What comes to your mind when you hear “Easter”? Here are some of the things you might want to know about it:
E – nd of Fasting.
After weeks of penitence and self-sacrifice through fasting, abstinence and repentance, many people including Christians consider Easter Sunday as a day of feasting. Families and friends gather to enjoy food and each other’s company. Reunions and get-togethers are just some of the common ways to celebrate the occasion.
A – ttending Vigil
The Easter celebration begins with an Easter Vigil in the evening of Black Saturday. It starts with darkness while the lights inside the church are turned off. Candles are the source of illumination, symbolizing Jesus as the light of the world, and that Christ has risen.
S – alubong
Filipino Catholics usually open the Easter Sunday through “salubong”, which means “welcome.” It is a ritual that happens before the Eastern dawn mass that involves life-sized statues of the risen Christ and Mother Mary. It also involves participation from the community, including an angel, to be portrayed by a little girl.
The angel is lifted on a harness or may also stand on a balcony. She then hoists the black veil from Mary’s head followed by the singing of the Alleluia. This marks the joy and festivity for the Easter celebration.
T – raditions
Easter traditions and customs vary in different parts of the globe. For instance, Greece celebrates with a mass followed by colourful fireworks, and a feast wherein bowls of a lamb’s stomach delicacy, called “patsas,” are served.
Meanwhile, egg fights are commonly observed in Bulgaria. They believe that anyone who keeps their egg unbroken will be successful throughout the year.
In the U.S., an Easter Egg Roll is hosted annually by the President. Held during Easter Monday, the children and parents enjoy the event filled with entertainment, games and the rolling of Easter eggs on the White House lawn.
E – gg Hunt
Easter eggs are linked and associated with pagan festivals during the spring celebration. The egg is considered as an ancient symbol of new life. For Christians, an Easter egg represents the resurrection of Jesus.
Today, many cultures include egg hunting during Easter Sunday. In the Philippines, kids enjoy the egg hunt as a part of the program in some churches, malls, amusement parks and more.
R – abbit or Bunnies
The Easter Bunny has also become one of the prominent symbols of the celebration. They are known to deliver the Easter eggs, which are symbols of new life.
Though a rabbit is not mentioned in the Bible, it is believed to stem from a pagan tradition. “Eostre”, a goddess of fertility, is symbolized by a bunny. Some say the Easter bunny was introduced to Americans by German immigrants, who brought stories of an egg-laying hare.
These are just some of the things you need to know about the most important day of the Lenten Season. Happy Easter, everyone!
Sources:
http://time.com/
www.mangosalute.com
http://www.whyeaster.com/
http://www.history.com/
For Christians across the globe, the Lenten Season is a solemn time for reflection and building a deeper relationship with God. Likewise, this season also signals a brief vacation, the perfect time to travel.
But if the Lenten Season is all about evaluating our spirituality, it makes sense to keep Mother Nature in mind as we explore her many wonders. Here are some tips on how you can be an earth-friendly traveler:
Look for eco-friendly accommodations.
Look for a hotel devoted to reducing carbon emissions and waste reduction, and has recycling policies. Find out if your hotel promotes environmental awareness to its employees and patrons.
Limit energy use.
Lessen the use of air-conditioner and hot water. Don’t forget to turn off lights, television and the air-onditioner when you leave your hotel rooms.
Choose conservation-conscious tour operators.
If you opt to go on tour with a professional tour guide, research his or her company’s protocols and practices. The way they manage waste or treat local wildlife can impact the local ecosystem.
Choose earth-friendly transportation.
Once you reach your destination, go ahead and try their local public transport. Renting bicycles and walking are few of the most basic ways to reduce carbon emissions, too.
Leave no traces behind.
Do not litter. Don’t write your names on walls, trees and anywhere you can think of. As the mountaineers say, take nothing but pictures and memories.
Protect the marine environment.
If you dive or snorkel, don’t touch reefs or marine animals. Also, don’t collect shells, corals or other natural items.
Respect the off-limits areas.
Whether you’re on a mountain, on an island, at the beach or simply hopping from one church to another for your Visita Iglesia, it is your responsibility to keep the sanctity of the area.
If you’re still wondering what these tips have to do with Holy Week, try reflecting on Acts 4:24 in the Bible which says: “Sovereign Lord, you made the Heavens and Earth and the sea and everything in them.”
As stewards of this creation, it is our responsibility to take care of all our surroundings.
Have a meaningful Holy Week, everyone!
With research from:
www.tripstodiscover.com and wwf.panda.org
Typhoon “Chedeng” maintained its strength with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 160 kilometers per hour. At 8:00AM today, it was located at 500 km East Southeast of Casiguran, Aurora or at 265 km Northeast of Virac Radar, Bato, Catanduanes.
Moving west northwest at 19 kilometers per hour, Chedeng is expected to make landfall over the coast of Aurora-Isabela area tomorrow morning. It will then exit the landmass through Ilocos Sur by Sunday evening and will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday morning.
Public storm warning signal number 2 is up over Catanduanes where winds of up to 61-100 kilometers per hour in at least 24 hours. Meanwhile, Signal number 1 includes Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon including Polillo Ilsand, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Apayao, Cagayan, Benguet, Kalinga, Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Isabela and Mountain province. These areas will experience winds of up to 30-60 kilometers per hour in at least 36 hours.
Potential impacts of the winds:
PSWS #2
Moderate damage to agriculture
Rice and corn adversely affected
Few large trees uprooted
Large number of nipa and cogon houses partially or totally unroofed
Some old galvanized iron roofing may roll off.
Travel by all types of sea vessels and aircrafts is risky.
PSWS #1
Twigs and branches of trees may be broken .
Some banana trees may tilt or land flat on the ground.
Rice in flowering stage may suffer significant damage.
Some nipa and cogon houses may be partially unroofed.
Sea travel of small seacraft and fishing boats is risky.
PSWS serve as warnings and should not be taken as an indication of the present situation. Because preparedness is the key to any disaster, PAGASA provides these storm warning signals ahead of time.
Holy Week Weather: Black Saturday
According to PAGASA, stormy weather is expected over the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and the provinces of Aurora, Quezon and Catanduanes. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of the country.
Fishing boats and other small sea craft are prohibited from sailing as gale warning is still up over the northern seaboard of Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Bicol Region and Visayas. These areas will experience wind force of 52 to 63 kilometers per hour and wave height ranging from 3.4 to 4.5 meters.
Meanwhile, another tropical cylone is now being monitored outside the PAR. However, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Samuel Duran said it is at approximately 2, 000 kilometers east of our boundary and is still too far to affect the country. As of now, our weather men are focusing on Chedeng as it moves closer to landmass but once the tropical depression outside the PAR shows development, PAGASA will also provide updates.
Traffic jams, long passenger lines, crowded resorts, fully-booked hotels – these are the common scenes in the Philippines during the holidays, including Holy Week. Aside from the Christian practices of reflecting, repentance and Visita Iglesia, this is also the time of year Filipinos travel and reunite with family and friends.
Some of us opt to stay home, and find an effective outlet for emotions and self-expression through social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For some people, updating statuses and sharing photos have become part of their daily routine. But before you bare your soul in cyberspace, here are a few safety tips to keep in mind.
1) Don’t post your itinerary details.
Where, when, how long and with whom? Criminals hungrily seek for answers to these questions. But because you have already provided them with details, it will be easier for them to plan their modus, targetting either you personally or the home you left behind.
Police Chief Inspector Jay Guillermo of the Philippine National Police also reminds us to always check the settings of our mobile phones when using messenger/chat. Sometimes, your location appears on the message you sent—
another bit of information criminals can use against you.
2) Be a wise uploader.
Guillermo also advises the public to refrain from posting photos of your current activity or location. It would be better if posting is done after the activity so criminals will not be able to monitor your movements. Regularly check and edit the privacy settings of your account.
3) Think before you click.
Before making a harsh comment online or posting a controversial photo, consider first the possible consequences of your actions. This rule also applies to clicking on random links found on social media sites. You might fall into the trap of scams and computer viruses if you’re not careful.
4) Conduct a background check.
We, Filipinos, are known for being friendly and hospitable. There’s nothing wrong with making new friends but in social media, we have to be cautious in entertaining requests. Before confirming their requests, always check their background profile. Look at their photos, personal information and even their posts. But if you really want to be safe, only approve those whom you know personally.
5) Be in the know.
As we plan our activities for the Lenten Season, it is always better to monitor updates on the weather, public announcements and current events. Taking a break is not all about the enjoyment, one must also be aware of what’s happening. Awareness is the initial key to survival and safety of an individual.
Source: Philippine National Police (PNP)
Holy Week is the time when a lot of Filipinos go out of town, to make the most of the holidays. But if you can’t go out at this time, here are some staycation tips for Lenten Season.
Several hotels surround Manila, so you can still opt to spend your Holy Week in the metro. You and your family can enjoy the packages offered, usually inclusive of breakfast and lunch buffets, complimentary scheduled trips to various churches, use of pool and Easter Egg Hunts.
This can be a perfect time to learn how to cook. If you’re abstaining from meat, there are numerous fish and vegetables dishes that you can master within the week.
Holy Week is the perfect time to spend time with family. Encourage children to understand the significance of the Lenten Season. Activities, such as making your own palaspas or staging your own puppet show that describes Easter, are great ways to keep your little ones occupied while they learn new things.
Maximize the use of Internet. Help in disseminating vital information, such as weather updates, especially now that we are monitoring Typhoon Chedeng (Maysak) that’s forecast to enter the country.
Pay a visit to the nearest church in your area. Doing the Stations of the Cross is a fitting way to contemplate this season. Also known as Via Dolorosa, it’s a narration of the final hours in the life of Jesus Christ.
So if you can’t go out during the Lenten season, don’t fret. There are a lot of ways to enjoy your staycation!
A tropical cyclone with international name “Maysak” is now being monitored by our state weather bureau, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and other meteorological agencies like the Joint Typhoon Warning Coucil (JTWC) and Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Maysak is a cyclone name contributed by Cambodia, which is a kind of tree.
Maysak is still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) but as it moves, it continues to intensify due to some factors that are favourable for its development – ample amount of water vapour and warmth of the ocean. From a low pressure area, it developed into a tropical depression and was upgraded into a tropical storm.
PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jori Loiz said Maysak was spotted at approximately 3, 100 kilometers east of Mindanao as of 2:00 PM today. Packing winds of 85 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 100 kilometers per hour, it moves in a westward direction at 15 kilometers per hour. If it maintains velocity, it is expected to enter the PAR by Wednesday or Thursday. Once it enters the PAR, it will be given a local name “Chedeng.” Loiz added that there is a chance for Maysak to intensify further or might also weaken in the coming days as it moves closer to landmass.
Meanwhile, JMA regularly updates their website with the cyclone information and forecast. Based on the latest information, Maysak moves west southwest slowly. In the succeeding days, it is expected to continue moving westward and slightly accelerate to 25 kilometers per hour.
On the other hand, below is the update from the JTWC. The forecast track shows that there is a great possibility that Maysak will enter the PAR next week.
Loiz clarified that as of now, Maysak is still too far to determine the areas that will be directly affected but rest assured that PAGASA will keep observing and will provide latest information especially once it moves closer to our boundary.
Climatologically speaking, an average number of 0 to 1 tropical cyclone could enter the PAR during the month of April. Thus, the “tag-init” season does not always equate to a “bagyo-free” season. Preparedness is an integral part of our lives so as we enter the Holy Week, it is better to monitor weather updates to help us plan and adjust our activities.