Everything Under the Moon and Sun

Palaspas

So bukod sa April Fools Day, today is also Palm Sunday. As I usually do every Sunday, I went to church. And as usual, I’m alone (well, I prefer to hear mass alone).  It was my second time to attend Palm Sunday mass since I wasn’t used to attending masses during Lenten Season. The first one was in Baguio.

Takot kasi ako dati tuwing Holy Week. Kasi sa Zambales, kapag nagsimula na ang Holy Week, may ilang penitensya nang gumagala. Yes, takot ako sa penitensya. At tuwing Mahal na Araw, ayokong lumalabas ng bahay. And for the last three or four years, nasa bahay o bakasyon sa ibang lugar lang ako kapag Holy Week.

So there, I went to Edsa Shrine. When I arrived, I wasn’t sure if I am going to buy palaspas. It is for the stupid reason that I don’t want to carry anything back home. But I eventually bought one since I saw other people buy their own. And besides, palaspas is a must-have during Palm Sunday. 

Since it’s my second time (first time alone) to hear Palm Sunday mass, I don’t know what to do with the palaspas. So as I enter the church, I just sat down and observe people on what to do with the palaspas. Then the catechist (whatever that girl-who-speaks-during-mass is called) told us to go to the promenade area for the palaspas to be blessed. I waited for others to stand and proceed to the promenade area since I wasn’t also sure where that place is. It was outside. So I had to leave my seat in order for my palaspas to be blessed by the priest. I went to the promenade area still unsure what to do. I really don’t know what to do exactly that time. Go with the flow lang talaga ako. Nasa likod pa ako nung nagbasbas na ng holy water. So in the end, hindi nabasbasan si palaspas. 

I went back inside the church for the mass is about to start. Ayun, wala na si seat. So I just stood the whole mass. I thought the mass is just like the ordinary masses. But before the priest started preaching, they (the priest and some of the choir members) reenacted some scenes during Jesus’ last days before He was crucified. Senakulo lang ang drama nila. I was just amazed that that is done during Palm Sunday. Sa communion naman, epic lang na putol yung kinain kong hostia (tama ba spelling?). Yung itsura, parang cookie na kinagatan. That was just weird.

When the mass ended, people went in front of the altar. So ako, meron pa naman palang pagbabasbas na magaganap after ng misa. Nagsisi akong iniwan ko ang upuan ko para pumunta sa promenade para mabasbasan si palaspas na hindi naman nabasbasan kaya nakatayo tuloy ako buong misa. So there, my palaspas was blessed after the mass, and in front of the altar, not in the promenade area.

Ayun, epic lang yung ginawa ko para mabasbasan si palaspas. *Bow* :)