San Pedro City, Laguna has long been known as the “Quiapo of Laguna,” primarily due to the Lolo Uweng Shrine that once again drew thousands of Catholics in commemoration of Holy Week from April 13 to 20.
But San Pedrense Catholics’ devotion and faith transcended beyond the Lolo Uweng Shrine, as all 15 Roman Catholic parishes in the city witnessed a renewal of the diverse traditions that had long marked the Lenten season in the Philippines.
Some of these traditions included the Viernes de Dolores Procession, the Pabasa or chanting of the Pasyon, the Estasyon Heneral, the Visita Iglesia, Senakulo, Siete Palabras, Tenebrae, Prusisyon ng Paglilibing, Prusisyon ng Soledad, and Salubong.
Lenten Pilgrimage
One of the most popular Holy Week destinations in San Pedro is Barangay Landayan’s Diocesan Shrine of Jesus in the Holy Sepulchre, which hosts the miraculous image of the dead Jesus Christ that locals call as “Lolo Uweng.”
Every Holy Tuesday, the Shrine conducts the Maringal na Pagbibihis Kay Lolo Uweng, or the ceremonial cleaning of the image and the changing of its garments for the Holy Week celebrations.
During Holy Thursday and Good Friday, numerous devotees conduct the “Alay Lakad,” a pilgrimage by foot from various locations.
Another church in San Pedro that is being frequented by pilgrims is San Pedro Apostol Parish in Barangay Nueva, dubbed as the City’s oldest parish church and home of the famed Krus ng San Pedro Tunasan.
The Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in United San Pedro Subdivision is also visited by pilgrims this year due to its status as one of the Jubilee churches of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo.
According to reports compiled by the city government, a record 500,000 to 2 million pilgrims transited in various San Pedro churches this year, majority of which visited the Lolo Uweng Shrine.
LGU preparation
Among the City Government offices deployed to monitor the Holy Week celebrations are the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO), the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO), the City Tourism, Culture, and Arts Office (CTCAO), and the Public Affairs and Information Office (PAIO).
Also deployed in different pilgrimage sites are the members of the San Pedro Component City Police Station and the San Pedro City Fire Station.
As part of the City’s public safety sector, the CDRRMO, POSO, PNP and BFP deployed personnel in different churches and public places to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.
The PAIO focused on providing the general public the necessary announcements and updates on the Holy Week Celebrations in San Pedro.
On the other hand, the City Tourism, Culture, and Arts Office published online features on the different Lenten traditions conducted in the City of San Pedro, as well as providing media coverage of these traditions in selected parishes within the city.
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