his year, as Easter approaches, the Churches in the Philippines are suddenly full of politicians and soldiers: the politicians for propaganda reasons in view of the 10 May presidential election; the soldiers to avoid eventual terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists”. It is with slight irony and a pinch of bitterness that Father Angelo Calvo, Claretian missionary in Zamboanga, in the southern Philippines, tells MISNA how his land is living the Easter period.
“In reality – he continues – the Filipino people are very religious, in these days there is an atmosphere of silence and devotion, and the entire nation will practically remain paralyzed until next Tuesday. Even the election campaign was suspended, but the politicians don’t miss a single occasion to be seen. Yesterday, here in Zamboanga, all the candidates for mayor of the city attended the mass celebrated by the Bishop.
The Filipino people are very religious, in these days there is an atmosphere of silence and devotion, and the entire nation will practically remain paralyzed... Even the election campaign was suspended, but the politicians don’t miss a single occasion to be seen.
The same thing is occurring on a national level: they are taking part in religious processions and gatherings, in a certain sense all part of the show”. Other ‘surprise’ guests of the masses celebrated in these days are representatives of the security forces, particularly in the southern zones like Zamboanga infested with Islamic rebels of the ‘Abu Sayyaf’ group, that often conduct acts of violence and abductions.
“With the nearing of the religious festivities – continues Fr. Calvo, missionary of Spanish origin - the population is increasingly gripped by a phobia of terrorist attacks. Reason for the large-scale deployment of security forces in holy sites. But, in my view, it is funny to see the Churches suddenly filled with soldiers”. Aside from the political propaganda and anti-terrorism security measures, a large part of Filipinos live the Easter festivities with intensity and faith. “This population above all feels the Passion of Christ, more than the Resurrection, due to the constant sufferance they face on a daily basis, identifying mainly with the sufferance of Our Lord and his cross.
In some cases these are very preoccupying phenomena, such as the violent popular tradition, disapproved by the Catholic Church, practiced each year on a little hill near the city of Cutud, 50 miles north of Manila, when on Good Friday some people are crucified. Fortunately over here in the south this does not happen, it really does not cross our minds, maybe because there are so many problems that it is as if we are crucified every day”.
(From MISNA)