Travelers head to provinces ahead of Holy Week exodus

Several travelers opted to head to the provinces ahead of the Easter Triduum in anticipation of the influx of passengers in the coming days due to the approaching Holy Week.

According to Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) spokesperson Jason Salvador, there were some 49,000 passengers reported as of 2 p.m. on Sunday, with the peak expected on Wednesday and Thursday.

Malacañang declared March 28 or Maundy Thursday, and March 29, or Good Friday, as regular holidays, and March 30, or Black Saturday as a special non-working day.

Some travelers headed to the provinces earlier to be able to spend more time with their families, opting to take leaves from their respective jobs and make the most of the long weekend, as reported by Katrina Son on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

Devotees also chose to spend their Sunday at the Antipolo Cathedral, which was declared an internal shrine by the Vatican, the first in Southeast Asia and the third in the Asian region.

“Sobra ‘yung preparation natin ngayong Holy Week kasi sa pagiging international shrine, napansin namin simula pa January mas marami na ‘yung mga taong umaakyat dito sa Antipolo,” Antipolo Cathedral shrine Rector and Parish Administrator Fr. Nante Tolentino said in Darlene Cay’s report.

(We prepared thoroughly for the Holy Week because when we were made an international shrine last January, we noticed a lot more people have been visiting.) —  Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA Integrated News