Good Friday, 12 noon, 7 kinds of leaves

By Reya Buenaventura

Good Friday is the representation of that Friday where Christ died for us. That is a fact, that if not everyone, at least most people know.

Each one may have their own tradition throughout Holy Week, but Crispina Dela Cruz or Inang “Pina” has a different tradition specifically during Good Friday, and Good Friday alone.

It was not something she learned and did on her own, but it was the tradition passed to her from her mother.

Inang Pina, on her 85 years of existence has always practiced it every Good Friday of every year without miss. She gathers leaves of any plant or tree, seven different kinds of leaves, at 12 noon. She is so strict about it. Good Friday, 12 noon, 7 kinds of leaves.

“Kukuha ka ng dahon ng bayabas, abokado, banaba, suha, sambong. Eh kami, pitong (klase) dahon kinukuha” Inang Pina, explained.

What she does with them? She boils it, or dries them up and uses it as medicine for her 8 kids whenever they get any sort of illness.

“Minsan ipapangpaligo nila, ipanggagamot kapag masakit ang tiyan, o kaya siya ‘kong ipinaiinom (sa mga anak ko)”

In addition with her Good Friday rituals, Inang Pina also adopted the tradition of her family, to store water on Maundy Thursday and never open any water source on Good Friday, for they believed that water is not clean on Friday as it already has blood in it, living up with what happened on Good Friday which was the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.

Inang Pina and her family has and is a devotee of Saint Peter and has participated in every procession up to this time.

Such beliefs and practices still do exist up to this time especially with elders who have experienced it from their parents in the old times.