We were fortunate to have Ms. Corazon S. Alvina, as our guest speaker for March. The topic--Cuaresma--was timely: members were taken on a fascinating tour of the Philippines' unique beliefs and practices during that occur during Lent.
Cora is the co-publisher and one of the writers of Cuaresma, a book which focuses on Lent practices in the Philippines. She is an anthropology graduate of the University of the Philippines, president of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, a commissioner for the UNESCO Philippines Culture Committee, member of the executive committee of the NCCA-Committee on Museums, and a friend of the MVP.
The Philippines is the only predominantly Catholic country in Asia. Religious festivities, celebrations and rituals are part of life all over the archipelago. Catholic Filipinos join in the observance of Holy Week or Semana Santa in colorful, traditional and dramatic ways. During Lent, the Pasyon which tells the story of Jesus Christ from his birth to his crucifixion and resurrection, is sung or read publicly in communities. On Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, streets in provinces like Pampanga and Bulacan are filled with people who publicly demonstrate their vows of penitence. Some go through self-flagellation; others reenact the crucifixion and get nailed on the cross. Others participate in passion plays, processions, visits to churches, and vigils. The highlight of course, is the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday which is capped by merrymaking in the spirit of celebration.Why a book that focuses on Lent? (Cuaresma pertains to the 40-days of Lent) Because here you can see the Filipino's reinterpretation of Christianity: the meaning it has for them and how this meaning both approaches and diverges from the position of the Roman catholic Church. The result: pagan elements combined with the Catholic give many religious festivities an original Filipino character.