Lenten Cocoa, Cenaculo and No Cable

There is nothing like going through the Lenten Season during the pre-Internet age in the Philippines. I kid you not when I say that as children of the late 70s to 80s, we instinctively felt the season in our bones. The somber atmosphere pervaded our existence—there was no cable, no internet, no loud music and the constant reminder from the elders to shush up. Still, I wouldn’t give up the experience for anything in the world. Except perhaps, to see the Rouketopolemos or rocket war during Easter in Chios, Greece.

Yes, it was the pre-cable, pre-Internet age, so we were forced to go into a technological purge since there was nothing interesting to watch on television. It was either the station ID or the lenten tear-jerkers churned out by the networks to put us into a guilt-filled ride throughout the week. So, with nothing interesting on TV, we would go around town to find ways to while away the time.

In our town, some families would have a makeshift altar for the “Pabasa ng Pasyon” (The Reading of the Passion of Christ) encouraging neighbors to take turns in the recitation or chanting. Devotees, who oftentimes performed the rite as a “panata” or vow, would chant in shifts to ensure there would be no break to the process. This would go on for 24 hours until Good Friday. We would go to these readings to drink this thick homemade chocolate brew which some families make from tablea or pure cacao beans. The magical

Article source: http://www.postguam.com/forum/featured_columnists/lenten-cocoa-cenaculo-and-no-cable/article_9b0256ec-f3b7-11e5-99b1-67cf192de6bb.html