Caridad at Penitensya; Prusisyon.

I would normally join the Good Friday procession with Ate Joy, just like what we did last year. However, things got a little bit more - fulfilling and exciting this year. I was invited (actually, I think I invited myself) by Kim to join her in doing their Good Friday tradition, which is to give out fresh eggs (caridad) to those who are doing Penitensya. 

My concern was: KUYA, BAD SUN NA YAN E!

Akala ko talaga, they were hitting the back, yung pwet pala

I never really had a close encounter with people practicing this tradition, since mama wouldn't allow for us to see it. I joked Kim that the reason why I was excited to participate is because I'm tired of seeing and experiencing mental pain (from school) and it would be nice to see an actual, physical pain for a change. Of course, this may be half-meant but the main reason is that, I would like to see for myself the passion of Filipinos in living up with our Catholic tradition. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Nanay, Ate, Dete, Kim, and the rest of their wonderful family, for having (and feeding) us this Good Friday. Nanay cooked a sumptuous lunch with her Sinigang na Hipon, Inihaw na Bangus, and Minatamis na Kamoteng Kahoy. I'm looking forward to next year's Good Friday #abuso 

Ilocos Loves without Abby

Ms. Tanza and Ms. Sipac-Almacen (naalala mo to Kim?)

I was thinking of ditching the procession because of the wonderful opportunity given to me (to be part of another's Holy Week Tradition) and on our way home, I was already feeling guilty about it. Upon reaching San Ildefonso Church, we saw our cousin MJ and our Tita Emily with Tito Ramon, we were just going to ask if the procession had ended already since last year, I vividly remember that it ended early. To my delight, they said that it will just begin. AS IN, we were right on time. We got a few minutes to spare to look for vigil candles. 

As most of the streets of Navotas City are under repair, the route of procession was different and shorter than last year's. Moreover, when we were already at the chapel where the Senior Nazareno will be buried, we saw that the Senior Nazareno of Bangkulasi was already following the San Ildefonso procession. GUESS WHAT WE ENDED UP DOING! Yep, that's right! We also joined the Senior Nazareno's procession, which I can definitely confirm, was way longer than I was expecting it to be. 

The San Ildefonso procession started around 4:30PM and ended around 5:30-ish. While we later joined the Senior Nazareno's procession around that time and it ended around 8PM. Our tita's were already "looking" for us and ended up serving us dinner after hearing what we did. And I'm not really complaining how tiring the long walk was. But seeing this on my phone got me frustrated...

I mean, come on! Chos, love you

ANYWHO! 

Despite your (haha, hi reader) dismay that all I did was to "have fun", I actually did a little reflection of my own while doing this things, plus an unsolicited but noteworthy realization shared by my Tita Emily on our way home. 

Ikaw, how's your Good Friday?