Faith, family, etc: Or how the stars mark Holy Week

RUFFA GUTIERREZ-BEKTAS "Before kasi, the whole family will go up to Baguio. Kahit na wala ako madalas sa Pilipinas, I still value the tradition of Holy Week na kailangan maging solemn tayo. Walang party-party, walang labas-labas. 'Coz I believe this week is a time for prayer, a time for being alone, and you know, just reflecting on all your bad things you've done and try to make them better. "So I think this will be a perfect time for me to read all the books that my Christian friends have had given me—you know being a good wife, being a good mom, being a better person. Kahit na bakasyon kami, dadalhin ko yung mga bata sa Disneyland ‘pag Good Friday at saka Black Saturday. It's really a time for prayer." MATET DE LEON "Dati sa mommy ko, ang ginagawa namin ay nagdadasal kami at nanonood ng religious movies. Pinapanood kami ng mommy ko." SANDARA PARK "Wala akong religion kaya wala kaming alam. Hindi namin alam, e." JOSEPH BITANGCOL "Ano lang, church visit at saka pray lang kami whole family sa bahay. Sa pagkain, wala namang tradisyon-tradisyon, kumakain pa rin kami ng karne." DANICA SOTTO-PINGRIS "Noon, kadalasan umaalis kami with my family—sila Oyo [Sotto, her brother], sila Mommy [Dina Bonnevie]. Sa Palawan kami for the last two Lenten seasons. Vacation lang, read Bible. Pero pagdating sa pagkain, di naman kami nagpa-fast." PHOEMELA BARANDA "Traditionally, pumupunta kami ng Laguna with my Mom. Sa Majayjay [Laguna] lang, sama-sama lang kami, simba. Actually, nagkikita-kita lang kaming magka-kapamilya. Pinapauso ko sa Laguna ang Easter egg hunting. Nakakatuwa kasi ang mga bata, binibigyan ko ng prize ang mga nakakakuha." BOY ABUNDA "Ang tradisyon, Bisita Iglesia. Siyempre ang nanay sinusunod namin, kahit saan kami, kahit kami ay nasa Boracay, nag-i-station of the cross, nag-a-attend ng mass, muni-muni. Ako ang paniniwala ko lang, Holy Week is a time for prayer, for intercession. Admittedly being with the family, resting habang nagdadasal and that's possible." ROXANNE GUINOO "Ayaw ng Mama ko na nagi-enjoy kami kapag Holy Week, except yung araw ng pagkabuhay. Wala kaming enjoy-enjoy. Hindi kami kumakain ng baboy, tradisyon talaga." SAM MILBY "Sa States, wala, parang hindi sila nagse-celebrate... Parang Easter Sunday para sa mga bata. Di ba, you hide the painted Easter eggs? Ganun lang. Pero dito, nag-visit ako isang beses lang. Yung unang taon na dumating ako, 2005—mga sampung simbahan sa Plaridel, Bulacan, kasama ang mga pinsan, 'yong mga tito and tita sa bahay nila, nandoon for tatlong buwan." GEOFF EIGENMANN "Before, we usually go to the beach, ganun lang. Basta magkakasama lang kami going to church and all that." NIKKI GIL "Kami kasi, we respect it but we see na all the days of your life, dapat holy, di ba? If you're going to love God, hindi lang isang linggo kundi buong buhay mo. So we respect, but we don't really celebrate any ritual or whatever." UMA KHUONY "We don't observe it kasi Muslim ako, e." ASIA AGCAOILI "When I was young, my family spent Holy Week going to church, watching Jesus Christ's crucifixion every year and we were told not to make any noise. Personally and truthfully, I feel like being solemn with the Lord should not be spent tediously on this specific week. I think your personal conviction should always be observed every day. God does not have to see you suffer this much, and surely we're not saviors ourselves to be crucified. He did that already for our sins. I think a simple, sincere, quiet prayer that comes from the heart in any day and time would be appreciated." - Philippine Entertainment Portal