Camareros prepare the beautiful carrozas with the  life-size religious images which are part of the Baliwag, Bulacan Procession that will happen later at 6 pm.

MANILA — For as long as 50-year-old Ma. Victoria Tengco-Burgos can remember, she has been participating in Holy Week processions in her hometown of Baliwag, Bulacan.

It is one of the religious activities her family has always participated in thanks to her devout grandmother.

Victoria embraced that faith and today, the Tengco family is known in Baliwag as one of the families with the most number of carrozas or “karo” with various religious images. They are also called  “camareros” or people who take care of images.

For the Holy Week Procession or “Prusisyon ng mga tagpo sa buhay ng ating Panginoong Hesukristo” on Holy Wednesday, five of the 11 carrozas of the family are included.

“Siguro po ito po yung paraan ng pasasalamat din namin, ng pamilya po sa mga blessings din po na natatanggap namin. Kami po noong bata na-train na nagtutuhog ng sampaguita. ‘Di ba po kapag Holy Week ‘yung iba umaalis, out of the country, kami po talaga nandito talaga nagpu-prusisyon,” Victoria shared.  

(Maybe this is our way to thank the Lord for all the blessings that we receive. When we were young, we were trained to make “sampaguita” garlands. Others, during Holy Week, travel, go out of the country. We stay and take part in processions.”

It takes much devotion for anyone to be a camarero, especially since it costs a lot.

According to Brother Keno Enrile, head organizer of the procession, a carroza ranges from P50,000 to millions of pesos depending on the size, design, and number of images.

Despite this, Victoria says it is part of their devotion and tradition which is why they are passing it on to the younger members of their family.

“‘Yung pag-aayos po, ‘yung mula sa puso, hindi ‘yung kaya mo lang ginagawa para mapansin ka, makita,” Victoria stated. “Ine-encourage din po nito ‘yung mga kabataan sa generation naman po nila na ipagpatuloy din po nila ito.”

(This is something that’s done through the goodness of your heart, not something you do just to be noticed. We also encourage the youth to continue this.)

OLDEST AND GRANDEST HOLY WEEK PROCESSION

Baliwag’s Holy Week procession dates back to the 1800s. It is considered as the longest and grandest Holy Week procession in the country, according to Enrile.

This Holy Wednesday, 123 carrozas are participating.

Enrile calls it a “moving catechism” since they hope to teach the public about Christ’s life, sacrifices, and suffering through the procession.

“Sa gawain pong ito ay inaalala po namin mula sa misyon ni Kristo, sa Kanyang pagpapakasakit hanggang sa kamatayan. Ito rin po yung pagkakataon ng mga taga-Baliwag para mag-reunion,” Enrile remarked.

(Through this activity, we are reminded of the mission of Christ, of His sacrifice until His death. This is also a chance for Baliwag residents to get together and have a reunion.”)  

The procession is expected to last for three hours with certain roads being closed.

Father Prince Marcelo, parish vicar of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Saint Augustine, hopes the Lord’s words will touch Filipinos through this solemn celebration.

“The message of Jesus remains constant. Kaya natin pinapaalala, kaya tayo nagdiriwang ng ganito, to remind us that God is love. Ang Diyos ay pag-ibig. Kung hindi tayo mahal ng Diyos, hindi Niya gagawin ang lahat ng ito. Now more than ever, maraming naghihirap, maraming nangangailangan, it remains to be an invitation to us to follow the example of the Lord,” Marcelo said.

(The message of Jesus remains constant. The reason why we remind, why we celebrate, is to remind us that God is love. God is love. If He doesn’t love us, He will not do all of these. Now more than ever, many are poor, many are in need, it remains to be an invitation to us to follow the example of the Lord.)