CULTURA: Explore from the land who influenced us Christianity

By Johann Layug

For the past 10 years Maestro Willy Layug a renowned Kapampangan artist, together with his wife Bhaybee Layug has been visiting Spain every summer, a trip that lasts for 2 weeks to 30 days, especially during the period of Holy Week.

According to Layug this tradition of traveling started way back 2007 in his purpose of learning some new techniques to add to his craft.

“Since 2007, sabay ng nag-apprentice ako kay Jose Antonio Navarro Arteaga na famous escultor imagineria sa Seville, Spain” said Layug.

Despite its heavy demand on his pocket Willy together with his wife still comes back to Spain yearly not only to learn but also to travel and see some other European countries.

“Sa Europa: Spain, Italy, Germany, France, UK, Portugal, at iba pang bansa sa Europa.” Willy answered on the question what places they go to on their yearly trips.

As time goes by Willy have made friends with fellow escultors in Spain and also have learned to speak Spanish fluently.  Also he has managed to bring along some fellow Kapampangan escultors along to learn a thing or two from famous Spanish escultors.

 “Ang espesyal ay yung pamanang kultura ng Espanya, mga simbahan, cathedral at ang (iba pang) mga kultura na minana natin sa kanila gaya ng pag papalaganap ng Kristianismo sa Pilipinas.”
 

As of now Willy together with his wife and a handful of Kapampangan escultors are in Seville, Spain to encounter how they celebrate Holy Week.

“Ang pagkakaiba ng tradisyon ng Semana Santa sa Espanya ay ang Pilipinas ay sentro ng celebration nila ay sa loob ng simbahan like, ang Eucharist on the Passion of Christ. Sa Spain sa labas (ng simbahan) like Procession sa kanila karosa nila may paso (at walang gulong), sa Pilipinas may gulong ang karosa.”

Spain has been a remarkable country to spend Holy Week, according to different articles as it says that it is a must to go there and experience it personally.

Traditions, compared from there to here in the Philippines vary, as there pasos (karo or floats in the Philippines) are carried by at least 20 people.

They also have this brotherhood, which schedules who will carry the pasos next, in which they think of as a privilege to carry the pasos and roam it around during the procession.

Their traditional capirote is also eye-catching. These are the tall conical hat that covers their face; wearing the capirote means that they repent for their sins and that they are recognized as sinners.

(Photo credits:Lynch Kristoffer Flores and Edwin Layug)