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Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is a deeply significant religious tradition in the Philippines, reflecting the nation’s strong Catholic faith. Observed from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, it commemorates the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ through a variety of sacred rituals and cultural practices. Key events include the Pabasa ng Pasyon, where the life and suffering of Christ are recited or chanted in poetic verse, and solemn processions featuring life-sized statues depicting scenes from the Bible. In some areas, such as Pampanga, dramatic reenactments of Christ’s crucifixion, known as Senakulo, and acts of extreme penitence, like self-flagellation, are performed, demonstrating the intensity of devotion among some Filipinos.

Semana Santa is also a time for reflection, prayer, and family gatherings. Many urban areas slow down or empty as people travel to their hometowns to observe the week with loved ones. Good Friday, in particular, is treated with utmost reverence, with fasting, abstinence, and the cessation of entertainment and work. While the week begins in solemnity, Easter Sunday celebrations bring joy and renewal, symbolizing Christ’s resurrection. The combination of religious fervor, cultural expression, and familial connection makes Semana Santa a profoundly meaningful event in the Philippines.