Today is Maunday Thursday or Holy Thursday in the Christian calendar. It commemorates the institution of the Eucharist and is the oldest obeservances peculiar to Holy Week (we call it Semana Santa).

Here in the Philippines, a popular Maundy Thursday tradition is the Visita Iglesia(Church Visit), which involves visiting several Churches. The last mass before Easter is also celebrated on Maundy Thursday, usually including a reenactment of the Washing of the Feet of the Apostles; this mass is followed by the procession of the Blessed Sacrament before it is taken to the Altar of Repose.

We always spend the days of Holy Week staying at home. I have observed that most people hang out in Baguio, Boracay, Tagaytay and other tourist vacation spots. Maybe that's there only time to be together. But who can't resist the worldly pleasures, once you're there? Who knows? Well, I just hope that they don't miss out the importance of Holy Week itself; the days for reflection and repentance.