Last night, I begged my mom if we could watch something non-religious, and she replied with a flat-out no. “It’s Holy Week!” she said. 

Since Palm Sunday, it’s been nothing but holy movies in our home. So much of the Christian faith has always been easier for me to grasp through visuals—either films, paintings, or shows. So at Palm Sunday mass, while a couple of kids cried out and the priest blessed the palms with holy water, the musical tune from “Jesus Christ Superstar” looped in my head, “Hosanna, heysanna, sanna, sanna Ho-sanna, hey-sanna, ho-sanna… Hey J.C, won’t you smile at me? Sanna, ho-sanna, hey superstar”.

Ever since Lent started, our post-dinner routine has been news, followed by something holy—nothing too violent or too sexual. (Although I’ll admit, I still sneak into my room to watch “White Lotus” before bed.)

READ: Lights, camera, canonization: These sacred stories on film might just lift your spirits

Since that list of Holy Week movies made the rounds on the tita Viber circuit, we’ve watched “The Reluctant Saint” (about St. Joseph of Cupertino), “Marcellino Pan y Vino” (fictional but adorable), and just last night, “The Courage to Love”—a surprisingly compelling 2000 TV movie on religious sister Henriette Delille and the racial tensions between Creoles and whites in 19th century New Orleans.

And to my surprise, these movies were grounding while entertaining. St. Joseph of Cupertino, the gentle saint, reminded me to quit gossiping and judging. Marcellino Pan y Vino made me feel more childlike. And Henriette Delille gave me something to chew on about racial history and faith.

So even if I did fail my Lenten sacrifices of alcohol, chocolate, and coffee, these movies did help me reflect on the value of faith.

And if you’re spending Holy Week in the city, here are some day-by-day activities (some traditional and some a little less so) you can still do to get into the Holy Week spirit.

April 16 – Spy Wednesday 

In our parish, this is basically the last day for confession before the big Holy Week services. It’s aptly named Spy Wednesday in reference to Judas Iscariot as a “spy” and his betrayal of Jesus. A fitting time to reflect on our own betrayals, minor or not, in the sacrament of confession.

There’s also a tradition called the “Spy Wednesday Silver Hunt” where children search the house for 30 hidden coins, just like the 30 pieces of silver Judas received for Jesus’ life. When you actually hold that little change in your hand, it makes you wonder, were those 30 coins really worth a person’s life, God incarnate no less?

READ: Our 10 favorite mass songs 

April 17 – Maundy Thursday

Ah, so the non-working holidays begin! Maundy Thursday recalls the ceremonial washing of feet, often reenacted during mass. Some families also join the famous Alay Lakad, the walk to Antipolo Cathedral—which, last year, saw around 7.4 million people in the pilgrimage. There’s also the Chrism Mass at the Manila Cathedral, where Cardinal Advincula will bless the sacred chrism and oils. 

But what I remember most about Maundy Thursday is the vigil. I remember going to my first vigil at the altar of repose and wanting to cry. After mass, I thought it was over, but my mom tricked me! The vigil lasted for five hours until midnight. It was long, yes, but I suppose beautiful, too, in hindsight. A quiet, candlelit meditation on the Last Supper and Jesus’ time in Gethsemane. 

April 18 – Good Friday

On Good Friday, as a child, even at the beach, we weren’t allowed to play, listen to music, or read until after 3 p.m. So we’d sit quietly under the sun and just think. Fearful, too, of offending Jesus on the most solemn day. 

Now as an adult, I get it more. There is no mass, no Eucharist, no distractions. Just prayers, the dramatic reading of the Seven Last Words, and the Visita Iglesia, the practice of visiting seven churches, often done between Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. And in the Philippines, I think the Visita Iglesia definitely counts as a sacrifice, as it’s always done under the sweltering sun.

There are also the Stations of the Cross, either done inside the church or DIY-style. I remember my aunt printing out each station for us kids and we’d take turns reading and positioning them around the house, in a treasure hunt-like manner.

But this is the day that Christ died, and the quiet is meant to reflect that.

April 19 – Black Saturday
I’ve always thought of Black Saturday as a day of in-betweens. Black Saturday remembers the earthly body of Jesus lying in the tomb. And the “blackness” of it marks it as a day of waiting, of mourning, and in a way, limbo.

On this day, some churches hold vigils or devotions, and others, like mine, have events like an Encuentro and an Easter dance. I’ve never attended one, but maybe this year I will.

READ: Why are the statues in church covered during Lent?

April 20 – Easter Sunday

Hurrah! Lent is officially over. Easter Sunday, aside from Christmas, is one of my favorite days of the year. I was also born on Easter.

On this day, churches are full. Families flock to the church, often regardless of whether on holiday out of town or not. The statues are uncovered and people are in their Sunday best. The day feels joyful, hopeful, and celebratory.

As a kid, Easter for me meant a chocolate egg hunt and lots of cake. This year, since I gave up alcohol for Lent and Lent will have finished, I’m probably celebrating with a tipple of champagne instead.

**

Whether you followed all the Lenten rules or broke a few (or all) of them, there’s still time to catch up. Faith, after all, is rarely about perfection. Sometimes, it’s about trying again through stories, silence, or rituals that have been around for centuries.

And if nothing else, maybe just watch “The Courage to Love.” It’s free on YouTube. The TV movie is not only surprisingly good, but also a reminder that holiness can look like many things, even resistance, even history, or even a quiet evening with family like your über-holy-mom.