A Bloody Traditional MAUNDY Thursday

The most common sight you'll see in
San Fernando, Pampanga
every Holy Week:

hundreds and hundreds of flagellants,
each atoning for the sins of the past year,
or supplicating for blessings for the year ahead.



A few extremists
have themselves crucified at Barrio Cutud.


My cousins and I are quite used to these sights;

during our pre-cable TV, pre-internet, and pre-DVD childhood days,
there really was nothing much to do during Holy Week
in San Fernando except enjoy the Bloody Show...

and of course,
pray all Three Mysteries of the Holy Rosary
in the darkened San Agustin Parish,

as our Lola Sally,
in her unique Ilocano-Capampangan accent,

led her clan in speed-reciting
"HeyliMaryfullofgracethelordiswideeblessedisdafrutofDamonJesus..."



After the Marian Marathon,
we all looked forward to the Bloody Good Maundy Thursday dinner:

overcompensating for Good Friday's NO MEAT menu
by overloading on the CALLOS,

and we would all fight over the Marca del Rey CHORIZO de BILBAO,
so much so that the family cooks eventually
made it the majority meat condiment in the recipe!




It's good to know that some things never change...


well,
except for the now mandatory desserts
from our family's very own Rachael Ray,
MOMMY PIE!

This year,
our "MP" outdid herself by baking a Bloody Great
SPECKLED COOKIES and CREAM CAKE...


and she managed to obtain a Bloody Spectacular Cheesecake
from THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY!!!