TIME FOR REFLECTION
The Lenten season is that time of the year when everyone is expected to reflect on their lives and reconnect with their spiritual side.
And your favorite PBA stars have their own Lenten rituals to speak of.
Said Alaska guard JVee Casio: “Holy Week means it’s time to reflect, to just be with the family and trying to be reflective on what happened sa life.”
Casio, who says will be spending his first Holy Week together with his wife, said that in contrast to those who opt to go out-of-town for a vacation, he’s one of those who’d just rather spend time at home.
“You have to take everything slow. I’m being with my family, and that’s the important thing. Staying at home will give me time to reflect on my career, yung sa team, and sa life,” he said.
Ginebra’s Dylan Ababou has his own approach, saying that it has been a habit of theirs to go out-of-town and do their prayer meetings there
“Nagkikita-kita kaming mga friends, nagkakaroon ng get together, and do our Bible study,” he said. “Naga-out-of-town kami. Dun namin ginagawa yung Bible study sa pupuntahan namin na beach.”
The former UST star added, “Holy Week means it’s the time for the Lord, para mag-meditate ka.”
“I’m taking time to reflect para kausapin mo si Lord, na isipin mo yung mga blessings na binigay Nya sa yo, at isipin mo rin yung mga kasalanang ginawa mo. Kumbaga, time talaga para sa Kanya. Sa Kanya muna, wag muna yung mga ibang bagay,” Ababou said.
Others also take the Holy Week as a time for a breather, reconnecting with their roots in the process.
“Pag Holy Week, nagma-Mass ako at minsan, naga-attend din ako ng procession sa province namin pag wala kaming practice,” said LA Tenorio, who hails from Batangas.
Tenorio follows the usual tradition diligently, saying “Pag Lenten season, every Friday, di talaga ako nagme-meat.”
“Holy Week kasi yung time natin to repent, ask for forgiveness, at gumawa ng mga sakripisyo,” he said.
Reynel Hugnatan of Meralco is honest enough to quip that he uses the Holy Week to spend time with his family and use it as a vacation.
“Kami, nagbabakasyon ako with my family, tapos dun na lang kami nagre-recharge,” he said. “Dati sa simbahan talaga ang punta ng mga tao. Pero yung iba kasi ngayon, ang tingin na bakasyon eh.”
Though it’s inevitable that majority of the people now take the Holy Week as a momentary break from their daily lives, it’s still evident that a lot of people acknowledge the importance of the occasion.
“Holy Week natin ginugunita yung nangyari kay Jesus Christ, pero yung cine-celebrate naman natin parati is yung pagkabuhay,” said Willie Miller. “Ever since nung bata kami, yun ang hinihintay namin. Malungkot ka ng Black Saturday, pero hinihintay mo yung pagkabuhay the next day. Pagdating ng Linggo, lahat masaya.”
He added, “Simula nung bata ako, naglalaro ako sa initan. So ngayon, ang sakripisyo ko is nagwo-workout ako. Pag di naman, sinasama ko yung mga anak ko na manood ng TV para manood nung mga palabas about Semana Santa, para malaman din nila yung nangyari kay Jesus Christ.”
Holy Week is indeed seen as a time for reflection, but for these basketball players, there is no time for recreation, given that competition in the Commissioner’s Cup will be fever pitch once the break is over.
“Kahit may pahinga, andun pa rin yung hard work kasi may game kami after ng break, so kailangan pa rin na focused ka,” Casio said.
“May practice pa rin kami eh, so yun yung penitensya namin. Pero at the same time, ginugunita pa rin namin yung Semana Santa as a team. Para naman sa team yun eh,” said Miller. (RL)
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