Despite being a predominantly Christian country with a religious population that values Easter Sunday, many Filipinos choose to spend Holy Week in provinces for traditional activities, while those staying in Manila can enjoy the peacefulness of the less-crowded city with options such as hotels, Easter egg hunts, fish spotting, and indoor climbing gyms. Many tourist destinations and museums have long breaks while most fine dining restaurants are closed, but hotels and in-house restaurants are open with promos. Regardless of location, the essence of Easter Sunday is to pray, contemplate, and renew oneself.

With Christianity as the main religion, Easter Sunday holds great importance for the majority of Filipinos as they commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Typically, many Filipinos travel to the provinces during the Holy Week to reflect on themselves and Christ’s sacrifices. Provinces in Bulacan, Malolos, Rizal, Pampanga, and Marinduque host traditional activities such as Senakulo, the staged reenactment of Christ’s passion, and Pabasa, an uninterrupted chanting of an epic poem narrating Jesus’ life, passion and death. However, due to inflation and Covid-19 restrictions, many Filipinos opt to stay in Manila, where they can enjoy the city’s brief peace and quiet as cities are less crowded during Holy Week. Families tend to stay in nice hotels along Manila Bay or in Makati, such as The Manila Hotel, Sofitel, Diamond Hotel, Conrad Manila, and Lime Resort Manila, among others. Manila also replicates the Easter egg hunt tradition adopted from the west. Popular malls like SM and Ayala, as well as famous hotels, organize Easter egg hunt events, with fish spotting and indoor climbing gyms also becoming popular pastimes. While many tourist destinations and museums in the metro are closed during Holy Week, Fort Santiago remains open. Holy Week is also an excellent time to indulge in fine dining, with restaurants in hotels guaranteed to be open and have promos related to the holiday. Regardless of one’s location, Filipinos are encouraged to pray, contemplate and have a moment of self-renewal, as it is the essence of Easter Sunday.