PANAAD 2009 (Camiguin Island)

I heard one foreign tourist disbelievingly saying, “One thing I like most about Filipinos is their strong faith to God.” He witnessed how the huge crowd swarmed in Walkway to Volcano on Holy Thursday to offer their respective prayers from one station to another. I and my hubby were in that crowd. I figured why that tourist gave that remark.

The two major and famous Holy Week activities in the island include the via crucis in Walkway and the tiresome walk-around-the-entire-island. I and Peter chose to do the former and perhaps we would do the latter as well next time to at least feel the pain and suffering of Christ. The Camiguinons and the tourists from the different places usually do both as their means of sacrifice – part of “Panaad.”

I just hope that people would join the annual “Panaad” celebration in Camiguin Island not just because it’s part of the culture…………….not because they’re curious on how the stations in Walkway look like and how it feels like reaching the last station on top of the hill……………. not because they love the adventure in walking the entire island which if successfully done is much worth-telling. May the people join the “Panaad” in order to make a pledge of spiritual renewal………….to see the sweetness of pain and the beauty of sacrifice……………….that sometimes, we need to experience the bitterness of pain so we would appreciate more the sweetness of joy………………that sometimes, we need to sacrifice our earthly needs and our desire for luxury in order to build a promising life………….that at times, we need to sacrifice like a self-sacrificing candle, melting itself while its providing light to others………….that whenever the rough gets going, God is always there and there is no reason to easily give up.

May the annual “Panaad” in Camiguin during Holy Week continue to enlighten the people that it is not basically about keeping the promise to join the celebration alone. But, “Panaad” is itself a message to everyone that life has to be lived with sacrifices in order to achieve eternal peace and happiness……….and that life must go on despite of the pain and failures that beset us. Just like Jesus Christ, he fell several times to the ground, yet, he fended to rise and continue carrying the cross without complaints.

“Panaad” truly became a reminder of the need to sacrifice……..to change…….to renew…..and to make a difference. As the foreign tourist said, “Filipinos are absolutely religious.” It should be a description or a label to live and to prove in our hearts.

I left Camiguin after the Holy Week, yet, the message of “Panaad” is what I will ruminate about although out my life……………to sacrifice for others ………….to change for the better………to renew and live life without fear and with much faith………….and to build a difference for peace and love. I wish I could spread its message to everyone else.