Maundy Thursday

First "Holy Week" home in 18 years! The whole country practically shuts down by Maundy Thursday and slowly reawakens by Easter. The thoroughfares are eerily deserted and it is very pleasant to go about the city. We visited 7 churches and recited the 14 Stations of the Cross. The one slight difference was we ate in an Italian restaurant after the "Visita Iglesia"--years ago, only hard core Chinese eating places remained open on Holy Thursday and we had no choice except to eat in Binondo or Santa Cruz.

Along the way, we encountered roving bands of young people walking towards Antipolo, their form of personal penance to make up for past transgressions. Life may be getting harder and we are not investing sufficiently for the future but we are a humble people (sometimes too humble in fact) and we will also find our voice one day.