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| Map of Bantayan Island |
An island which has the same features of the country's famous tourist attraction Boracay Island, is just lying in the northern part of Cebu province. It is believed that Boracay looks likely the same as Bantayan Island series of years ago. It was just improved, developed and renovated to entertain and attract visitors specially tourist coming from different parts of the globe.
The best tourist spots of Bantayan Island is the white sand beaches that dwell in number in the island. It is a perfect place to have bonding gathering and hang-outs for family and friends. It is extremely nice to experience the splash of the crystal clear blue water under the heat of the summer sun. Aside from having delicious sea foods available in every area, Bantayanons are also accommodating and very hospitable to the visitors. These are the reasons why tourism boost the island specially during summer seasons and during the holy week. Holy week often fall in the month of April. It is the time where people seek for beautiful places to spend there vacation.
Fishing industry is the main source of livelihood of the people there due to its geographic location. This is also the reason why Bantayanons have the exemption to eat meat during the Holy week. The fishermen opted to stay together with their families during the Lenten Season. The document stating this exemption can be found inside the Museum just beside the church of the Municipality of Bantayan. The fact that people are restricted to eat meat dishes during the season, many people preferred to visit the island and rather make a celebration there. Most of the local and foreign tourists preferred to be there rather than to sacrifice and eat only porridge and soup for the whole week. Other even misinterpret the way Bantayanons face the Holy week Celebration. Most of the people coming over the island think of the idea that they were having the annual fiesta since it is fun being there.
During the Holy Thursday and Good Friday, there is a traditional procession parade where statues of Jews and the Roman soldiers were there it provides a clear picture of the series of scenes of Christ crucifixion. Statues have human like sizes that makes it very realistic and catching to the eyes of the viewers. Seeing the different presentation of the moving Cart containing the different Biblical scenes are very awesome and satisfactory. Flashes of lights coming from the different cameras seemed to be never ending from capturing images.
Often times a sign will be posted in the church entrance where are stated in Visayan language, it reads "Dili fiesta karun, June pa" (our annual fiesta falls in the month of June). . . It is a sort of public information telling the people about the real score of the celebration thus, letting them think of the essence of celebrating the Holy Week as commemoration of the death of Christ. Even though people from other provinces already consider this as part of their vacation, they are very prone to the act of failing to notice what is referred to as the Holy week, in the real sense.
