Salubong 2023 (Parokya ni Sto. Domingo de Guzman)

Ending the observation of Holy Week 2023 with a "Salubong", a practice by Filipino Catholics during the eve of Black Saturday until dawn of Easter Sunday.
The Salubong (Tagalog term for meeting or encounter) is a popular devotion that marks the start of Easter Sunday in the Philippines. It is a reenactment of the meeting or encounter of the Resurrected Christ and Mary after he has risen from the dead. Traditionally, it is performed at dawn on Easter Sunday or Pasko ng Pagkabuhay. In recent years, some parishes do it earlier, sometimes even right after the Easter Vigil Mass.
Easter Vigil Mass is held on the eve of Holy Saturday (also known as Black Saturday or Sabado de Gloria), marking the end of Lent and the start of the Easter Season. After the mass, devotees gather in front of the church to prepare for the procession. Male devotees gather behind the carosa (carriage) of the image of the Risen Christ while the female devotees gather behind the image of the Mater Dolorosa (Sorrowful Mother), covered with a black veil which symbolizes her grief on the death of her Son. Each image takes a separate route but will eventually meet outside the church or a plaza near the church. The performance of the Salubong commences once the two images meet.
In some parishes in Bataan, a child dressed as an angel sits on a swing while being suspended in a kubol, a high arch made of bamboo and decorated with coconut leaves and fresh flowers. The child sings as he or she is being lowered to remove the veil of the Sorrowful Mother as she meets her Risen Son. The choir and the attendees sing Hosanna or Hallelujah upon the removal of the veil.
While the meeting of Jesus and Mary on Easter Sunday is non-biblical, Filipino devotees would like to believe that it was Mary to whom Jesus first appeared to take away her sorrow and share with her the joy of His resurrection; just like how in the Filipino culture, a son would always run to his mother. Happy Easter!
Text by the National Museum of the Philippines, Ethnology Division.
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