Innocents Day ritual helps locals keep faith

A FESTIVAL celebrated on “Holy Innocents Day” in the central Philippine province of Aklan, reminds Filipinos to keep their faith strong amid modern-day challenges.

“At present, the devil will do everything to snatch from us the foundation of our family. We must remain firm in faith in Christ,” said Father Tito Gelito, parish priest of St. Joseph the Worker in Malay town.

The parish hosts the annual “Yawa Yawa” ritual or “The Devil’s ritual” on Dec. 27 when locals dress up as devils and grab things from people until they pay with money or goods, in a similar spirit to “trick or treating” at Halloween.

In the village of Argao, families mark “Ninos Inocentes” or “Innocent Children Day” on the last Sunday of December by reenacting King Herod’s murder of male children, including the kidnapping of the baby Jesus.

Villagers offer sacks or rice and corn in exchange for Jesus’ freedom. There are similar rituals in other towns in the province on Dec. 28.

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