The most sacred week for every Catholic is always commemorated in meaningful ways, particularly defined by its solemn and introspective traditions.
Filipinos, specifically, are known to carry these customs even today with various cities and towns in the Philippines becoming a staple to the celebration.
In San Pedro City, Laguna Catholic pilgrims from all places and walks of life had all flocked to its famed historical and religious treasure in Barangay Landayan, hoping to be blessed by the miraculous image of the Santo Entierro or Holy Sepulchre.
Located in Diocesan Shrine of Jesus in the Holy Sepulchre, this image – known to devotees as “Lolo Uweng” – drew a massive crowd of devotees for Semana Santa 2026.
The San Pedro City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office recorded a whopping 2.2 million visitors during Holy Week, marking a 700,000 increase from last year’s 1.5 million.
Larger venue
This rather impressive achievement can possibly be attributed to the ongoing construction of the Lolo Uweng Pilgrim Church, a few meters away from the current Santo Sepluchre Parish.
According to Michael Tabuyan of San Pedro City Tourism, Culture, and Arts Office (CTCAO), the much larger venue might have given other devotees the coveted chance to be up close with Lolo Uweng.
“One factor probably apart from the word of mouth is mas marami kasing maa-accommodate si Lolo Uweng sa pahalik. Kasi, kung ikukumpara mo sa current structure na masikip, tapos doon sa pilgrim church na ginagawa ay mas malaki,” he told OpinYon Laguna.
“Baka yung ibang deboto curious din, ano ba itsura nito ng bagong simbahan? So, that may also encourage them na pumunta.”
But what is it exactly that draws these devotees to the religious image for which they just keep showing bigger each year?
The answer can be traced back to the 1930s when the earliest devotion to Lolo Uweng was officially documented.
Stories of miracles and even healings are often the associated aspect to the religious figure whose devotees are proved to be growing more than ever.
“Pero what makes Lolo Uweng unique talaga is yung stories na sa kanya na nagpapagaling siya. Yung mga kwento pati na pag hinahawakan doon nila si Lolo Uweng, parang akala mo tao talaga yung hinahawakan mo.”
Assistance
Personnel from Philippine National Police (PNP) San Pedro and San Pedro City Fire Station had kept the celebration of Catholic pilgrims as safe as possible through their OPLAN Ligtas SUMVAC and Oplan Semana Santa 2026, respectively.
They were also joined by the members of the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO), local barangay officials and reservists from the Reserve Command, Philippine Army in securing San Pedro public areas.
“Since time immemorial naman talaga may coordination naman lagi ang shrine sa City Hall, City Government, patungkol sa mga activities nila Lolo Uweng.
Hindi lang din para pangalagaan yung debosyon or pang-promote ng mga pupunta sa kanya. But also, it shows na mayroong magandang coordination and relations yung dalawa na supposedly under the constitution ay hiwalay na institusyon.”
To officially recognize how significant Lolo Uweng to San Pedro City, the CTCAO submitted a proposal to the city council declaring Lolo Uweng and the Santo Sephulcre Bell as city cultural treasure.
“On the legislative side, pinasa ng Sanggunian yung proposal namin sa office na i-declare si Lolo Uweng and even yung kampana niya as city cultural treasurs.
Sa angle natin, so yun yung pinakamataas na recognition na binibigay natin for cultural properties, considering yung malaking historical, social, and cultural value ni Lolo Uweng sa mga taga-San Pedro.”
And it is true because regardless of someone’s religion, the contribution of Lolo Uweng reaches them as well: from vendors to stall owners.
“Kumikita na sila out of the devotion kay Lolo Uweng ng mga tao sa paligid ng pwesto nila.
Ang implication din kasi is that mas makakatuwang ng shrine ang pamahalaang lungsod, especially our office, sa promotion kay Lolo Uweng as heritage site.
Hindi bilang religious icon or hindi bilang imahen na pangrelihiyoso, kundi through that declaration, kinikilala na ating lungsod yung kontribusyon ni Lolo Uweng sa ating kultura.”