LGUs prepare for Holy Week

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) disclosed yesterday that it will intensify its drive versus “tax cheats” to step up local collection in Central Luzon.

This, as BIR RR4 Regional Director Jethro Sabariaga told Sun.Star Pampanga that the

CLARK FREEPORT — The local government units of the City of San Fernando and Angeles City are now preparing for the influx of tourists and visitors during the observance of the Holy Week next month.

The tourism officers of Angeles City and City of San Fernando revealed this during the monthly talk show of the Pampanga Press Club (PPC) dubbed News @ Hues at Park Inn by Radisson Clark on Tuesday. In the City of San Fernando, Tourism Officer Ching Pangilinan said the city government, through the executive committee headed by Charles Espiritu, has prepared a program including a security plan for the villages of San Pedro Cutud, Santa Lucia, and San Juan, where the yearly tradition of crucifixion or nailing on the cross of flagellants take place.

Aside from this, the city government under the leadership of Mayor Edwin Santiago has also included in the grand preparation the schedule of events at the Metropolitan Cathedral which is the center of religious activities during the Holy Week.

“With the executive order issued by Mayor Edwin Santiago, the executive committee is preparing for the events in these three barangays. At the same time, we have incorporated the schedule of the observances at the Metropolitan Cathedral. So I think that’s one of the things that we are working on now is promoting the cathedral as a site for pilgrimage tourism rather than just focus on the mere crucifixions,” Pangilinan said.

While the city government acknowledges these traditions as part of the villagers’heritage, it also assists the three villages in the organization of the events, according to her.

“For this year, the city government is limited to interventions in terms of traffic, security, safety, media accreditation and tourist assistance for those who will be coming to San Fernando during the Holy Week,” Pangilinan sai d.

“Dahil po ganoon yun naging arrangements, lahat ng organizing activities nasa barangay level with assistance from the city government. So what we will do at the executive committee is to monitor the implementation of the projects for these three barangays,” she added.

In Angeles City, Assistant Tourism Officer Cornelio “Jun” Cruz said that the city government has been coordinating with officials of Barangay Lourdes North West (LNW), where the re-enactment of the Siete Palabras (Seven Last Words) is held, as early as February this year.

“Mayroon po itong play directed by Jason Pabalan ng Real Artista. Nag-iistart ito ng Thursday ng gabi for the last supper sa basketball court ng LNW. Then next day po, Friday, nag iistart po yung reenactment doon din po sa basketball court na yung mga Hudio hinuhuli at pinapalo palo si Cristo pero hindi naman po toong flagellation yun, it is all an act,” Cruz sai d.

But the crucifixion of flagellants in the said village is real and it is held at exactly 3:00 pm on Good Friday, according to Cruz.