Abucay, a third class municipality in the Second District of Bataan province, may go down in recent history as the only town where Holy Week activities are elaborately done with some degree of solemnity with emphasis on Christian tradition.

From self-flaggelation or “padugo” performed by young men, chanting of “Pasyon” by the not so young women, to “prusisyon ng libing” to “Pasko ng Pagkabuhay” or Easter Sunday that culminates the Lenten sesson are virtual crowd drawers. The events are filled with sense of religious fervor that need no further explanation for the Catholic faithful.

But Abucay peopled by roughly 43,000 most of whom are Catholics, the idea of these Lenten events is something sacred and has become a part their culture and religious upbringing.

It is in Abucay where one can find one the country’s oldest churches– more than 400-year old structure that weathered world war and natural calamities.

Abucay Mayor Robin Tagle who attended many Holy Week events is happy to note that majority of the townsfolk still looked to the past to maintain rich heritage and religious practices of the town. “Ito po ay isang sagradong karanasan ng pananampalataya,” said the mayor. He added: “Sa gitna ng mga pagsubok, patuloy tayong magkaisa bilang isang komunidad, naglalakbay patungo sa liwanag ng pag-asa at pananampalataya.”

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