AN official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday urged the faithful to physically participate in Holy Week activities with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) threat already minimized.
In an interview with reporters, CBCP Public Affairs Committee executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano said the public should no longer be content with online participation to traditional religious activities.
“We have to remind the people that if they are physically able, it’s not an excuse that you do not go to churches anymore. You should go to churches physically. They should come to churches. They should participate in liturgical activities in the churches in person,” said Secillano.
The Department of Health (DOH) likewise discouraged Filipino Catholics from kissing religious images.
In a press conference, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said: “It would be up to each and every person to decide if they think it will be safe for them to kiss the images.
If you think you won’t be safe, don’t do that anymore.”
Vergeire said devotees should be content with touching the religious images. In addition, the DOH officer-in-charge said the public must always protect themselves whenever they go to crowded places, such as churches and other pilgrim sites, during the Holy Week.
“Let us protect ourselves, wear your masks, make sure you have updated vaccines when we join crowded activities during the Holy Week,” said Vergeire.
The Catholic Church is currently observing the Holy Week, which is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity.
Among the traditional activities during the Holy Week are the Visita Iglesia, Via Crucis, Santo Entierro, Pabasa, and Salubong.
Secillano said churches should still offer Holy Week activities online for “the physically impaired, for the old people, for those who could not go to churches.”
“We still have to cater to them by allowing them to participate in the online platforms,” he said.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, churches were limited to holding Holy Week activities online due to mobility restrictions.
Subsequently, the government gradually eased the restrictions and began allowing a return to normalcy.
‘REFLECT, NOT SOCIALIZE’
In physically participating in Holy Week activities, Secillano reminded the faithful that they are not in churches to socialize with friends and neighbors.
“It’s a moment to reflect. It’s a moment to pray. It’s not a socialization activity,” he said, stressing: “When you go there, make sure it’s for sacred purposes, and not for other practical or mundane purposes.”
This was seconded by CBCP Episcopal Commission on Liturgy chairman Bishop Victor Bendico who called on the faithful to seek conversion this Holy Week.
“The Holy Week summons us to conversion, to a change of mentality and heart, especially in prayers and charity,” said the prelate in a radio interview.
“The Catholic Church still teaches us about restitution… that we are required to make reparation for injustices committed and restore stolen goods to their owner. Let us save our house, our life, through restitution,” added Bendico.
PAY RULES
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday reminded private establishments to observe the pay rules in effect during the long holiday weekend.
In its Labor Advisory No. 07-2023, the DOLE said private employers should be properly guided by the mandatory pay rules in effect during the regular holidays of Maundy Thursday (April 6) and Good Friday (April 7) as well as the special non-working day of Black Saturday (April 8).
For the regular holidays of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, DOLE said that if the employee does not work, the employer shall pay 100 percent of the employee’s wage for that day.
For work done during the regular holiday, the employer shall pay 200 percent of the employee’s wage for that day for the first eight hours, and an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said days for overtime work.
As for work done during a regular holiday that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the basic wage of 200 percent, and an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day for overtime work.
For the special non-working day of Black Saturday, if the employee does not work, the “no work, no pay” principle shall apply, unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment on such a day.
For work done during the special non-working day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the basic wage on the first eight hours of work, and an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day for overtime work.
As for work done during the special non-working day that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 50 percent of the basic wage on the first eight hours of work, and an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day for overtime work.
On the other hand, the DOLE said Easter Sunday (April 9) is considered an ordinary working day nationwide.
This means that for work done during an ordinary working day, the employer shall pay 100 percent of the employee’s wage for that day for the first eight hours, and an additional 25 percent of the hourly rate on said day for overtime work.
Meanwhile, the DOLE also reminded private sector employers to observe the pay rules set for the regular holiday in celebration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (April 10).
For the regular holiday of Araw ng Kagitingan, DOLE said that if the employee does not work, the employer shall pay 100 percent of the employee’s wage for that day.
For work done during the regular holiday, the employer shall pay 200 percent of the employee’s wage for that day for the first eight hours, and an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day for overtime work.
As for work done during a regular holiday that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the basic wage of 200 percent, and an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day for overtime work.
Proclamation 90 transferred the commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan to April 10, which is the nearest Monday to its original date of April 9.
