With the threat of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and with the imposition of different community quarantine restrictions, parishes had to resort to different ways of blessing the palm fronds of the faithful on Palm Sunday.
Those who have public Masses blessed the palm fronds of the faithful inside the church.
As for those who joined the Mass via livestream, priests blessed the palm branches virtually during the prayer of blessing.
"The proclamation of the Word of God and the prayer of blessing suffice to impart the blessing. No need to sprinkle holy water," the Manila Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission said in their recommendations for Holy Week.
A parish in Bulacan, meantime, asked the faithful to leave their palm branches outside the church with their nametag so it can be blessed during the Mass.
Catholics marked the beginning of Holy Week on Sunday with Palm Sunday.
Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem.