Catholic devotees flocked to the National Shrine and Parish of the Divine Mercy in Marilao and the Minor Basilica of La Purisima Concepcion in Sta. Maria, Bulacan for Palm Sunday rites on March 24.
Bulakenyos and visitors from different places attended the Holy Mass, raised and waived their palm fronds to be blessed by priests.
As early as 2:30 a.m., vendors had already set their palm fronds outside the churches for sale.
At exactly 5:00 in the morning, the reenactment of Jesus Christ's grand entry to the Holy Land of Jerusalem in Marilao was held from Sta. Rosa Chapel II up to Sta. Faustina Hall of the National Shrine and Parish of the Divine Mercy, followed by a Holy Mass.
At 5:30 in the morning in Sta Maria, the procession was held from the Chapel of Santa Lucia-Macaiban Sub-Parish Pastoral Council (SPPC) up to the Minor Basilica of La Purisima Concepcion grounds where the Holy Mass was held.
Devotees laid down rugs at the doorway of the church where children dressed up as angels showered petals as the image of Jesus Christ riding a donkey arrived in a reenactment of His grand entry to the Holy land of Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, Governor Daniel Fernando said the Bulacan Police Provincial Office headed by Col. Relly B. Arnedo and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) headed by Ret. Police Col. Manuel M. Lukban Jr. briefed the teams deployed to augment civic groups and local policemen in the different public assistance centers in key areas in the province.
Fernando said devotees are expected to come in droves to witness different age-old Lenten traditions like the man-made Golgotha in Bgy. Kapitangan, Paombong where faith healers are being crucified in reenactment of the passion of Lord Jesus Christ; the Grotto Shrine in the City of San Jose del Monte; the Divine Mercy Shrine in Marilao, and the station of the cross at the Banal na Bundok in San Miguel and other areas.
He also said they wanted to ensure that Bulakenyos and visitors from different places in Luzon would be safe on their pilgrimage.
"Bulacan has many Lenten traditions where people can reflect and pray," he said.
Ambulances with paramedics were deployed in vital areas in different parts of the province.
Fernando called on the public to observe safety measures to protect their homes.
In case of emergency, the public can call 044-791-0566.