It's still fresh in the author's memory when he joined the procession and was wearing a pair of shoes. He was around 6 or 7 years old then - children are exempted to wear shoes when joining the Easter procession. Otherwise, the teens and adults have to walk barefoot during the procession.
During the author's teens, it was a bragging right for them to complete the procession barefooted. One had to contend with stepping on gums, and pebbles. The worst part of the walking experience is stepping on a spit! If one step on a gum or a spit, he's the laughing stock of the group. Though it's a funny story to tell afterwards.
I remember one participant plastered his sole with masking tape to protect it from elements of the asphalted road (yes, majority of the route then were not concreted yet). The author tried it once but the tape peeled off while walking downhill to Brgy. Burabod - must be the sweat or simply due to cratered road during that time.
Time has changed. The practice of walking in barefoot during the Easter procession is slowly changing. Not all now are compliant. But still a good sight when people do practice the old ways. Circa 2016.
On the side, the author realized that such practice actually engrained him the discipline and confidence, focusing on the religious and social aspect of it than the awkwardness of stepping on a gum or somebody's spit in the road.
But the time has changed. Back then, adults would frown if they see people wearing rubber slippers or a pair of shoes. It was just a no no back in the days. People talk loudly while in the procession (an sabi san mga gurang, an tawo niyan bagan nasa plasa man lang). The procession is now more of a social (novelty?) activity than a religious one.
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