It was my first time to spend the holy week in Bataan. I was supposed to be in Mindoro with my parents but they left while I was taking my final exam in Criminal Law 2. So I missed the Moriones Festival they had there but boyfriend came to save the day asked me to go with his family in Bataan.

Holy week this year was different. For the past years, I spent it with my family either at home or somewhere else. Aside from spending it in Bataan, with the Salazar family, I was able to look at the celebration from an outsider's perspective.

It's not that I'm turning into an atheist or converting into a non-theistic religion. Though I have to say, reading Florin's works, it's not bad not believing in some higher being.

I took this photo in Bataan of a man making a penitensya in the form of what they call Balatbat. I just don't see why they allow this when the body is supposed to be the "temple of the holy spirit". According to boyfriend's cousin, what they do first is cut your skin at the back six times with a blade. And when it's already bleeding, you walk while you hit yourself at the back with a balatbat made of bamboo.

Usually, when you pick a santan flower from a bundle, it has four petals. It's not unusual that you get to see five petals. But it's kinda special alright when it has six.


The Golden Shower tree in front of boyfriend's cousins' house. I want to have one like this when I have a house. :)

Around 11pm to 12 midnight, Saturday to Sunday, they have this program called Salubong for Roman Catholics. People line-up according to their gender, females on one side while males opposite. Then, in a prosisyon, they meet together; the former carrying the Blessed Virgin Mary, the latter, Jesus Christ.

So what's the secular value of Holy Week for minor religions?

Rest, leave, vacation and increase in sales for fisherfolks.

And I'll be back again Bataan for more love. ♥