Catholic faithful welcome Easter through 'Salubong'

Filipino Catholics on early Sunday morning celebrated Jesus’ resurrection through a Holy Mass and the conduct of the traditional “Salubong” which reenacted the expected encounter of the risen Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

At the Manila Cathedral, Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula led the Easter Vigil mass.

Advincula, in his Easter message, said that it is the time to open people’s eyes to Jesus who is now alive, and to renew their faith in Him.

“He is not a figure or a character from the past. He is with us as He was with the apostille and His early followers. He lives and walks with us. He calls us to follow Him. He invites us to turn away from our sinful lives and walk the path to life and eternity,” the archbishop said.

“Easter is a moment to accept the new life that Jesus is giving to everyone. He conquered sin and death. And he is assuring us that we can do the same. He is offering us a chance to live again and rise from our afflictions and failures,” he added.

Advincula also urged the Catholic faithful to continue to grow in faith and love, and be a beacon of hope for all.

Devotees of the Black Nazarene also flocked the Quiapo Church on Easter Sunday, based on the Super Radyo dzBB report of Jhomer Apresto.

LOOK: “Encuentro” o “Salubong” sa Quiapo Church sa Maynila ngayong ipinagdiriwang ng mga mananampalatayang Katoliko ang Pasko ng Pagkabuhay. | via @jhomer_apresto, @gmanews pic.twitter.com/6QB7hCVTGe

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) March 30, 2024

The first mass started at 5 a.m., which was led by Reverend Fr. Robert Arellano. Masses are scheduled every hour, and the last one will be at 7 p.m.

Separate masses were also held at the Sto. Domingo Church, Sacred Heart Shrine Parish, St. Anthony Shrine, San Agustin Church, and the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto.

CamSur, Quezon

In Del Gallego, Camarines Sur, the traditional “Pagtunton” or “Salubong” was held at the Parish of Sta. Rita de Cascia, which was attended by many people.

Featured in the celebration were children portraying young angels being lowered from the arch of the church. They all recited a poem for the Virgin Mary.

Along with the singing of Alleluia, another angel child removed the black veil covering Mary’s face, signifying that the Blessed Virgin already knew that her son was alive.

The Salubong in the parish ended with a Holy Mass.

The Blessed Virgin of Lourdes Parish in Tagkawayan, Quezon was also filled with churchgoers during the Easter Vigil Mass and “Salubong.”

People entered the church with only their candles as the source of light as all the lights in the church were turned off.

A few minutes before 12:00 midnight, the lights were turned on while the song of Christ's resurrection was being sung.

During the Holy Mass, there was also a renewal of baptismal promises, and everyone was blessed with holy water.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Easter Sunday urged Filipino Christians to ''live a Christ-like life” as they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

“Today, we remember the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus Christ to humanity—that he will rise again and deliver eternal salvation for all,” Marcos said in a statement.

Holy Week fell on March 24–31 this year. —with a report from Peewee Bacuño/KG, GMA Integrated News