REACHING ARMS

Philippines, being a predominantly Catholic country, celebrates Holy week, locally known as Semana Santa or Mahal na Araw, as one of its most important festivities.

The week starts with Palm Sunday wherein reenactments of Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem are present in almost all Churches celebrating the Holy Mass. Continuous chanting of prayers of Jesus’ life called Pabasa occurs from Holy Monday to Holy Wednesday. Maundy Thursday involves Church visits or Visita Iglesia while Good Friday is commemorated with street processions. Black Saturday should be observed with solemnity but ironically, this also happens to be the best time of the year for family reunions and outings. The week ends at Easter Sunday with a ceremony called Salubong featuring kids dressed as angels who are lifted up into mid-air.

We wonder if the tattoo was done as a form of penitensya, another peculiar activity by the Filipinos during Holy Week.

(for PinoyTattoos.com)

LOVE MY ROOTS

Did you know that the first Philippine map, which was 27 inches wide and 42 inches long, was drawn by Nicolas dela Cruz and Francisco Suarez back in 1734?

Pinoy, a demonym for Filipino people, was first used in the 1920s by Filipino-Americans who were part of the first wave of Filipino migration to the United States. Take out the last four letters of Filipino, pino, and add up the letter Y to form the word. For many, Pinoy is similar to Mexican-American’s usage of Chicano.

No need for us to discuss who forms the roster of the Pinoy Pride. We might want to divert our attention from these already-known Filipino celebrities into the nameless heroes who are continuously giving out their best for the country.

(for PinoyTattoos.com)

FILIPINO SUN AND WRITING

Filipino British (Filipino Britons) population is the second-largest Filipino community in Europe but it isn’t as cohesive as other communities in other countries.

Having said that, “united we stand, divided we fall” can’t be applied to Philippine’s current social status as it is strongly diverse in all aspects. Unending political wars, social aggravations, massive poverty with seemingly no solution and whatnot. We really can’t be united if we don’t know how to be one. Reality bites.

Nevertheless, there’s still the bright side. Fil-Brits are unstoppable from making names, which is something we all should be proud of. We have ex-Sugababes member Mutya Buena, TV personality and beauty queen Leilani Dowding, and young Britain’s Got Talent contestant Charlie Green to name some.

(for PinoyTattoos.com)

FILIPINO FLAG

Okay. We all know that the three stars represent LuzViMinda, the three largest regions. Its sun’s eight rays are the first eight provinces that revolted against the Spanish regime. Is there anything new or more interesting about the Philippine Flag that we need to know than these usual stuff?

There are certain places that, by law, must display the Philippine Flag and have it illuminated at night. The shades of the colors red and blue have been changed several times, which was dependent to the leaders and whatever country ruling the Philippines. Zambales and the Moslem Islands tried to be the ninth ray claiming that their provinces were also at war during the colonial era. Both petitions were rejected. A Flag Law forbidding the Filipinos to use or display the flag anywhere lasted for 12 years.

There are always more than the infamous three stars and a sun of the Philippine Flag that are worth-knowing. Let’s not be that frivolous.

(for PinoyTattoos.com)

PILIPINAS KONG MAHAL

KKK. Ku Klux Klan? No.

It’s Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan. Supreme and Venerable Society of the Children of the Nation in English translation. This could be one reason why alphabet agencies sprang out like beans: CSI, NCIS, FBI, NYPD. You name it, you have it.

There are so much to tell about KKK or the Katipunan and a million words are not enough. Let’s make this short. The Katipunan is a historical organization founded by some of the well-known Filipino anti-Spanish revolutionaries like Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo. Through arm uprising, the society aimed to end Spanish cruelties to the Filipinos during the colonial period.

Trivia: National Hero Jose Rizal rejected the idea of revolution by the Katipuneros believing it was premature and would only lead to deaths of many Filipinos. Albeit considered as an honorary president, he never became a member of the KKK.

(for PinoyTattoos.com)