procession of hope - marinduque

it was Good Friday and the town of Boac sets in a reflective mood, my travel buddy Nadz and i made sure that we joined the procession.if the town was festive during Holy Thursday, as the different competitions on Moriones Festival happens, it was the exact opposite on a Good Friday. it was a time when people gathered at the church ready for the long walk around the town.we waited down the road near the church for a certain time, while we bought our candles. the procession was expected to start at 5:00pm but around 5:40pm we decided to go to the church instead.there we realized that a big crowd was on our way occupying the whole two lane road from the church down the town. we then chose to get as close as possible to the carriage enclosing the statue of the body of Christ.despite the possibility of raining, people of different ages were there. the houses that we pass by has candles lit infront of their door. other houses opened their radio while the rosary prayer was being broadcasted.we tried to join the procession right after the carriage but found out that it was too crowded and so we decided to go ahead of the carriage instead. people there might have reached thousands because we cant see the end of the procession, which meant that we could be in the middle.as we walked from one street to another, the sky turns darker with the candles now more visible. we had the chance to reflect on the importance of Christ's death which leads to his resurrection.for us, to value Easter we first reflect on his passion which leads to our own recognition of being sinful.we walked several kilometers, turning on some corners that we haven't been to when we roamed the town on our first day in Marinduque.the procession led us back to the church uphill where the crowd was getting thicker as they all accumulate at the church entrance. people this time were waiting for the entrance of the carriage. the church lights were dimmed and no other sound can be heard except that of the people moving towards the church altar. the men pulling the carriage then took their part of the rope as a way of remembering their penitence.just outside the church was a candle stand, where the candles were offered as a symbol of laying down our shortcomings to the Lord. it was important for us to recognize our sins, but more than that is the realization that God is merciful and that Christ died for each one of us. because his resurrection gives us every hope that we need to live a righteous life today.