Good Friday to Black Batday

Do we commemorate or celebrate Holy Week? I have been reflecting on this question for several years already since we Filipinos appear to have a divided way of spending our Holy Week. The Philippines being composed mostly of Catholics, there is on one hand the group of Catholic Filipinos that commemorate the Holy Week by doing religious customs such as doing the Visita Iglesia, abstaining from meat, fasting and doing penetensya. Then, on the other hand, there is the other group that acts like weekend warriors who goes to the beach to relax and have fun. It is important for Catholics to recognize these religious customs as an exercise of our faith. But Holy Week is also a rare occasion that most people are relieved from their stressful work. I really wanted to visit places like Pampangga to witness how they perform the penetensya and conduct a Visita Iglesia along the way. This year however, I was inclined towards the group that celebrates Holy Week. Towards those who go out of town to relax, unwind and have fun.

This year, as well as the other previous years, my relatives from my father’s side went to Pansol, Laguna for the Holy Week. What made it different however was that my uncle Ed and aunts Purita and Lorna were able to join us. Also, my palangga Jordana was likewise able to join us this year and that Mike has finally invited his fiancé to come; no more early trips back to Manila for Mike.

But this is not the reason why I belong to the group of defiant Catholics. After several years of visiting Pansol for the Holy Week, our trip there this year was already more like a routine than a celebration. My celebration of Holy Week happened in Sierra Lakes Subdivision in Caliraya, Laguna with my palangga, BJ and Det, and several new and old friends; a small subgroup of the much larger group of defiant Catholics.


This group of defiant and happy Catholics coined The Black Bats, celebrated Holy Week by the lake where they constantly held a glass of alcohol on one hand and a stick of nicotine on the other. We did initially exercised abstinence from meat but the alcohol intoxication eventually left the group no choice but to swallow anything that could relieve their hunger including pork. Spam and Maling are great instant hunger relievers. Yet, what really made our trip to Caliraya a celebration was the entertaining and lighthearted atmosphere that the group created.


To the members of the Black Bat, I am very glad to have met all of you and I am looking forward in spending more alcoholic nights with the group. Haaappy Beeerth Daaay Tooo Youuuuu! Cheers!