Maundy Thursday is a holiday I hadn't heard of before. I put a link in the name, but it is a non working day where people are supposed to be somber and reflective. Most stores and bars are closed - restaurants to not serve alcohol. While not strictly observed even in a quiet little town,it is noticably quieter.


We started the day with a walk around town, but we had two major plans, the Maundy Day Service, but also to visit Aklan State College where they have constructed dioramas of each station of the cross on a path up a mountain .

The College is in the town of Banga. First a 20 minute Multi Cab Ride to Kalibo, then a 10 minute tricyle ride to the Banga bus depot, and then another 20 minute multicab ride to Banga and the Unitversity. Again, at the Banga bus depot the begging children were overwhelming. I do believe that giving them money is perpetuating the problem. Many others, more enterprising, have found ways to make money. I have bought more pencils and balloons and candies from people who were obviously hurting just as much, but were going to work for their way in the world.

Anyhow as we arrived, and I squeezed my way out of the multicab (they honestly were not made for people over 5'6"....) we were greeted with a beautiful park and campus. There were vendors there, but nothing too garish, and we found out way to the foot of the mountain. As we climbed the earthen road, every 100 feet or so there was a Station of the Cross depicted in life sized dioramas . It wasn't very crowded but there were several families and school groups there.   We brought along Andoy and Indak. Indak is very devout and she lit a candle and prayed at each station.  

A couple of spots on the way up, vendors had set up shop selling snacks and drinks, all very interested in the foriegner climbing their hill.

At the top we found a large cross and scores of school kids that all wanted their pictures taken by the foriegner.   It was quite a view and well worth the trek. A panorama of the view is below.

We made our way down the mountain - funny how going downhill takes less time, and met up with some vendors at the bottom that were from Lezo. After buying gatorade and peanuts, and visiting a while we got in the jeepney and headed back to Kalibo.   We stopped there at Macdonalds for lunch (best air con in the city) where we had chicken McDo and McSpaghetti .

Once home we rested and napped for a bit, and then it was time for church. Maundy Thursday or the day of the Last Supper is important and there were easily 500 people at the church

A bit surprising were the 20h century additions, like a power point outlining the hymn lyrics and the recitations, but all the other rituals were there.   Bells and smoke and all.   The sermon, while I could not understand it, I am told was fairly political in nature, with the priest taking the police to task for lack of movement on a political murder that had taken place on Boracay. The service went on for about two hours after which we headed home for a bit, and then on to the Last Supper.

This is a meal that is hosted by a local family annually for the priest and the teens chosen as the apostles, where they reenact the last supper.   Not a fancy affair, but obviously not something everyone is invited to, it was a fun event . I got to talk to the priest a bit and he was quite interested in the photos and explaining to me the significance of what I had seen up to now.

We visited a bit at the dinner with a few more of Allan's relatives that I had not met before.   Apple Pie and Caleb, and Allan's cousins family and the father of Mak Mak. Yes, very colourful names.   Food items, many nicknames that sound like bells, and repeats.   Here is an article on filipino names that is quite funny.

After the last supper we returned home...Tomorrows Sunrise procession for the Stations of the Cross around Lezo was going to come early!!!