Pabasa sa Pasyon: A Semana Santa Tradition

Pabasa sa Pasyon is one of the many traditions of the Catholics during the holy week. It was first performed in the Philippines during the 16th-17th century because of the Spanish colonization.

In literal meaning, Pabasa is the act of reading. On the other hand, Pabasa during the Holy Week is the religious way chanting of the Passion of Christ; the Philippine epic narrative of the life of Jesus Christ focused on his Passion, Death, and Resurrection with stanzas of five lines and eight syllables each.

Historically, the Pasyon has served as a symbolic lens through which political events and figures have been interpreted. However, during the present times, Catholics perform the Pabasa as a way for Catholics to repent their sins and seek forgiveness from God during Lenten Season.

Article by; Marianne Aragon

Photo by: Tom Valientes