00:00The Pabasa, a traditional Catholic ritual of chanting the Passion of Christ,
00:04has been an integral part of Holy Week observances for generations.
00:08In San Fernando, Pampanga, this remains a vibrant, deeply rooted tradition
00:12that continues to thrive in both private homes and public spaces,
00:16including churches and chapels.
00:18Our PTV correspondent, Rod Lagusa, tells us more.
00:24The Pabasa is one of the traditional activities held every Holy Week in the province of Pampanga.
00:30Here in San Fernando, those practices are still very much alive,
00:33a deeply rooted tradition that continues to thrive.
00:37According to San Fernando City Tourism and Investment Promotions Officer Ching Pangilina,
00:41the Pabasa consists of chants narrating the Passion and Death of Jesus.
00:45Kasi dati, hindi naman lahat ay may access sa mga liturgical documents, for example.
00:53Kaya yung iba, nagkaroon sila ng sarili nilalang interpretation
00:57or mga version ng Passion of the Christ.
01:01Kaya yung ibang mga families, meron kang makikita, handwritten yung mga script nila.
01:06Minsan, sa bahay-bahay lang nila, o kaya sa mga sityo or purok,
01:10doon sila nagkakaroon ng mga pabasa.
01:13Some are also held in churches or chapels.
01:15One example is at the Santa Lucia Paris Church,
01:18where the tradition continues, typically performed in Kapampangan.
01:21Dapat po, continue siya, bawal siyang putulin.
01:25Kasi dapat, it's Bible to Bible, from cover to cover,
01:30tapos matatapos siya sa isang rosaryo or rosary.
01:33Ganun po siya.
01:34Meron siyang kanya-kanyang tono eh.
01:37Medyo lumaki na siya.
01:39May mga kanya-kanyang tono kung paano nila ito ikakanta.
01:42Pero meron ding mga traditional way na pagkanta ng pabasa.
01:46The youth also take part in pabasa, helping to keep the tradition alive.
01:51It has become a community activity that is practically open to everyone.
01:55Every year po, nagpapabasa po kami.
01:57So hindi po kami nag-susulisit para doon sa mga pagkain po.
02:03So yung mga mismong choir ko po, being the president ng choir sa parokya,
02:08kami-kami po yung nag-aambagambagan para doon sa pabasa at pakain po.
02:15Meanwhile, even before Good Friday,
02:17some residents of Barangay San Pedro Cotuda
02:19have already begun their acts of penitensya or penitence.
02:22One of them is Oliver, who has been doing this for over a decade.
02:26Laki pong katalik po, sir.
02:28Ganun na po yung kasalanan.
02:30Natural naman po sa atin yun.
02:32Wala na pong malinis na tao sa atin.
02:34Dala po ng kinalikayin ko po, sir.
02:37Ginawa ko rin po.
02:38Kasi alam ko po, kasalanan din po ako.
02:41Hindi po ako perfect.
02:42He says that while doing this,
02:44he focuses on prayer
02:45and no longer feels the physical pain of his act of penance.
02:49Rod Legusad from the National TV Network
02:51for a new and better Philippines.
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