Pasig Traditions (Contd.)*
D. Lenten Celebration
1. Pabasa is the singing and chanting of the Pasyon,
the life of Jesus Christ, by old and young folks alike,
in chapels, altar sheds or private homes. This is often
a panata, or a promise that devotees hold every
season. Readers are served with salabat or ginger
tea to comfort their throat. A staple dish is a
vegetable dish, lumpiang gulay, made up of strips of
kamote, singkamas (turnips), green beans and
cabbage, all reddish orange from annatto seeds. The
dish is not sautéd in pork in deference to the Lenten
practice of avoiding meat dishes.
2. Senakulo is the Lenten dramatization of the life,
passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ done on
stage by senaculistas in colorful costumes. This
tradition originated locally in Buting and
Pinaghuhatan. The Senakulo of Cainta (formerly part of
Pasig) is one of the most sought after presentations
in the area.
3. Visita Iglesia is a Lenten practice where Catholic
devotees visit at least seven churches on Holy
Thursday to light three candles.
4. Penitencia is consistently practiced in Barangay
Pineda. On Good Friday, male flagellants strip their
upper torso of clothes, cover their faces with white
cloth, and then whip their back as they travel from
the chapel to the streets. This is a practice that is
supposed to help them atone for their sins.
5. Procession de Entiero is the culmination of the
Good Friday celebra¬tion and the grand funeral
procession of the image of the Santo Entiero or
Santo Sepulchro, the dead Christ.
1. Pabasa is the singing and chanting of the Pasyon,
the life of Jesus Christ, by old and young folks alike,
in chapels, altar sheds or private homes. This is often
a panata, or a promise that devotees hold every
season. Readers are served with salabat or ginger
tea to comfort their throat. A staple dish is a
vegetable dish, lumpiang gulay, made up of strips of
kamote, singkamas (turnips), green beans and
cabbage, all reddish orange from annatto seeds. The
dish is not sautéd in pork in deference to the Lenten
practice of avoiding meat dishes.
2. Senakulo is the Lenten dramatization of the life,
passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ done on
stage by senaculistas in colorful costumes. This
tradition originated locally in Buting and
Pinaghuhatan. The Senakulo of Cainta (formerly part of
Pasig) is one of the most sought after presentations
in the area.
3. Visita Iglesia is a Lenten practice where Catholic
devotees visit at least seven churches on Holy
Thursday to light three candles.
4. Penitencia is consistently practiced in Barangay
Pineda. On Good Friday, male flagellants strip their
upper torso of clothes, cover their faces with white
cloth, and then whip their back as they travel from
the chapel to the streets. This is a practice that is
supposed to help them atone for their sins.
5. Procession de Entiero is the culmination of the
Good Friday celebra¬tion and the grand funeral
procession of the image of the Santo Entiero or
Santo Sepulchro, the dead Christ.
This is such a long procession that the beginning of the procession is already half way through but the
Santo Entiero has yet to leave the church. The procession allows families to bring out their well dressed
Santos aboard carrozas traditionally decorated with white liliums and sampaguitas strung in walis tingting.
Aside from the saints, other tools used during the passion are displayed, such as the hammer, nails, ball of
cloth soaked in bile, the crown of thorns, figures of hands in the act of slapping and boxing, the
bloodstained tunic of the Lord and St. Veronica’s towel bearing the images of Jesus’ face.
6. The Easter Sunday salubong is a reenactment of the reunion of the Risen Christ and the Blessed Virgin
by two processions that originate from two opposite directions. The procession starts at 4:00am and once
the two processions meet, a little girl dressed in white representing an angel, lifts the black veil of the
image of the Virgin.
E. May Activities
1. Paalay is the offering of flowers to the Blessed Virgin.
2. The Lotrina is the daily nocturnal procession in the barrio graced by a Reyna Elena holding a crucifix at
the centerfold, with many children singing Dios Te Salve Maria.
3. The Santacruzan is the grand procession of biblical and historical characters, symbolizing the triumph of
Christianity. The procession is composed of well-dressed sagalas with escorts, characters representing
Divina Pastora, Banderada, and Cleopatra, among others. It is a source of family pride to be chosen as a
Reyna Elena.
4. The Flores de Mayo is a procession of girls representing different flowers to commemorate the month as
a season of flowers. The procession is accompa¬nied by the image of the Blessed Virgin going around
Plaza Rizal before entering the church.
F. During a Wake
1. Juego de Prenda is a game played by men and women who adopt the name of trees for men and
flowers for women. The game starts with one person saying “Kulasisi ng hari dumapo sa punong santol at
lumipad sa sampaguita.” The lady who is sampaguita should be quick to answer indicating “Wala po dito,
dumapo sa rosas.” He or she who fails to answer is defeated and made to dance, sing or recite a poem.
2. The Terembe is a game of chance similar to Bingo.
3. Bugtungan is a game of riddles. Winners are given candies as reward.
4. People praying the Rosario Cantada sing each mystery with guitar accompaniment.
5. Abuloy or donations for the dead are customarily put in a glass near the coffin.
Young children closely related to the deceased are carried across the coffin shortly before the burial so
that they will not he visited by the ghost of the departed.
G. Farmers’ Ritual
Pasig was still predominantly rice lands until the 1980’s. During the Palm Sunday procession, flowers are
thrown by choir boys dressed as angels. These flowers are gathered by farmers and sprinkled over their
seed beds to drive away worms and give them a good harvest.
Biscuits are given away during the Feast Day of San Nicolas de Tolentino procession. The farmers turn these
into powder and throw them over the seedlings to give them a good harvest.
In Ugong it was the practice during the Spanish period to plant some palay seedlings in front of the
houses during the rice-planting season. This signified that the land was not covered by the encomienda. In
the past, the Remontados or Tingues or taong nasa gubat went uphill to show their defiance of the
Spaniards’ requirement for the Tagalogs to pay tribute. When the Augustinian friars founded the Bahay Pari
in Ugong, the Tingues offered palay to serve as patuka sa manok and a gesture of friendship.
Nevertheless, the Spaniards considered the practice as a form of tax payment in kind for the land.
In Maybunga and Rosario, people hold a procession with the Sto. Nino in the middle of the rice field; the
women pray the rosary to ask for rain.
H. With Neighbors
Bayanihan is a demonstration of help among neighbors. It is not limited to carrying nipa houses from one
place to another. Bayanihan is also displayed by assisting in food preparation or washing dishes during a
pabinvag or pakasal. Neighbors who help are expected to go home with a plateful of dish. When there’s a
death, the good neighbor gives abuloy and joins the overnight vigil. On the ninth day after the burial,
pasiyam, the bereaved family gives a feast known as the katapusan as a gesture of gratitude to those
who condoled with them.
I. Forms of Address
Mother: Nanay, Inang
Father: Tatay, Amang
Grandparents: Lelang or Lelong and Impong or Ingkong
Kuva: Elder brother
Ate: Elder sister
Ditse: Next elder sister
Diko: Next elder brother
Sangko: Next to Diko
Sanse: Next to Ditse
J. On Giving Birth
After birth, women do not take a bath until after 15 days at which time, she would only use warm water in
which were boiled leaves of lucban, tanglad, mongo, sambong, lagundi and vinegar. Her second bath would
take place after 10 days, using lukewarm water boiled with leaves of Santa Maria. It is also on this day
that the baby would be washed in warm water boiled with sampalok leaves.
After lunch on the day of the bath, the mother would go through a process called saklab. The mother is
wrapped in a blanket and stands astride hot lario on a tungtong with dumero, and a small pint of water
was sprinkled alternately over the lario which produced aromatic steam that lasted for several minutes.
This is supposed to help the woman regain her health.
K. Miscellaneous Customs and Practices
1. Winning candidates in an election used to send an empty coffin accompanied by ponebre (funeral music)
in front of the house of the defeated candidate.
2. Reflecting the Pasiguenos belief and respect for spirits and elves, when they pass through unfamiliar
places, they utter: “Tabi tabi po, nuno, makikiraan po.”
People soaked their cotton clothes in almirol or boiled water with cornstarch to make the clothes stiff and
crisp. Women did not wear shoes but kotso (mule in a velveteen fabric) or sapatilla.
3. Old women chew ground betel nut with the ikmo leaf. They offer visitors a laguay which contained betel
nut, ikmo, apog and kanikala. After chewing, women spit their nganga on the ground anywhere. The mixture
turns their teeth and mouth reddish.
4. Old women usually smoked a cigar brand called La Dicha, often with the cigarette butt inside their mouth.
Santo Entiero has yet to leave the church. The procession allows families to bring out their well dressed
Santos aboard carrozas traditionally decorated with white liliums and sampaguitas strung in walis tingting.
Aside from the saints, other tools used during the passion are displayed, such as the hammer, nails, ball of
cloth soaked in bile, the crown of thorns, figures of hands in the act of slapping and boxing, the
bloodstained tunic of the Lord and St. Veronica’s towel bearing the images of Jesus’ face.
6. The Easter Sunday salubong is a reenactment of the reunion of the Risen Christ and the Blessed Virgin
by two processions that originate from two opposite directions. The procession starts at 4:00am and once
the two processions meet, a little girl dressed in white representing an angel, lifts the black veil of the
image of the Virgin.
E. May Activities
1. Paalay is the offering of flowers to the Blessed Virgin.
2. The Lotrina is the daily nocturnal procession in the barrio graced by a Reyna Elena holding a crucifix at
the centerfold, with many children singing Dios Te Salve Maria.
3. The Santacruzan is the grand procession of biblical and historical characters, symbolizing the triumph of
Christianity. The procession is composed of well-dressed sagalas with escorts, characters representing
Divina Pastora, Banderada, and Cleopatra, among others. It is a source of family pride to be chosen as a
Reyna Elena.
4. The Flores de Mayo is a procession of girls representing different flowers to commemorate the month as
a season of flowers. The procession is accompa¬nied by the image of the Blessed Virgin going around
Plaza Rizal before entering the church.
F. During a Wake
1. Juego de Prenda is a game played by men and women who adopt the name of trees for men and
flowers for women. The game starts with one person saying “Kulasisi ng hari dumapo sa punong santol at
lumipad sa sampaguita.” The lady who is sampaguita should be quick to answer indicating “Wala po dito,
dumapo sa rosas.” He or she who fails to answer is defeated and made to dance, sing or recite a poem.
2. The Terembe is a game of chance similar to Bingo.
3. Bugtungan is a game of riddles. Winners are given candies as reward.
4. People praying the Rosario Cantada sing each mystery with guitar accompaniment.
5. Abuloy or donations for the dead are customarily put in a glass near the coffin.
Young children closely related to the deceased are carried across the coffin shortly before the burial so
that they will not he visited by the ghost of the departed.
G. Farmers’ Ritual
Pasig was still predominantly rice lands until the 1980’s. During the Palm Sunday procession, flowers are
thrown by choir boys dressed as angels. These flowers are gathered by farmers and sprinkled over their
seed beds to drive away worms and give them a good harvest.
Biscuits are given away during the Feast Day of San Nicolas de Tolentino procession. The farmers turn these
into powder and throw them over the seedlings to give them a good harvest.
In Ugong it was the practice during the Spanish period to plant some palay seedlings in front of the
houses during the rice-planting season. This signified that the land was not covered by the encomienda. In
the past, the Remontados or Tingues or taong nasa gubat went uphill to show their defiance of the
Spaniards’ requirement for the Tagalogs to pay tribute. When the Augustinian friars founded the Bahay Pari
in Ugong, the Tingues offered palay to serve as patuka sa manok and a gesture of friendship.
Nevertheless, the Spaniards considered the practice as a form of tax payment in kind for the land.
In Maybunga and Rosario, people hold a procession with the Sto. Nino in the middle of the rice field; the
women pray the rosary to ask for rain.
H. With Neighbors
Bayanihan is a demonstration of help among neighbors. It is not limited to carrying nipa houses from one
place to another. Bayanihan is also displayed by assisting in food preparation or washing dishes during a
pabinvag or pakasal. Neighbors who help are expected to go home with a plateful of dish. When there’s a
death, the good neighbor gives abuloy and joins the overnight vigil. On the ninth day after the burial,
pasiyam, the bereaved family gives a feast known as the katapusan as a gesture of gratitude to those
who condoled with them.
I. Forms of Address
Mother: Nanay, Inang
Father: Tatay, Amang
Grandparents: Lelang or Lelong and Impong or Ingkong
Kuva: Elder brother
Ate: Elder sister
Ditse: Next elder sister
Diko: Next elder brother
Sangko: Next to Diko
Sanse: Next to Ditse
J. On Giving Birth
After birth, women do not take a bath until after 15 days at which time, she would only use warm water in
which were boiled leaves of lucban, tanglad, mongo, sambong, lagundi and vinegar. Her second bath would
take place after 10 days, using lukewarm water boiled with leaves of Santa Maria. It is also on this day
that the baby would be washed in warm water boiled with sampalok leaves.
After lunch on the day of the bath, the mother would go through a process called saklab. The mother is
wrapped in a blanket and stands astride hot lario on a tungtong with dumero, and a small pint of water
was sprinkled alternately over the lario which produced aromatic steam that lasted for several minutes.
This is supposed to help the woman regain her health.
K. Miscellaneous Customs and Practices
1. Winning candidates in an election used to send an empty coffin accompanied by ponebre (funeral music)
in front of the house of the defeated candidate.
2. Reflecting the Pasiguenos belief and respect for spirits and elves, when they pass through unfamiliar
places, they utter: “Tabi tabi po, nuno, makikiraan po.”
People soaked their cotton clothes in almirol or boiled water with cornstarch to make the clothes stiff and
crisp. Women did not wear shoes but kotso (mule in a velveteen fabric) or sapatilla.
3. Old women chew ground betel nut with the ikmo leaf. They offer visitors a laguay which contained betel
nut, ikmo, apog and kanikala. After chewing, women spit their nganga on the ground anywhere. The mixture
turns their teeth and mouth reddish.
4. Old women usually smoked a cigar brand called La Dicha, often with the cigarette butt inside their mouth.
* Aside from oral accounts from other people, this compilation of tradition is also based on Osorio, Theresita dela
Paz. "Lores of Pasiguenos." Pasig. Ed. Virgilio Lacaba. Araw ng Pasig Millenium Book Committee, 2001. 24-33.
Paz. "Lores of Pasiguenos." Pasig. Ed. Virgilio Lacaba. Araw ng Pasig Millenium Book Committee, 2001. 24-33.
| M. Reyes Roque, Last Updated 9May2006 Email Queries from students & researchers are welcome; including requests for enhanced quality pictures. |
| Pasig At the Turn of the Century: the River as Life |
| Pasig was predominantly ricefields. People are shown here with a grinder for rice and corn. From the Philippine Digital Archive of the University of Michigan. |
| Carabaos used for farming cool down in the river. From the Philippine Digital Archive of the University of Michigan. |