Bogohanons Commemorated and Celebrated Holy Week: Holy Wednesday

by: Percilito C. Tillor

Since the COVID-19 pandemic was started last March 2019 and some contact activities got into restrictions, and on that year, one of the religious activities of Christians especially the Roman Catholics had been stopped. Today, restrictions are less tightened, after 3 years, the Holy Week was felt by faith believers. In the northern part of Cebu, Bogo City shall have a Holy Week procession where ritual march of clergy and penitents take place in this observance and commemoration of Jesus’ agony, betrayal of Judas, crucifixion, death and his resurrection.

This Holy Wednesday, the Bogohanons conducted procession of different carrozas which depicts the events happened from the agony of Jesus and the Saints who were the witnesses.

Holy Wednesday commemorates the events of betrayal and anointment. On that day of the agony of Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane, the time where Jesus was betrayed by Judas, one of his disciples.

“Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.” Luke 22:3-6

Another important event of Holy Wednesday is the anointment of Jesus at Bethany.

“Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, “To what purpose is this waste?” For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, “Why trouble ye the woman? For she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment in my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, “Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.” Mathhew 26:6-13

All the carrozas showed on that day, and gathered at the quadrangle of the church of Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Vincent Ferrer. The different carrozas were ornamented by flowers. A mass was conducted at 5:15 in the afternoon before the procession and accompanied by priests, religious groups and believers. The procession of passus turn and pass by within Poblacion barangays and going back to the church. This tradition of Bogohanons still alive from past generation until the newest generation. Today's procession depicts how Jesus suffered starting from his agony at Gethsemane until he was scourged at the Pillar. Also, a carroza of Mater Dolorosa which Mary, the Mother of Jesus, sorrowed because of Jesus' pain and suffering and the procession was ended at 7:16 in the evening.