Churchgoers filled two major churches that were recently recognized by Pope Francis -- the Minor Basilica and Parish of Saint John the Baptist in Taytay and the International Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City in Rizal.

Devotees held fronds made of young coconut leaves, locally called "palaspas."

Ceremonies recalling the joyous entry of Jesus into Jerusalem were led by the Mass presider at the Taytay Basilica and Antipolo Shrine early morning ahead of the regular Palm Sunday Masses.

Before the 8 a.m. Mass at Antipolo’s International Shrine, Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos led the ritual in front of the Antipolo City Hall by reciting passages from the Holy Bible about the Jerusalem event with Jesus jubilantly welcomed by the people before walking towards the cathedral.

The flock also walked behind the bishop until they reached the cathedral to start the Palm Sunday Mass.

Meanwhile, the dawn Palm Sunday ritual at Taytay Basilica was also filled with church attendees holding their fronds and anticipating the blessing of the priest and the sprinkling of holy water on their fronds.

During the anticipated Palm Sunday Mass on March 23 at the Taytay Basilica, the evening Holy Mass, presided by Rev. Fr. Francis Edward Baasis, started with the reading of a passage from the Holy Bible about Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. 

The blessing of the fronds happened as the priest walked towards the altar, with the choir singing the Hosanna and the churchgoers waving the fronds. 

Church attendees seated outside the basilica had to rush to the sides of the church during the middle part of the Eucharistic celebration as a sudden drizzle happened.

Taytay Basilica was renovated ahead of its official declaration by Pope Francis as the country’s 23^rd minor basilica.

It was constructed in 1591 before it was rebuilt in 1640, making it the first church that was made of stone outside Manila. The official ceremony of its elevation happened in February this year.

Outside the gate of the Taytay Basilica, vendors were selling the fronds to churchgoers from P30 above per piece depending on the size and design.

One female vendor was selling a frond that was weaved like a heart shape while others sold their coconut leaf fronds with ribbons on the center of the handle.

A vendor told Manila Bulletin that they have been regular makers and vendors of the coconut fronds from Famy, Laguna.

The Antipolo Cathedral was officially declared as an international shrine in a ceremony in January this year before the Taytay church was elevated as a minor basilica by the decree from the Vatican.