NCAA player Justine Sanchez talks about his Holy Week panata and an answered prayer

Many Filipinos mark Holy Week in different ways.

Among the common practices during the Holy Week are Visita Iglesia and Pabasa, while some undergo flagellation.

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde's Justine Sanchez, meanwhile, carries a life-size image of the cross while going through more than 10 Pabasa sessions in their area in Tarlac City.

 

 

 

 

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Sanchez recalled that he started doing this less than ten years ago as a continuation of a family tradition.

"I asked my titos and lolos bakit sila naggaganon. Para sa kanila, they're doing that kasi 'yung sacrifice na inaalay nila, 'yung prayer na binubuhos namin, 'pag ginagawa namin 'yun, alam mo 'yung feeling pag pista ng Santo Niño o Nazareno sa Quiapo, lahat ng struggle, lahat ng prayers, lahat ng kinikimkim, d'un namin binubuhos," Sanchez told GMA News Online.

"After noon, we feel so blessed, sobrang gaan sa pakiramdam kasi lahat ng dilemmas, problema and all, 'yun 'yung way namin to communicate with God during ginagawa namin 'yun."

[I asked my uncles and grandparents why they do that. For them, they're doing that because of the sacrifice that they offer, the prayers we pour in, when we do that, you know the feeling when it's the feast of Santo Niño or Nazareno in Quiapo, all of the struggles, all of the players, everything we hold in, that's where we put in... After that, we feel so blessed, we feels so light because all of the dilemmas, problems and all, that's our way to communicate with God when do that.]

While the image of the cross he carries for around three hours also has some weight in it, for Sanchez, it is just a small sacrifice compared to what the one who truly died in the cross had.

Add to that, Sanchez also feels emotional as he listens to every word of the Pabasa.

"'Yung luha, kusa lang tumutulo habang binabasa 'yung bawat letra sa pabasa,'yun nafe-feel ko."

"Marami kasing nagsasabi sa amin na bakit namin ginagaya 'yung ginagawa Niya before, sa'min kasi kung si Lord nga nag-sacrifice, tayo pa bang tao? Ano ba naman ang hirap ng buhay natin [kumpara] sa Kanya?"

[The tears, they come out on their own while every letter of the pabasa is read, that's what I feel... People tell us why are we copying what He did before, for us, if the Lord was able to sacrifice, what about us mortals? How can our struggles in life compare to His?]

Sanchez said among his first prayers while doing the tradition was for his lolo's health.

Now, it has evolved into different types of prayer requests.

"N'ung nawala na siya, pinagpapatuloy ko, pinagpapanata ko lahat ng na-achieve ko, kung nasaan ako ngayon, because of Him," he said.

"Pinagpapanata ko [rin] 'yung sarili ko kasi 'yun nga, each person naman gusto lang maging better."

[When he passed, I continued the panata, everything that I achieved, where I am now is because of Him... It's also about myself because each person wants to become better.]

For him, however, the biggest prayer that was answered was meeting the family of University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs head coach Manu Iñigo who considers him a part of his family.

Sanchez and Iñigo crossed paths when the two were still with the San Beda University high school program.

"'Yung makameet ako ng pamilya na hindi ko naman kadugo, hindi ko kaano-ano, walang dugong nananalaytay sa amin, pero binigay ni Lord 'yung pangarap kong 'yun. Tinanggap nila ako ng buong-buo," he said.

"'Yung family nina Coach Manu, 'yun ang pamilya niya na tumanggap sa akin. From 2017 na nag-start na player niya ako na until now, ginawa niya na akong part ng family nila. Para sa akin, 'yun ang biggest blessing na na-receive ko."

[That I met a family that I'm not connected to by blood, I'm not related to at all, no blood flowing between us, but Lord gave me that dream. They accepted my fully... The family of Coach Manu, that's the family that welcomed me. From 2017 when I started as his player until now, he made me part of his family. For me, that's the biggest blessing I've received.]

Asked what other prayers he also wants to be fulfilled this year, Sanchez said he still wants to be better in the sport and also for his Blazers squad to finally bring home the title.

"Lahat ng struggle na haharapin ko, gagawin ko kasi 'yun ang gusto ko mangyari this season, ipu-push ko sarili ko, 'di ako titigil hanggat di ko nakukuha 'yun."

[All of the struggles I'll face, I'll do it because what I want this season, I'll push myself and I won't stop until I'm able to achieve that.]

—JMB, GMA Integrated News