11/04/2026
ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA! THE LORD IS RISEN!
Before dawn breaks and the first light gently touches the horizon, the faithful of Holy Child Jesus Parish in Buenavista begin to gatherโhearts awake even while the world still sleeps.
There is a sacred stillness, a quiet anticipation that fills the air.
This is Salubongโa beloved tradition where sorrow encounters joy, and darkness yields to the radiant light of the Resurrection.
After the holy mass, two processions set out from different paths. On one side comes the image of the Risen Christโtriumphant, glorious, alive. On the other, the veiled image of the Blessed Motherโstill wrapped in grief, still bearing the sorrow of her Sonโs Passion. Step by step, prayer by prayer, the faithful walk with them, carrying within their hearts both the weight of suffering and the promise of hope.
Then comes the sacred moment of encounter. As the two images draw near, a profound silence falls upon the crowdโas if all creation pauses in reverence.
A child, clothed as an angel, is lifted to remove the veil of Mary. And in that simple yet deeply symbolic gesture, sorrow is transformed into joy. The Mother beholds her Risen Son. The veil is lifted, and so too are the burdens of the faithful.
Suddenly, the bells peal in jubilation. Songs of Alleluia rise into the morning sky. What was once solemn becomes radiant. What was once heavy is now light. Faces once marked by mourning now shine with Easter joy.
What takes place is more than a reenactmentโit is a living proclamation of our faith: that Christ has conquered death, that no darkness can overcome His light, and that no sorrow is without hope. In Buenavista, even amid the richness of diverse beliefs and traditions, the Catholic faithful stand united in this powerful witnessโwalking together, and rejoicing as one people in the Risen Lord.
Here, in the quiet streets and faithful hearts of the parish, Easter is not merely rememberedโit is truly encountered, lived, and proclaimed.
Alleluia, alleluia! Christ is risen!
๐ทPhotos by HCJP SOCCOM