CAINTA HIGHLIGHTS SEMANA SANTA 2025 WITH PARADA NG PANATA
May 5, 2025
True to its century-old religious and cultural customs, Cainteños once again gathered and commemorated the Holy Week for 2025 with its entire line up of activities, from the various Panata & Senakulo groups now at a total count of 18.
For its century-old Panata group, the Samahang Krus sa Nayon, Inc. (founded in 1904), its Holy Week began with their senakulo or passion play on Palm Sunday at the Tanghalang Cainta. Their play ran every night until Easter Sunday.
Another renowned Panata group, Samahang Nazareno Inc. (founded in 1950) began their passion play on Holy Monday at the One Arena. Their play ran every night until Easter Sunday also. Both groups packed their venues with eager and devoted audiences.
There are 16 other Panata groups that held their senakulo in various venues, even outside Cainta. These groups are:
Samahang Krus sa Nayon (f. 1904)
Samahang Nazareno (f. 1950)
Sacrifice Club of Cainta
Samahang Penitensya ng Cainta, Rizal
1994 Samahang Pieta
D’Wilsoners Club of Barrio Dayap
Pasang Krus ng General Ricarte
Krus ng Kalbaryo
Samahang Kabataang Walang Sindak ng Cainta
Romans Clubs of Baryo
Samahang Hesus Nazareno ng Sitio Victoria
Cainta Salubong at Kapitana
Cainta Nazarene
Pilak ng San Roque, Cainta
Samahang Crux Fideliz ng Cainta, RIzal
Galileans Club of Cainta
Samahang Kabataan ng Hudea
Jesus Nazareno ng Sampalucan
The highlight of Cainta’s Semana Santa is the Parada ng Panata, the Grand Parade of all Panata groups depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross. The parade starts from A. Bonifacio Avenue at the Ortigas Junction, for the whole stretch of A. Bonifacio Avenue and back, until the front of the former Liwasang Bayan. After the parade, at the former Liwasang Bayan, the final play of Paghahatol ni Hesus is performed by the chosen panata group for 2025, Jesus Nazareno ng Sampalucan.
Several processions or Prusisyon were also held during the Semana Santa. Processions were held on Holy Wednesday – Prusisyon ng Pagpapasakit ng Panginoon, on Good Friday– Prusisyon ng Paglibing ng Panginoon, and on Saturday before the Easter vigil.
On Black Saturday, an Easter vigil, or Salubong was held at the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Light, which extended all the way to Easter Sunday. The Kapitana was featured for the Salubong, and true to tradition, 4 young ladies, the 4 Kapitanas, were presented to the public. The 4 Kapitanas were chosen from the 4 barangays - Barangay Sto. Niño, Barangay Sta. Rosa, Barangay San Roque and Barangay San Andres.
Indeed, Holy Week celebrations in Cainta are truly unique in the Philippines. It is only in Cainta, Rizal will one find a centuries-old tradition of senakulo, penitensya, parada and prusisyon by 18 Panata groups thriving and active. It is Cainta’s deep devotion and commitment that has allowed this religious and cultural tradition to thrive for more than a century, and it is the same devotion and commitment that the new generation carries in their minds and hearts.