PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday urged everyone to spread kindness and selflessness as they reflect on the passion, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ during the observance of Holy Week.
“In this solemn occasion, let us not only seek to unravel the mysteries of our faith but also to illuminate the path for others through acts of kindness and selflessness,” the President said in his Holy Week message.
Marcos also said that everyone should help guide others and spread love and hope amid the challenges in life.
“May our inward reflections manifest in our outward actions as we strive to give hope in a world that is threatened by darkness. Let us be the light that shines through the shadows, the love that triumphs over despair, and the hope that radiates upon all humankind,” he said.
“May we be remembered not for what we have taken but for what we have given, not for the heights we have reached but for the light we have kindled in the hearts of our fellows,” he added.
Catholics yesterday observed Palm Sunday, which kicks off the start of the observance of Holy Week.
In the Philippines, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, which fall on March 28 and 29, respectively, are observed as regular non-working holidays, while Black Saturday (March 30) has been declared a s special non-working holiday throughout the country to give everyone more time spend with their families and to observe the holidays.
SECURITY MEASURES
Army soldiers will augment policemen in implementing security measures to ensure the safety of the people during Holy Week.
Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said the Army will not raise its alert status from the normal White but added they will be vigilant in areas where people usually go during the period.
In a radio interview, Dema-ala said Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido has issued a directive to Army commanders to “enhance their security preparations” during the Holy Week.
Dema-ala said Army soldiers will support the PNP, especially in far-flung areas that policemen cannot guard.
“The directive is to augment security forces (policemen), to ensure peace and order in these areas while we are celebrating Holy Week,” said Dema-ala.
Dema-ala could not immediately say how many soldiers would be deployed to secure the Holy Week celebration. The Army is composed of around 120,000 soldiers at present.
Dema-ala said soldiers will help policemen in manning checkpoints during the period, adding the public should not be surprised if they see soldiers in places of convergences.
“It’s meant to prevent any untoward incident during the celebration of Holy Week,” said Dema-ala, adding the public should not hesitate to approach Army soldiers in case of emergency.
Dema-ala said the Army has not received any information about possible plans to sabotage the celebration of Holy Week but stressed the Army will be vigilant to ensure peace during the period.
Last Saturday, PNP spokesman Col. Jean Fajardo said the PNP would be on heightened alert starting today, Monday. The Philippine Coast Guard went on heightened alert last Friday.
The PNP said 52,000 policemen will be deployed throughout the country for Holy Week-related duties, from 34,000 policemen that the police force initially said would be deployed to secure Holy Week.
AIR TRAVEL
With the anticipated influx of passengers, the 44 airports operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will be on heightened alert from March 24 to March 31.
As part of the Department of Transportation’s Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2024, CAAP directed all service chiefs and airport managers of CAAP-operated airports to implement 24/7 operations, direct communication lines, and the ‘no leave policy’ to ensure the safety, security, reliability, and comfort of the passengers.
Based on the data provided by the Aerodrome Development and Management Service, CAAP recorded 3.1 million passengers from March to April 2022, while air travelers reached 4.4 million in the same period in 2023.
This year, CAAP expects an increase of 7 to 10 percent in passenger movement during the Holy Week.
CAAP, together with local authorities, including the PNP-Aviation Security Unit (AVSEU), Office of Transportation Security (OTS), Department of Tourism (DOT), Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), and airlines, have worked to ensure the efficient processing of passengers, especially at the check-in counters.
Malasakit help desks have been set up at the airports, and medical teams are on standby for emergencies.
‘SPECIAL TIME’
Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula called on the Catholic faithful to look at Holy Week as a “special time to experience God’s mercy” and cry out for repentance and live a renewed life.
“Let us admit where we have gone wrong and decide to follow Jesus again. When we open our hearts and say sorry, we can really feel God’s forgiveness,” Advincula said in his homily as he celebrated Mass yesterday at the Manila Cathedral.
“May this Holy Week be a transformative journey for us all. A journey leading us closer to the heart of our faith,” he added.
Before the Mass, he led the blessing of palm fronds outside the cathedral, which was followed by a brief procession to the church which symbolizes the entry of Jesus to Jerusalem.
Advincula, reflecting on the day’s Gospel readings, said that it’s easy for people to think that they would not make the same mistakes as the apostles “but in truth, we often find ourselves in their shoes.
“When trial comes and troubles pile up, we begin to stray and like the disciples, we too can turn away from Jesus,” he added.
He said, however, that the apostles’ story also gives a strong message of hope that it is possible to make things happen right again.
“This tells us that even when we mess up, we can still turn things around…We are not defined by our mistakes but by how we deal with them…No matter how bad things get, we can always choose to heal and come back together,” Advincula said.
ROAD REPAIR
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has given clearance to the Department of Public Works and Highways to undertake 24-hour work on major roads in Metro Manila during the Holy Week to take advantage of the lessening of traffic.
MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said the Holy Week break is the best time for the DPWH and their contractors to complete their road works and re-blocking activities since “fewer vehicles are on Metro Manila streets during that period.”
“The clearance for the 24-hour road works aims to strike a balance between maintaining infrastructure and minimizing disruptions and inconvenience to motorists after the significantly religious holidays,” Artes said.
The road works will start on Wednesday, March 27, at 11 p.m., and continue round-the-clock until Monday, April 1 at 5 a.m.
The road works will be undertaken at the following areas: Batasan-Commonwealth Tunnel, Filinvest 1 Road to fronting Sandigan (1st lane from plant box, Quezon City); West Avenue, Ligaya St. to Del Monte Avenue (1st lane from the sidewalk), Quezon City; Luzon Avenue SB, Congressional Avenue Ext. to before Luzon Flyover (1st lane from center), Quezon City; Commonwealth Avenue, Landbank to Elliptical Road (3rd lane from the sidewalk), Quezon City; Mindanao Avenue, Tandang Sora Avenue to Longines St. (truck lane), Quezon City;
Mindanao Avenue Tunnel to Sauyo Road (truck lane), Quezon City; Payatas Road, Batasan Road to Bayanihan St., Quezon City; Payatas Road between Singko St. & Leyte St., Quezon City; Payatas Road before Maynilad Pumping Station to Petron Gas Station (1st lane from sidewalk), Quezon City; IBP-San Mateo Road, Quezon City;
Roxas Boulevard NB between Lourdes St. and Vicente Sotto St., Pasay City; Roxas Boulevard NB between Remedios St. and Pasaje Del Carmen St., Pasay City; Roxas Boulevard EDSA Flyover SB bridge approach (outer and inner lane), Pasay City; South Super Highway East Service Road, Parañaque City; EDSA NB Guadalupe before bridge (3rd lane), Makati City;
EDSA NB Guadalupe P. Burgos St. near Jollibee and McDonald’s (4th lane), Makati City; EDSA NB Guadalupe JP Rizal Ext. (2nd lane), Makati City; and EDSA NB Guadalupe JP Rizal Ext. near Stoplight (2nd lane), Makati City.
Artes said the affected roads will be fully passable by 5 a.m. on Monday, April 1. — With Victor Reyes, Myla Iglesias, Raymond Africa and Ashzel Hachero
