Text and photos By AMIEL MARK CAGAYAN
HOLY Week, which commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is a sacred tradition for Christians. It takes deeper meaning in a community where majority of the population belong to the Islam faith.
In Upi, Maguindanao, Christians comprise about 40 percent of the over 45,000 population. There are also the Lumads, who belong to indigenous tribal groups that are neither Christians nor Muslim.
The church of San Isidro Parish in Upi was the center of religious activities during the 40-day season of Lent starting from Ash Wednesday on February 22 through Easter Sunday on April 8. Palm Sunday saw parishioners recalling Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Towards the end of the week, the mood became somber as they re-enacted the passion of Jesus through the 14 Stations of the Cross until his crucifixion.
The atmosphere in Upi was solemn as Muslims and Lumads joined the Christians in meditating on the life of Jesus Christ. Only a handful of pedestrians can be seen on the streets. Business activities slowed down. Even the public market was quiet.
Muslim businessman Samsuddin Ismael said, “Para sa amin si Hesus ay isang propeta. Pero hindi namin pinipilit sila sa paniniwala namin.Kaya kapag Holy week, alam namin importante din yan sa kanila. Parang Ramadan namin. Kaya irespeto din namin sila. (To us, Jesus is a prophet. But we will not impose our belief on them. We know that Holy Week is important to them. It’s like our Ramadan. We respect them.)”
Rogelio Claudio, a Teduray Lumad, said “Para sa akin isa ang pagiging spiritual para magkaintindihan ang mga tao at maging maganda ang relasyon namin sa isa’t isa. Kaya nakiki-isa ako sa aming mga kapatid na Kristiyano sa kanilang selebrasyon ng Holy Week. Lahat kami ay taga-Upi din kaya pantay-pantay ang tingin dito ano man ang religion mo. (To me being spiritual is the key for people to understand each other and have good relations with each and everyone. We join our Christian brothers in their celebration of Holy Week. All of us in Upi are equal regardless of religion.)”
Upi is again bustling. Muslims, Christians, Lumads, acknowledging their religious differences, respecting each one’s beliefs, united in their diversity.
