The Evolution of Holy Week Processional Images in San Mateo

“La Oracion en el Huerto” known as “Panalangin” is considered as one of the oldest Holy week processional image in San Mateo, under the care of Mary Cabada and Family. The image depicts the Agony of Jesus in the Garden of Getsemani. (PHOTO: Gian Mariano)

San Mateo is identified for its antiquity and religiosity of its folks. Growing up in San Mateo, I’ve witnessed various religious traditions inherited from our forefathers and performed during the Lenten season such as Pabasa, Istasyon, Visita Iglesia, Senakulo, and prusisyon. The Holy week in our town is perhaps the most hectic period of the year in the Parish

Century old image of Virgen Dolorosa of Familia Diamante. (PHOTO: Traveler on Foot)

The Holy week procession is the main highlight of “Mahal na Araw” in San Mateo. The procession is an old custom of the Catholic Church influenced by the Spaniards during the Spanish colonial period in the island. The main purpose of the said procession is to depict the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord.

There are 3 major processions in the parish during Holy Week. It starts every Holy Wednesday also known as “Prusisyon ng Pagpapakasakit” that focuses on the Passion and suffering of Christ. Next is the“Prusisyon ng Paglilibing” during Holy Friday. It is considered as the biggest procession among the three. The main highlight is the images of Mater Dolorosa and Santo Sepulcro (Entierro). And finally the Lingo ng Pagkabuhay procession known as “Salubong”. It focuses on the Resurrection of Christ and the first encounter of Virgen Alegria to the Risen Christ on the early dawn of Easter.

In San Mateo, there is no precise record when the procession first began and how many images were included at the time, because there are some images that was destroyed during the Second World War. Meanwhile, the surviving images serve as the fundamental instrument to revive and continue the Holy week procession up until in the present.

According to Randy Florencio (the head of Recamaderos), after the liberation until 1976, there were only 10 images regularly joining the procession at that instant: San Pedro, Veronica, Maria Magdalena, San Juan, Virgen dela Soledad, Virgen Dolorosa, Santo Sepulcro, Panalangin, Jesus Nazareno, and Pagkabuhay.  In addition, Our Lady of Aranzazu Parish is the only church in San Mateo at that time.

At the present, San Mateo is divided in 5 parishes but it never become a hindrance to the increasing numbers of participating images of Holy week procession. In fact, our parish is considered to be the largest Holy week procession in San Mateo and other nearby towns.

The antique image of Santo Sepulchro of Luis Diaz and Family. (PHOTO: Joboy Manuel)

In the year 1977, the image of Ecce Homo was included, followed by Maria Salome (1981), and La Pieta (1982). During the 90’s, the parishioners suggested to add more images in the procession especially the image of San Mateo (Patron of Dulong Bayan), and followed by Habilin (1993), San Lucas (1995), Maria Cleofe (1999), and Maria Jacobe (2001).

In 2001, it reached a total number of 18 images. The parish published a souvenir book entitled “Debosyon at Kasaysayan” that features the Holy week images and its history. In 2002, the images such as: Santa Marta, San Marcos, and Paghampas was added to the roster. It was also in the same year when the first Lenten exhibit was held that resulted to inspire many families and private individuals to commission a new image for the procession.

In 2003, the images of the 12 apostles of Christ were completed (Andres, Santiagong Matanda, Felipe, Bartolome, Tomas, Santiagong Bata, Judas Tadeo, and Simon Zelotes). Also included in the scene of Christ are the images of: Matagumpay na Pagpasok sa Herusalem, Huling Hapunan, Pagkanulo ni Judas, Pagtulong ni Simon Cireneo, Jesus at Nananaghoy na kababaihan ng Herusalem, and Paghuhubad.

Two additional scene in 2004-Pagtatagpo nina Jesus at Maria, and Pagpapako sa Krus. Followed by the images of Pagbubuhos ng Pabango, Pag ulos ng tagiliran, Pagtatanggal kay Hesus sa Krus, and the image of Maria ng Betania, Juana, and Lazaro in 2005.

The processional images of the 12 Apostles of Christ: (L-R) Pedro, Andres, Santiago Mayor, Felipe, Bartolome, Tomas, Mateo, Santiago Menor, Judas Tadeo, Simon Zelotes, Matias, and Juan. (PHOTO: Mga Imahen: Debosyon at Kasaysayan)

The growing numbers of Holy week processional images in our parish also offered interest to some aspiring camareros to have their own Santo. In 2006, another 9 images was included: San Matias, Jose ng Arimatea, and Nicodemo. The passion of Christ’s scenes: Paghuhugas ng paa, Pagpuputong ng koronang tinik, Jesus Dismayado, Paghatol ni Pilato, Pagpapasan ng Krus, Ang Pagkasubasob, and the new image of Pagtatagpo nina Jesus at Maria.

In 2007, the scene of Pagkauhaw, and the characters of Jose Barsabas Justo, Cleofas, Maria ng Jerusalem, and Susana also participated in the annual procession. Another group of new images was added in 2008 such as: Simeon ng Jerusalem, Babaeng Samaritana, Pagpipiring, Pagdadamit ng Maringal, Virgen dela Aurora, and followed by Paglilibing in 2010.

The insertion of Holy week images was temporarily discontinued until in 2013, the images of Ikalawang Pagkadapa, and Señor Sto. Cristo was included, followed in 2014 by the image of Pagtangis ni Jesus sa Jerusalem. In 2015, Longhino and Pagpapahid ni Veronica. 2016, Dimas and Simon Cireneo, and the scene of Pagharap kay Anas and Pagharap kay Kaipas, Pamamaalam ni Jesus kay Maria. In 2017, Pagdakip, Pagtanggap ni Jesus sa Kamatayan, and Pagkauhaw.

This year 2018, there are total of 78 processional images including the two new participating images of: Ang Nahatulang Hesus and Pagtanggap ni Hesus ng Krus.

Santa Veronica on her antique silver carroza of Familia Jasminez.

The ornate carrozas are part of the long-running tradition in San Mateo. Families and private individual recamaderos exerts effort and money to shoulder the annual expenses of the carroza and sacred images that became part of their lives. Indeed, this rich and colorful traditions of Holy week commemoration in our town affirms the flourishing spirituality of our town’s people that will preserve our culture and history from age to age.

(SOURCE: Randy Florencio, Recmaderos delos Imagenes en la Parroquia dela Virgen de Aranzazu)