbolically nail 

a piece of red felt to a large cross.

The station of The Mother encouraged people to give thanks by hanging up pictures of their loved ones.

Having done so in abundance, the photographs generated considerable interest.

Despite the blistering heat, more and more people came to the station of The Cloth to add yet more names to a giant wall of thanksgiving.

And of course, after the last of the 14 stations had been visited, 

there was the obligatory merchandise on sale as well.

Completing a 16k (10 mile) run

Having successfully completed shorter distances in recent months, I decided to try a 16k run.

We assembled at the start line on Manila Bay at 5am on Sunday, 24th March.

The route took us all the way along the seafront past the palm trees.

As the sun came up, it felt good that the finishing line was getting ever closer. 

1 hour and 41 minutes later, after breathing in a mixture of sea air, as well as bus and jeepney fumes from the vehicles which at times were travelling right alongside us, I arrived at the finish line.

If you've ever wondered how much a porker sweats during such a run, just click on the video below to see what happened when I took off my headband. 

Buoyed on by this latest achievement, I'm now planning to compete in my first half marathon 

(21k or 13 miles) in the Fort on Sunday 28th April.

School Camp Talent Night

Excruciatingly painful footage of Teresa, Karoli, Kath, Holly and myself attempting to entertain the kids by boogying on down at the beachfront talent night whilst away at school camp in February 2013. Needless to say a good laugh was had by all.

 

 

Running a 10 kilometre race

During the past week I've competed in my first two 10 kilometres races, both of which took place here in Fort Bonifacio.

On Saturday 23rd February at around 9pm in the evening, I took part in the Manila Color Nite Run. I completed the course in 1 hour and 20 seconds and needless to say, I left copious quantities of sweat in my wake along the route. One of the cameramen managed to cut half of my body off, but he nevertheless succeeded in capturing the perspiration that was continually draining from my body.

On Sunday 3rd March at 5.30am, I was warming up for the start of the 2nd AmCham Schola Run.

I finished the course in in 59 minutes 32 seconds, finishing in 85th place out of 350 runners.
Had I run 5 seconds quicker, I would have received a medal.

As things stand, I'm managing to lead a very active lifestyle which is keeping me fairly fit. In addition to running, I'm taking salsa and Dominican bachata dance lessons, yoga classes and swimming lessons, as well as playing football, going cycling and working out in the gym. I've also adapted my diet to include a lot more protein, as I was beginning to lose muscle in addition to the 20 kilos (3 stone) of flab. I've still got a long way to go before I start to look like Charles Atlas but I certainly feel considerably better, healthier and fitter than I did 6 months ago. Long may that continue!