Residents of San Antonio, Zambales, gathered before dawn on Easter Sunday to participate in the traditional Salubong ritual, which enacts the meeting between the Risen Christ and the Virgin Mary. This deeply rooted Filipino religious practice marks the joyful resurgence celebrated at the end of the Lenten season, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The town of San Antonio experienced a significant influx of visitors throughout Holy Week, with over 40,000 tourists reported by Black Saturday, most frequenting beaches in Barangays Pundaquit and San Miguel. The municipal tourism office noted that by Good Friday, the tourist count had already surpassed 9,000, reflecting the town's rising prominence as a Central Luzon destination.
In neighboring San Felipe, another coastal municipality in Zambales, more than 10,000 tourists arrived by Black Saturday, boosting local resort activity, especially among surfing enthusiasts and vacationers seeking a laid-back beach experience. Local authorities continue to gather data to determine the final tourist numbers for the period.
Religious observances in San Antonio continued through Good Friday’s processes, where hundreds of life-sized religious images were paraded by devotees known as camareros. This event underscores the community’s strong devotion and the integral role of religious rituals in the town’s cultural fabric.
Officials and tourism stakeholders now look ahead to analyzing post-Holy Week data to enhance visitor management and promote sustainable tourism, while residents and pilgrims maintain the preservation of traditional rites such as the Salubong to strengthen local identity and religious heritage.
Zambales
San Antonio
