Top 6 Religious Places to Visit This Lenten Season

Photo Credit: www.the-works.net

Whether you want to reflect, do acts of penance, or witness the different ways on how Filipinos express their devotion, here are the top 10 places to visit this season of Lent.

1. Moriones Festival, Marinduque

The Moriones refers to the masked and costumed penitents who march around the town for seven days searching for Longinus. Morions roam the streets in town scaring the kids or engaging in antics or surprises to draw attention. This re-enacts the story of Saint Longinus, a Roman centurion who was blind in one eye.

2. Lenten Rites in San Pedro Cutud, Pampanga

Every Good Friday, penitents re-enact of the passion of Christ with the actual nailing on a cross. Apart from the crucifixion, flagellants also walk the streets while beating their backs with wooden sticks—until it bleeds—as an act of penitence.

3. Kapiya Display, Santa Barbara, Iloilo

A Kapiya or tableau of the 14 Stations of the Cross is set-up in places all over the town where the procession would pass through. The tableau can be either human characters or artworks. On Good Friday, people would go around the town to witness the judging of the most unique and beautiful Kapiya along with the most authentic Pasyon (Passions of Christ) Singing.

4. Ang Pagtaltal, Jordan, Guimaras

The feast starts with the re-enactment of the passion of Christ and ends with “Pagtaltal” which means the removal or bringing down the body of Jesus Christ from the cross. It is laid in the arms of Mother Mary, a familiar scene we all know and call as the “Pieta.”

5. Katkat Sakripisyo sa 3003 Steps, Linabo Peak, Dipolog City

Done every Good Friday, Katkat Sakripisyo sa 3003 Steps is a trekking activity done to honor the passion of Christ. During the trekking, devotees climb up 3003 steps as an act of their devotion. Zamboanga del Norte and the neighboring towns are known to join the event.

6. Panaad, Camiguin Island

Panaad is a Holy Week activity in the Island of Camiguin done by walking around the island for a promise. It is a 64-kilometer trekking activity of devotees to show how much one will endure to keep a promise. The 14 Stations of the Cross are also placed around the island as a guide for the whole walk.