The whole of Christendom marks today the observance of Palm Sunday to commemorate the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into the city of Jerusalem amidst the faithful's chants of hosannas. Palm Sunday is a Christian holy day that marks the beginning of Holy Week. At the St. Joseph Cathedral in this city, The Most Reverend Leonardo Medrozo, D.D., bishop of the diocese of Tagbilaran, will officiate the Palm Sunday Mass at 9:00 o'clock this morning. Palm Sunday masses will also be held in the towns. An advisory from the St. Joseph rectory reminded all the faithful living in residences along the procession route during Holy Wednesday and Good Friday to display radio sets and karaokes which are hook up to Station DYRD which will be broadcasting the Holy Rosary. The people are also advised to light up candles in their respective residences along the procession route.

The observance of Lent in some Bohol towns like Baclayon, Loboc, Maribojoc, Loon and Tubigon takes a new spiritual dimension after their churches suffered damages due to the ferocity of the 7.2 magnitude that hit the province like October 15. In these places where their churches crumbled to the ground, temporary buildings were constructed beside the houses of worship for the faithful to continue their spiritual obligation of their Catholic faith. Although Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is recounted in all four canonical gospels, the traditions of Palm Sunday are largely based on the description from the Gospel of John . They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" (John 12:12-13) By waving him with palm branches and using them to cover his path as he rode into the city on a donkey, the crowd indicated that he was revered and respected on the level of royalty, and as a challenge to the power of the Roman empire and priests that ruled Jerusalem.

To celebrate the occasion, many Christian churches -- both Catholic and Protestant as well as the Eastern churches -- distribute palm leaves to congregation members who then carry them in a procession either inside or outside of the church. Often the palm fronds are knotted or woven into small crosses that can be kept by individuals in their homes as a reminder of the lessons of Holy Week. In areas of the world where palm leaves are not readily available, other native plants may be substituted and Palm Sunday may be alternatively referred to as Yew Sunday, Willow Sunday, or whatever else is used in that locality. For Christians, Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the final week of Lent and the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter. It is also connected to the following year's liturgical calendar as the palm leaves are often returned to the church to be burned in the next year's Ash Wednesday rituals.