Holy Week 2026: A Devotional and Travel Guide
Holy Week is the most important event in the Roman Catholic faith’s liturgical calendar. It is the culmination of Lent, or the 40-day preparation in the observance of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection — the cornerstone of catholicism. For Filipino believers, it is more than just a solemn tradition; it is a time for reflection of Christ’s passion and renewal of faith.
In this article, you will find useful information related to INQUIRER.net’s reportage of the holidays, such as the schedule of Masses and visita iglesia, devotionals, personal testimonies about faith, and explainers on traditions. News reports regarding the traffic situation will also be made available as Filipinos make an exodus outside of Metro Manila, as well as safety tips for those who will travel.
WATCH: Bakit tinatakpan ang mga imahe sa simbahan kapag malapit na ang Semana Santa?
The Holy Week officially starts on Palm Sunday, when the Mass begins with the blessing of woven palm leaves and fronds (palaspas). This rite commemorates Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem when people welcomed him by waving palm branches, setting the stage for his death and resurrection. In the Filipino tradition, a bible reading (Matthew 21:1–11) would be done before the blessing of the palm fronds. Afterwards, the priest would bless the palaspas with holy water on his way to the altar.
Photo courtesy of Mark Alvi Esplana INQUIRER FILE
This is especially significant as it recounts Jesus’ reception as king while humbly riding the donkey, fulfilling the prophesy highlighting him as the King of Peace rather than as a military ruler that would deliver the old Israel from Roman oppressors.
READ: Pope Leo XIV opens Holy Week with Palm Sunday Mass, prayers
Beginning Palm Sunday until Black Saturday, all religious images of Catholic saints will noticeably covered in deep purple cloth as a sign of mourning. This serves as a reminder to the faithful that the occasion is not something to be taken lightly. In the Philippines, visiting various churches (visita iglesia) is combined with praying and meditating on the way of the cross (14 stations of the cross) as a way of remembering Christ’s suffering.
READ: Black veils, bare feet: Holy Week women embody grief in Pampanga, Camarines Sur
Photo courtesy of Vaughn Alviar INQUIRER FILE
According to Filipino historian and INQUIRER columnist Ambeth Ocampo, visita iglesia is an old Roman Catholic custom that dates back the Middle Ages that was brought to the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period. In the olden times, pilgrims would visit seven basilicas of Rome on Holy Thursday as a form of penance for their sins.
READ: Undiluted devotion: Exploring the centuries-old tradition of Visita Iglesia
In medieval Manila, a walled city (intra-muros), the faithful would flock to as much as 14 to 21 churches in hopes of getting a “fast pass to heaven.”
Nowadays, several churches even local government units are advertising visita iglesia schedules. Among these are the Quezon City and Marikina governments, which highlighted 12 local churches that may be visited by pilgrims.
Some private travel companies also have tour packages within Metro Manila or in provinces that can be had for at least P799 per head, which included van transfers, tour coordinators, and meals. Some hotels also offer visita iglesia room packages and heritage walks.
The flow of traffic in entry and exit points of Metro Manila is being monitored by government authorities, as are ports and bus terminals, being the usual sites of heavy buildup.
READ: LTFRB orders inspection of buses, PUVs ahead of Holy Week exodus
Passengers flock to Quezon City bus terminals to travel to their provinces ahead of the Undas break. (Photos: Mary Joy Salcedo/INQUIRER.net
The police have ramped up its deployment for road safety measures in anticipation of the surge of travelers this Holy Week and the vacation season.
Traffic situations are normally being monitored as accidents often happen during the holidays due to overloading of passengers.
Major mall operators have adjusted their schedules for the Holy Week, with some suspending their operations on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Mall Hours
Getting ready to fly out-of-town for the holidays? Here are some safety tips.
Several celebrities have stated their lenten reflections and plans for the long holiday.
Charlie Fleming will take the time to take a much-needed rest with her family abroad. “I really just want to take the time off to relax, have fun and enjoy. I’m going to Vietnam with a few of my friends, some family. It’s going to be my first time going out of the country with my mom,” she said.
READ: Movies and series about faith, hope for Holy Week reflection
Alden Richards and Barbie Forteza plan to be with their respective families during the long holiday and make time for repentance and sacrifice.
Shuvee Etrata said she will return to her island province in Cebu to be with her family for her mental reset. “I’ve been working here in Manila. And all my family, nandun sila sa probinsiya. So I’m going back to the island, to Bantayan to visit my lola, and to renew my mental health.”
For Ogie Diaz, it has always been part of his religious devotion to lead the “pabasa” or the communal reading of the Pasyon, or the Filipino narrative poem about the life, passion, death and resurrection of Christ traditionally being chanted during the holy week.
“Every holy week ako ay nagpa-pabasa kasi chairman ako ng pabasa namin sa Loreto (Manila) kung saan ako ipinanganak. So, ayun, parang nag-reunion na rin kami ng mga kababata ko doon… Panata na talaga kasi mula pa nu’ng bata ako bumabasa na ko sa pabasa. Kaya lagi akong excited kapag pabasa. Kapag nasa abroad naman ako, inihahabilin ko yung pabasa, kailangan talagang every year yun. Panata na talaga,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kira said that during holy week, she refrains from eating meat as a form of sacrifice and penance. /edv