BY HELEN J. CATALBAS
THE MUNICIPALITY of Buenavista is one of the five (5) municipalities that comprise the island province of Guimaras. Buenavista wharf is a pleasant 15-minute fiber boat and Yohan Express ride from Parola wharf in Iloilo City. From Buenavista wharf, one can take a tricycle, passenger jeepney or pre-arranged van to his/her point of interest in the municipality.
The other municipalities with Lenten presentations are San Lorenzo (Pamalandong sa Tamburong) and Jordan (Pagtaltal sa Jordan). The municipalities of Sibunag and Nueva Valencia have their own Lenten observances organized by their respective churches.
As discussed in the previous issue of this column, the Semana Santa sa Buenavista is now on its 10th year, Buenavista’s Worship Festival was initiated in 2014 by the local government unit together with the Department of Tourism Region VI fully supported by 13 out of 15 religious denominations happily co-existing with and despite each other in the oldest town of Guimaras province that is Buenavista, known in the olden times as “Tilad”.
Here are the different activities prepared for this year’s Worship Festival:
Palm Sunday, April 2, a Christian feast day, marks the beginning of Semana Santa sa Buenavista (Worship Festival 2023), the Holy Week. The day’s activities include: 7:30 a.m. – Triumphal Entry at Heroes Park by LGU Buenavista, 2 p.m. – Children’s Day Honoring Jesus at Municipal Gym by Mt. Zion Foursquare, 6:30 p.m. – St. Isidore Musical Presentation at Heroes Park by St. Isidore the Worker Parish Church.
Holy Monday, April 3, is the second day of Holy Week, has a 6:30 p.m. Film Showing at Heroes Park by LGU Buenavista.
April 4 is Holy Tuesday; 9 a.m. – Experiencing God’s Love, Forgiveness and Healing at Municipal Hall by Parish of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, 6:30 p.m. – Music for Christ at Heroes Park by Guimaras Baptist Churches while April 5, Holy Wednesday, has at 6:30 p.m. God’s Love Musical Presentation at Heroes Park by Good Shepherd Baptist Church.
Maundy Thursday is commemorated annually on the Thursday before Easter. This year, it takes place on April 6. The activities for the day are: 9 a.m. – Experiencing God’s Love, Forgiveness and Healing at Municipal Gym by Parish of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, 4:30 p.m. – Pagdakop/Last Supper at Sto. Rosario Car Park by IFI-Parish of the Holy Child, 6 p.m. – Pagdakop/Last Supper at Heroes Park by IFI-Cathedral of our Lady of Salvation.
Good Friday, April 7, is a Christian observance held two days before Easter Sunday. The activities will start at 6 a.m. – Via Crucis at Municipal Plaza by Parish of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, 8 a.m. – Siete Palabras at Christ the King (Agsanayan) by Parish of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, 12 noon – Siete Palabras/Pagtaltal at IFI Old Poblacion by IFI Parish of the Holy Child, 12 noon – Siete Palabras at IFI Salvacion by IFI-Cathedral of our Lady Salvation,12 noon – Siete Palabras at Old Poblacion, 3:30 p.m. –Pinetensya kag Abstinensya at Navalas Church by St. Isidore the Worker Parish Church. April 8 is Holy Saturday, 6 p.m. – Film Showing (Passion of the Christ) at Heroes Park by LGU Buenavista.
Easter Sunday, April 9, the last day of the Holy Week celebration of Semana Santa sa Buenavista. The activities are: 4 a.m. – Pagkita at Salvacion Elem. School by IFI-Cathedral of our Lady of Salvation, 4:30 a.m. – Pagkayab at Sto. Rosario Car Park by IFI-Parish of the Holy Child, 6 a.m. – Easter Egg Hunting at Heroes Park by Parish of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, 6:30 a.m. – Procession sa Pagkita at Municipal Hall by Parish of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, and 6 p.m. – Jesus is Alive Musical Presentation and Concert at Heroes Park by Church of the Foursquare Guimaras Division.
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The writer is retired employee of Phil Dept of Tourism in Western Visayas Region (PDOT-WV) where she was designated in various capacities in more than four decades of government service. She retired as Regional Director of PDOT-WV in 2021. During her tour of duty, she was instrumental in product and market development for the region and the country. Among the milestones of her term of office were connecting the region’s airports and seaports with domestic and international tourism source markets, vital ground level role in the rehabilitation of Boracay Island, evacuation of thousands of stranded domestic and foreign tourists and cooperating with other government agencies in providing aid to displaced tourism workers and distressed tourism businesses in Western Visayas during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic./PN
