Cebu churches usher in Palm Sunday observance

PALM branches will be blessed today in Catholic churches across the country for Palm Sunday, the start of the most solmen period of Holy Week.

Also called Passion Sunday, today commemorates the triumphant entry of Jesus in Jerusalem days before he makes the ultimate sacrifice and submits to crucifixion.

In his message, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma urged the faithful to reconcile with the Lord through the sacrament of confession.

“The start of the journey of a holy life is the admission that we are all sinners and we need God. To go to confession and to be able to hear the words ‘I forgive you’ is our way to holiness,” he said.

Palma will lead the Palm Sunday Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral at 8 a.m.

He will also preside over the Mass of the Lord’s Last Supper and Washing of the Apostle’s Feet on Maundy Thursday at the cathedral.

Palma will then lead the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday and the Easter Vigil and Mass on Black Saturday.

On Sunday, Palma will officiate the Easter Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday recalls the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem, riding a donkey into the Holy City where he was welcomed like a king by a crowd who laid palm branches and cloaks in his path.

At dawn of Easter Sunday, religious processions of “Sugat” will also be staged in different churches to reenact the meeting of the Virgin Mary and the risen Jesus Christ.

Elsewhere, tougher enforcement of security measures will be focused in this year’s “Oplan Ligtas Kwaresma”, a multi-agency effort aimed at ensuring the safety of the riding public in the Holy Week observance ahead.

Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said “all systems are go” as far as preparations are concerned for the annual Lenten observance.

“Among others, we are stricter now in implementing the rules…for our office this means not allowing buses over 15 years old from plying their routes,” he said.

About 30 of these buses were barred in Cebu with 20 units halted in Bohol.

While admitting that this would mean longer lines of waiting passengers, Cuizon said he was assured by major bus companies that they will field additional units for those heading home in the towns and provinces this week.

Acting Cebu Gov. Agnes Magpale will attend the LTFRB-7 inspection of the facilities of the international airport, Cebu North Terminal pier and South Bus Terminals.

“This is to see for herself if the facilities are okay,” Cuizon said.

The Maritime Industrial Authority (Marina) said they set up 24 hour passenger assistance information and help desks at the ports and terminals.

The Coast Guard-Cebu station said they are also conducting ongoing inspections of vessels.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) are holding road worthiness tests on vehicles and random drug tests on passenger vehicle drivers, regional director Raul Aguilos said.

Aguilos said a mass information drive for road safety will be done in malls, airports, bus terminals and pier areas.

“We will also continue to issue special permits on site on Wednesday until half day of Maundy Thursday,” Cuizon said.

Cuizon said they will be closed on Friday to make it easier for bus operators to spend their Holy Week.

The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) will provide free drinking water and portable toilets.

The CPA said they have 189 taxi drivers accredited in their office as of Tuesday’s count.

They also advised the public to take note on the plate number of the taxis in case they have complaints against the drivers.