IMUS, Cavite: The province of Cavite maybe synonymous to a plethora of historical events like being the birthplace of Philippine Independence. But did you konow that it is also home to centuries old Lenten practices such as the “Pabasa ng Pasyon” (Reading of the Passion, a province-wide observance), “Penitensya” (Penance, in Ligtong of Rosario town) and “Santo Entierro” (Holy Burial, also province-wide). One family who still observe the tradition by heart is the Montoya-Sayoc-Dominguez of Imus City. Architect Romy Sayoc Cord Cruz, from the family’s 6th generation of the Sayoc lineage, traces the start of the family’s observance of this tradition from “old documents, dating back to 1878, written by my great-great grandfather Emeterio Dominguez entailing the expenses on the materials used for Santo Entierro.” Although there is no other documentary evidence of when the practice actually began, one thing that he is sure of is that the Santo Entierro they have is owned by Nicolasa Sosa Dominguez Sayoc. If the Montoya-Sayoc-Dominguez clan of Imus City do the ceremony every Palm Sunday, another family – the Riego De Dios-Salazar clan of Indang town, holds the ceremony on Maundy Thursday, “to prepare the Santo Entierro for Good Friday,” says Teresita Basa Victoria (whose mom is a Salazar). Like the Montoya-Sayoc-Dominguez clan, there is no documentary evidence of when the tradition actually started. All she knows, from stories laid down from one generation to another, is that the family tradition started from the time of their ancestors – Hervacio Riego De Dios Salazar and Martha Aure Perey. Coming from the 4th generation of the Salazar lineage, Victoria narrates that the family’s tradition is marked by the sculpted image of the dead Christ being brought out from its permanent place, to its designated “higaan” (resting place) in the family’s home.
