“Dakip” – a Lenten tradition of Bulakan, Bulacan
March 28, 2013 at Bulakan, Bulacan – ” Dakip ” is a Filipino word which means to arrest or to abduct. This is a special event happens every holy week or lenten season, only in the municipality of Bulakan, Bulacan. From the word itself, you can easily identify what does this event signifies. It is a play that portrays on how Jesus Crist was captured.
According to the residents, it’s been a part of their rich culture. It is just one of their tradition which gives a huge impact to their religious beliefs. Not all the barangays of Bulakan needs to do it, but the local parish is the one who gives location where this event could be held.
According to my research, a group from the local parish will create a list that contains the names of the men who are member of their group. And then they will pick a name of who will be abducted on the selected date (mostly moundy Thursday) at around 6PM. The other group members will find the chosen one and will be brought to the church, where the event will start. It will be followed by repentance while some of the people were hitting the chosen one by a palm leaves. The chosen one will bring the huge cross put on his shoulder and will walk few meters going to a parish church where the play will end.
For this year, I was able to witness how this event was held. Church of Sta. Ana was the start of the play where earlier than 6PM, the people were waiting for the announcement if who’s gonna be the chosen one. While the pasyon singers were doing their job, the number of the crowd multiplied. When the chosen one was ready for his journey, the crowd occupied even the middle of the road holding the rope encircling the members of the play.
Experience the longest and the grandest Lenten procession in the Philippines. An old tradition of the people from Baliuag Bulacan every Holy Wednesday and Good Friday. The more than 90 carroza showcases the life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Obando Fertility Rites is a festival wherein devotees and tourists dance in the streetsin the form of a religious procession with the intent of bearing a child. Most participants of the fertility rites ask and pray to the patron saints for a child, a partner in life or good fortune. The festival is celebrated yearly during the 17th, 18th and 19th of May.
Palm Sunday (The Holy Family)
Linggo ng Palaspas
Palm Sunday is the start of the Holy week, also called Passion Sunday and the Gospel for this Sunday gives us the account of Jesus’ passion, crucifixion and death.
Aside from waving of palm fronds, I don’t know if this is a unique Bulacan tradition, where manangs lay their tapis where the priest will walk, reenacting the same scenario of Jesus’s entry to Jerusalem.
LIBAD FESTIVAL
A fluvial procession of well-decorated pagodas is held on the river every 23rd of June right before the annual town fiesta in honor of St. John the Baptist. Townfolks gaily sing, dance and frenzily douse water to “baptize” passers-by – prepare to get wet.
Region III - Central Luzon 