Cavite starts preparing for Holy Week
SILANG, Cavite – The Cavite Tourism Office, the local police and the 23 local government units in this province are now starting to prepare for the Holy Week.
The early preparation aims to make the pilgrimage and church visit in the province safe and secure for everyone.
In anticipation of the increased influx of pilgrims and other tourists this Semana Santa, the provincial government of Cavite, through the Office of the Provincial Tourism Officer, conducted a coordination meeting last March 5 at the Silang Municipal Government’s Multi-Purpose Hall.
Wariness for the Holy Week were discussed among tourism officers, along with representatives from the barangay committee on tourism of the eight cities and 15 municipalities of the province, including the cities of Tagaytay, Bacoor, Imus, General Trias, Cavite and the municipalities of Tanza, Maragondon, Kawit and Silang, where the major churches of the province are located.
According to Imelda Rozelle S. Sangalang, head of the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO), as early as the first week of March, local government units have started preparing for the observance of the Holy Week.
“Tents and stations are installed, especially in churches frequented by devotees. Safety training was also conducted by our local tourism offices of the 23 localities,” Sangalang said.
“We are closely monitoring not just the arrival of tourists but all tourism activities, with the help of our local tourism offices,” she said, adding that the provincial government of Cavite, through the Provincial Health Office, has issued a “Code White Alert” for the entire province effective Palm Sunday, March 24, to March 31, Easter Sunday
Based on the data provided by the PTCAO, the most visited Catholic churches in Cavite for pilgrimage during Holy Week are: The oldest church in the province – Nuestra Senora de Candelaria in Silang town; the Diocesan Shrine of Saint Augustine in Tanza; Saint Mary Magdalene in Kawit; the Our Lady of the Pillar Cathedral in Imus City; the Saint Michael the Archangel Parish in Poblacion, Bacoor City; the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Church in Maragondon and the San Roque Church of the Nuestra Señora de Porta Vaga in Cavite City
Churches in Cavite that were built during the Spanish colonization period are the St. John Nepomucene in Alfonso town, Immaculate Conception of Dasmariñas City, San Francisco de Asis of General Trias City, St. Gregory, The Great of Indang town, Immaculate Conception of Naic Town, St. Augustine church of Mendez Nuñez town and Sto. Niño de Ternate.
Most visited churches in Tagaytay City include the Pink Sisters Convent and Chapel, the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Tierra de Madre, Don Bosco Batulao, Calaruega and San Antonio de Padua Churches in Nasugbu, Batangas.
Cavite residents are also expected to return home either to visit their loved ones or participate in the traditional activities like the “Pabasa” and processions during Holy Week.
Sangalang added that members of the respective Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of the localities, the police and other volunteers would be deployed in strategic areas to respond to any emergency.
