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this year's holy week has been my first real one in 3 years. the past years in thailand meant working on good friday, without a family to enjoy the break with too. looking back, i missed out on 3 years' worth of staying at home with the family, going thru religious traditions. as this year is my transition time between manila and vancouver, i welcome the visita iglesia, palm sunday, and family easter sunday lunch with much enthusiasm.

celebrating and observing holy week in the philippines is like no other. i had an interesting conversation with a friend a few years back, and we both agree that while filipinos are religious, we tend to focus on the pagan origins of our faith. case in point: wiping statues in church til the paint chips off. i grew up in a catholic school where nuns would boldly rally in edsa, but we were never taught that wiping a statue then wiping it on whatever part of your body would heal you. i don't know, i just don't get it sometimes.

living amongst buddhists, muslims, and non-believers has taught me the value of my faith. it's funny how in the philippines, we tend to categorize people by their religion - and, unknowlingly, judge them blindly for it... and seeing it in the philippines is sad.

in thailand, young people do not bother to go to the temple weekly to pray to their gods - for the simple reason that they have too much to do, and that when they get old and bored, they'll pray. haven't we heard one too many say that about the catholic faith as well?

anyhoo, enough sentiments on religion. i hope everyone had a meaningful holy week - whether or not you spent it in mourning or with your family.