Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David called on Filipinos to step out of hiding and actively seek truth and hope, using the “salubong” ritual as a powerful symbol of spiritual awakening, during his Easter Sunday homily on April 20.

Addressing a crowd of parishioners at the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of the Immaculate Conception in Malabon City, David reflected on the Filipino tradition of “salubong,” a pre-dawn ritual that symbolizes the encounter between the risen Christ and the grieving Mary.

He said the closest English translation for “salubong” could be “to meet, to seek, and to welcome with open arms and longing.”

“If you truly wish to meet the Risen Lord, you have to step out. You have to come out of hiding. You have to walk into the light,” he said.

David, who is also the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), explained that the salubong serves as a reminder to move beyond sorrow and embrace the light of Christ. 

He cited how the image of Our Lady Mary Magdalene is veiled in black during the ritual to represent grief and the darkness that can cloud one’s vision when weighed down by pain.

“When our hearts are covered in darkness, we cannot see the light—even if it’s already standing right in front of us,” David said.

The Cardinal connected this spiritual blindness to the current state of the country.

“How can we recognize leaders who genuinely care for our people, when we allow our eyes to be blinded by ayuda (aid)? When we mistake propaganda and viral posts on social media for truth? When our hearts are full of resentment and anger, how can we see hope? When we allow bitterness to fester, how can light break in?” he asked.

David pointed out the need for guidance, especially among the youth, to stay grounded in truth and purpose.

“That’s why it’s important for the younger generation to listen to the wisdom of those who’ve gone before them. If not, they might get lost—and miss out on the future waiting to meet them. If not, they might get lost—and miss out on the future waiting to meet them,” he said.

David closed his homily by reminding the faithful that the ultimate gift of the Resurrection is the coming of the Holy Spirit, which offers hope and unites people in love, even in Christ’s physical absence.

To mark this spiritual renewal, David proposed a new Filipino Easter greeting, “Maligayang Pagsalubong” (Happy Meeting), as a meaningful alternative to the traditional “Maligayang Paskong Pagkabuhay” (Happy Easter), to signify the active act of seeking and welcoming the risen Christ into one's life.

He said the new greeting captures the joyful spirit of the salubong tradition and reflects Easter as a season of personal and spiritual renewal.