Tradition, religion, and the beach this summer
HOLY WEEK Crucifixion in San Fernando, Pampanga The passion, death, and resurrection of Christ relived on March 21 at San Pedro Cutud. The reenactment of the Via Crucis in the morning of Good Friday is performed by local residents, clad in Roman centurion costumes and peasants' garb of Biblical times. At least three penitents per year, and sometimes more, are nailed to makeshift crosses. For more details, log-on to www.istc.org
Moriones Festival Spend your Holy Week by commemorating Christ's passion and death in Marinduque's famous Moriones Festival. The towns of Boac, Mogpog, and Gasan on the island province are the setting for the celebration on March 17-23. Costumed and masked islanders proceed through the towns to depict the story of the conversion of Longuinus, the Roman centurion who pierced Jesus' side with his spear, and his subsequent beheading. Visit www.events.frommers.com for more information.
BEACHES Let's get away! Looking for an ideal destination for a quiet and relaxing getaway? Puka Shell Beach in Boracay is the best place for you! Puka Beach is the second-largest beach on Boracay Island, with an 800-meter shoreline, and was named after the puka shells that abound in the area. In the 1960s to 1980s, jewelry made by locals from these shells were extremely popular. These puka shells were collected by the island's innovative locals to produce different pieces of jewelry that became extremely popular. For more information, check out boracaytraveldirectory.com.
Beach nuts Coco Beach Island Resort is a sprawling 10-hectare beach resort with facilities made from all-natural materials. Everything is designed to compliment each facility and its natural surroundings, making it an idyllic place to recharge frayed nerves this summer. Coco Beach offers the largest facilities in Puerto Galera with its 96 rooms made of native materials, four in-house restaurants, swimming pool with jacuzzi, sports facilities, and many more. For inquiries and reservations, e-mail them at resort@cocobeach.com.
EXHIBIT Shrouded in mystery Philippine exhibition of The Mystery of the Shroud of Turin reaches Cebu on April 4-7. Revered for hundreds of years as the burial shroud of Jesus Christ, the Shroud of Turin is locked away in a cathedral in Italy, publicly displayed only three or four times a century. On these rare occasions, pilgrims from all over the world troop to Turin to witness the exposition. However, Filipinos particularly the Cebuanos need not wait until the next official exposition in 2025, as they have the chance to view the replica of this artifact from the collection of an official documenting photographer, Mr. Barrie Schwortz commissioned by King Umberto II of Savoy, the Shroud's previous monarch-owner. The exhibit will be at the Cebu Trade Hall. For more information, call Shroud Exhibits International at +632-895-2966 or +632-610-0870, or e-mail them at info@shroudexhibits.com. Compiled by Gayleen Caballero |
