Filipinos keep Easter tradition

As dawn broke over St. Francis de Sales parish in Loudonville on Easter morning, members of the Filipino community gathered to take part in the traditional celebration of salubong -- with song, prayer and the colorful religious procession for which the festivities are renowned.

According to community member Joey Nuqui, "salubong" means "a meeting place" or "meeting somewhere" in Tagalog, the native language of the Philippines.

"If you're a Filipino," he said, "you would understand the word as a celebration of what happened the first Easter morning, which was when Jesus met with His mother, Mary."

Customs

In the Philippines, salubong is a festive, elaborate occasion. Intricate, detailed processions wend their way through cities and towns, supporting painstakingly decorated floats and life-like, life-size statues of Jesus and Mary.

Mr. Nuqui said that the celebrations might also include statues of the Apostles, "who were helping Mary during her grieving process."

The Albany salubong was smaller than those in the Philippines, but the mood was no less festive. Dozens of men and women met before sunrise to festoon a makeshift stage with flowers and drape the platforms where the statues were to stand with lace. Mary was draped with a black cloth to symbolize her mourning.

Procession

Men and women divided to process across the parking lot, each group carrying a statue: the women moving with Mary; the men, with Jesus.

When the processions reached the stage, they were met by a young child dressed as an angel. The angel reached forward and, according to Mr. Nuqui, "lifted Mary's veil, just like on the first Easter morning."

Gathering around the angel, the participants placed carnations and roses on the stage, and sang Easter songs.

Religious heritage

Christianity was brought to the Philippines by Spanish missionaries; the island nation is the only predominately Christian country in Asia.

During Holy Week, visitors come to the Philippines from around the world to view the Holy Week celebration of sinakulo, or the Passion. Costumed young men, playing Jesus, carry crosses through the streets, while other participants play Pilate, Veronica, Roman soldiers, Apostles and others.

After their celebration, the members of the Filipino community at St. Francis gathered in the church to celebrate an early-morning Mass -- and, later on, to take part in an Easter-egg hunt.

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