PINITENSYA

By: Xander Delos Reyes

Base on Dariel Pimintel, the word Penance derives from Old French and Latin poenitentia, meaning repentance, the desire to be forgiven. But traditionally, Penance has been viewed as a punishment and varying with the character with the offences committed. 

Doing this often involved severe, often public, discipline, which could be both harsh and humiliating but was considered spiritual act. Penitensya, the Filipino term for Penance, is a tradition being held by the Filipinos during Holy Week, especially on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Using shred leather straps, you can hear the loud strikes to the hand and to the back of the man with black Nazarene dress. And believe me, seeing and hearing him taking these punishments, you’ll absolutely say it to yourselves that you don’t want to be in his position taking that painful act. After kneeling down for a few minutes, they suddenly lie, facing down their flesh skin on the ground. Suffering from extreme heat of the sun and the hot surface of the ground, they stay lying for almost 5 minutes before they stand up and leave the place. 

For me, their sacrifices are painful and tiring, as a fellow Filipino I know that they do their best to pay for their sins. But this is nothing to compare to what Jesus Christ done in the cross. He gave his life for us to live, so we must use this lives as much in good deeds. And Jesus will be glad to us when the day will come that we will be with him.