Pinoy Tradition: Antipolo Lenten Alay Lakad

This year 2012, Papa, Bea and I decided to do our yearly tradition of Maundy Thursday's Visita Inglesia at Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, Antipolo City via the alay lakad.   

Alay lakad is one of the Filipino religious traditions during Holy Week.   It is practically and literally walking all the way to the Antipolo Cathedral.   There were people quietly praying and even walking on barefoot - sans shoes or slippers as part of their panata; but sadly though, there were also a lot of people, mostly groups of teen-agers, whose sincerity was not reflected on their overly zealous and rabid actions.  

Pinoy Tradition: Kasalan

 The union of two families.
Cruz&Francisco
(photo by Roanna Jessica 
Francisco Mabunga)

Months after the pamamanhikan, surely and expectedly, the  wedding day follows.  A Pinoy wedding or kasalan in Tagalog has many beliefs and traditions.  The most important tradition is  that it is held with a full Sacrament of the Holy Mass.  


Allow me to show you pictures taken during the wedding of Kuya Kiss and Ate Jina.  These photos will illustrate some of the Filipino wedding traditions. 

St. Pio de Pietrelcina Chapel

St. Pio de Pietrelcina Chapel is better known as the Padre Pio Church in Libis, Quezon City.

Romeo

You maybe wondering who Romeo is in our lives...  Well, it's actually a restaurant cum gimmick place we used to frequent located along Sumulong Hi-way in Antipolo City.  Romeo's Spice and Steak Japanese Restaurant is a combination of both a Filipino kitchen and a Japanese resto.  

Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

It's my birthday and I wanted to make a wish.  I recalled a Pinoy belief that upon entering a church where you've never been before, knock and make a wish and this will surely be granted.  Hence, I decided to look for an unchartered church in Antipolo by Google search.  The Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary captured my eyes; thus, I looked for directions via the Google map. 

Pinoy Tradition: "Pamamanhikan"

Pamamanhikan is when the man and his parents go to meet the woman's family and ask for her parents' blessings to marry their daughter.  It's also the time for the parents of the woman to get to know the parents and the family of the man.  During the pamamanhikan,  the man and his parents bring some gifts or food to be shared with the whole family of the woman.  Wedding plans are discussed and the man and the woman formally become engaged to be married.