Good Friday in Calaca, Batangas
A Family Tradition
All photos captured with the Nikon Zf with TT Artisan 35mm f1.4 for Leica M adapted using TT Artisan 6 bit M to Z Adapter
Every Holy Week, our family finds its way back to Calaca, Batangas. It’s more than a tradition, it’s a homecoming marked by faith, food, and the quiet rhythm of a town preparing for Good Friday. For as long as I can remember, this journey has been part of our lives, a sacred pause in the year that ties generations together.
One of the most meaningful parts of our observance is the Carosa; a beautifully adorned float that bears the figure of Mary Magdalene. It’s not just any float - as far as I know, it’s our family’s. Passed down and cared for through the years, it stands as a symbol of devotion and a quiet pride. Seeing her, hands clasped and eyes raised in sorrow, always grounds me.
We arrived before lunch to settle in and begin the familiar preparations. The house hummed with the usual energy, relatives catching up, the aroma of shared meals, and the quiet anticipation of the evening ahead. Magdalene’s Carosa stood ready, her garments arranged, her carosa lights unlit but waiting.
After lunch, with the afternoon sun still high, I stepped out and wandered toward the market. It was around 3 PM, and the town had taken on that distinctive Good Friday stillness. I walked slowly, scanning the street corners, wondering if I’d catch signs that the procession was ready.
By 5 PM, it began.
The bells tolled, prayers had begun and one by one, the Carosas began to move, rolled down the streets of Calaca in solemn grace. And among them, Magdalene, glowing under the dimming sky, her carosa lights now lit, became part of a centuries-old tapestry of grief, reflection, and hope.
No matter how many times I witness it, there’s always something quietly overwhelming about Good Friday here. It’s in the shared silence of the crowd, the sound of prayers, the scent of candlewax and flowers, the way time seems to stretch.
Every year we return, and every year it feels like the first time.