Holy Week

I was brought up in a family where old Catholic Traditions are still practiced. I know most of the events in the Chruch's liturgical calendar. I was born, raised, and breathed as a Catholic. So now that we are in observance of the Holy Week, I can't help but compare, since now I am living in a place where its not really that much observed. Holy Week is just any other week.. Friday's of lent were just ordinary fridays... I wasn't able to abstain meat so I just chose to give up something else. I just missed observing the Holy Week in the Filipino way.. and here's why:

*I missed doing the Bisita Iglesia with my friends..

*I hate that on Holy Thursday and especially Good Friday, I still have to go to work and not be able to observe these holy days.

* I missed the prusisyon on Good Friday, showing the Santo Entierro, the Dolorosa and some carozas featuring the passion and death of Christ.

* I hate that there's no "Salubong" here. People are excited about Easter mainly because of the Easter bunny and the Easter Egg Hunt! Too much commercialism right there..

*I missed the scorching heat every Holy Week in Manila, for whatever reason it unofficially marks the start of summer while here the weather's been gearing towards spring but the wind's been hard this weekend.

I guess you can only conform to one's culture only up to a certain extent, but you can never ever be able to embrace it whole heartedly and completely forget the roots planted in your heart on who you really are and where you're from..

So in my own little way, I'll find a way to observe Holy Week, maybe sacrifice a little.. Be more patient at work.. Find time to reflect and meditate amidst all the hustles and bustles on what other people perceived to be just another day in the office..