Lent marks the beginning of the Easter holiday. For 40 days, Christians all over the world commemorate the time Jesus spent fasting in the desert. Today, it’s a season of reflection and preparation and sacrifice and celebration. 

In America, Christinas have their own set of traditions to follow during the Lenten season, like no meat on Fridays, giving up indulgences, and doing more things that make you uncomfortable. This is a time to expand your spirituality, to test yourself, and in some cultures, to perform. 

Senakulo is a dramatic performance to commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ in the Philippines, the modernized versions of the Senakulo run for only one or two hours [1]. They may be presented in different types of venues: on the traditional stage, singing on the streets (otherwise known as pasyon), in a chapel, in a large room, or out in the open. Comedy, romance, and special effects may be incorporated in the plays. Also, the modern versions of the Senakulos tend to focus not on Christ’s submissiveness, but on his reason and resolve in bravely standing up for the oppressed or the downtrodden against their oppressors, perhaps suggesting how current problems may be resolved.

Via: Hello Travel.

Here are the elements of the Senakulo and how the plays have evolved through the eras.

Pasyon 

Pabasa, or “reading” in English, is the act of chanting the lines of an early 16th-century epic poem, Pasyon, which narrates the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ [2]. It is usually done in groups where they take turns in reading.This tradition is typically performed on a proscenium-type stage with painted cloth or paper backdrops that are called telon. It takes at least eight nights, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, to present the play. Christ is traditionally presented as meek and humble, submitting lamb-like to his fate in obedience to authority. 

However, modern Senakulos tend to focus not on Christ’s submissiveness, but rather on his reason and resolve in courageously standing up for the unfortunate against their oppressors, suggesting how current problems may be resolved. In urban areas, there are developed versions of the Senakulo that run for only one or two hours [3]. They may be presented in different types of locale: on the traditional stage, on the streets, in a chapel, or out in the open. Comedy, courtship, and special effects may be incorporated.

Street Senakulos

Just because the Senakulo isn’t on a traditional stage doesn’t mean it isn’t a significant performance. Whether the performance is minutes, hours or days, the Senakulo is filled with preparation. The scripts draw from both the Bible and the folk tradition, while the costumes and scenery are closer to Hispanic iconography, instead of historical realism. This is especially true of the more recent productions, which are done by professional theatre companies. Regardless of the version of play stages, Jesus is depicted as a humble man, taking up the ultimate sacrifice of death in his abounding obedience. 

Devout locals take this lesson to mean that it is important for Christians to take suffering in stride, just like Christ did. The routine of the reenactment has not changed, but its presentation is infused with a fresh flavor to reach the modern-world absorbed consciousness of the new generation.

Senakulo in the city of Manila is an occasion that signifies the Holy Week and is kept with great piety and pageantry.

During the Manila Senakulo, one can see rituals that are derived from Christ's suffering, passion and death. These interesting reenactments are the passion processions that draw a large crowd that tries to identify the sufferings of Christ 2,000 years ago. The reenactment is done through narrative recitation or role-playing. Everyone in the neighborhood eagerly awaits for the procession to pass by. The street Senakulo in Manila is another form of penance where the people walk alongside the procession. It is now faster paced, lively and richer in music. 

The procession and enactment is interesting to see as the endeavor is to know what happened in the past and keep it contemporary.

Holy Week

The Philippines is the largest Christian country in Asia, which makes Holy Week one of the most important religious seasons of the year. It is composed of Palm Sunday, Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday, and Easter Sunday. In the Philippines, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are declared as national holidays.

The first night of this multi-night show is allotted for the presentation of people behind the tradition. And the actual play begins with the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

These shows teach the values of sacrifice and suffering as the values illustrate the glory of Christ exemplified by His resurrection [4]. 

The Holy Week is an awaited holiday, especially in Manila, as it is packed with a lot of activities that are held in churches and town plaza. The foreign and the local tourists can witness the Senakulo in Manila that is held in March/ April. The tourists would find the Senakulo in Manila has been absorbed into the local culture and is practiced with great warmth and intensity.

Conclusion

Whether you are Christian or not, if you’re traveling to the Philippines during the Lenten season, you should check out if your area has a Senakulo. Tradition is what keeps culture alive. Learning about what and how different parts of the world celebrate holidays like Lent are an insight into how they are as a community, a culture. 

Buying Guide

Looking for must-have products before attending your first Senakulo? B&H sells the sleek, eco-friendly Paper Shoot Paper Camera. This DIY digital point and shoot camera is compact and allows you to take photos and videos that can be digitized online.

Book your trip in time for the next Senakulo through Travelocity.

Of course if you’re unable to make it to Manila, the least you could do is incorporate this rich-in-history city into your own home. iCanvas sells a beautiful canvas map of the city, ranging in sizes from 8x12 to 40x60.

What’s Senakulo without a rosary? Pray with one from Crosses and Medals. We recommend the St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Birthstone Rosary. While you’re at it, check out the leather-bound Bible sold at christianbook.com.