Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Darylle Sarmiento

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- A Good Friday procession in Barangay Calvario, Meycauayan, Bulacan, has ignited debate online after a video capturing a glimpse of the event went viral. </p><p>At first glance, the procession appeared typical of Holy Week traditions in the Philippines religious images carried through the streets, devotees walking in solemn prayer, and a community gathered in reflection. </p><p>However, what drew attention from viewers, bystanders, and the video uploader himself was the audio accompanying one of the images in the procession. </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2026/4/5/heavy-traffic-expected-as-holy-week-travelers-return-to-metro-manila-on-easter-sunday-2123"><strong>Heavy traffic expected as Holy Week travelers return to Metro Manila on Easter Sunday</strong></a> </div><p>Instead of a live prayer leader, the rosary being played over a portable sound system appeared to be generated by artificial intelligence. </p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2040790036292251977&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-04-05T16%3A18%3A30.021046%3A3ddd83a6-361f-413c-ab59-b7e4f253d2bc%26action%3Dedit%26popup&amp;sessionId=0f9f47a068c3cf8b3c4b346aeaa932044dc87ab2&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:874px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2040790036292251977"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>The video’s uploader, identified as Rex Soria, noted that aside from the audio, the procession remained faithful to tradition. </p><p>Participants continued their prayers and rituals in the customary manner. </p><p>“Pero, yung the rest, yung before nun at yung last part ng prusisyon may aktwal or talagang tao yung nagdadasal,” said Soria. </p><p>Still, the use of seemingly AI-generated audio sparked mixed reactions among those present. </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2026/4/5/thousands-return-to-metro-manila-after-holy-week-break-2026"><strong>&#x27;Back to reality&#x27;: Thousands return to Metro Manila after Holy Week break</strong></a> </div><p>According to Soria, some bystanders and fellow devotees expressed confusion and surprise upon hearing the repeated, pre-recorded prayers. </p><p>“Yes, actually may narinig ako na ‘bakit ganun?’ Lalo yung mga matatandang nandoon. Yung mga nakinood lang sa mga gilid gilid ng kalsada. So, narinig ko lang, bakit ganun? ‘Ba’t AI generated na?’” added Soria. </p><p>Soria added: “I mean, hindi naman sila pamilyar sa mga ganung technology ngayon. Nagtataka lang sila bakit, recorded siya. &#x27;Yung sound system nila, nakasakay sa tricycle then nagtataka lang sila.” </p><p>For many, the unexpected integration of technology disrupted the solemn atmosphere typically associated with Good Friday observances. </p><p>Soria, a Roman Catholic himself, shared his concern over what happened, emphasizing that Holy Week is meant to be a time of silence, reflection, and spiritual renewal. </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2026/4/2/here-are-6-films-to-watch-this-holy-week-0800"><strong>Here are 6 films to watch this Holy Week </strong></a> </div><p>“Dapat pag ganong, pangyayari which is nasa Holy Week tayo, or in this season ngayon, dapat seryoso pa rin tayo. Pwedeng mag-recorded na normal na tao. Pero, yung AI generated parang hindi ako ano… doon talaga,” said Soria. </p><p>As of this writing, the news team is attempting to contact officials of Barangay Calvario, Meycauayan, Bulacan, to clarify the use of a pre-recorded, non-human voice during a sacred observance in Catholic tradition.</p>

<p>A Good Friday procession in Barangay Calvario, Meycauayan, Bulacan, has ignited debate online after a video capturing a glimpse of the event went viral.</p>

A Good Friday procession in Barangay Calvario, Meycauayan, Bulacan, has ignited debate online after a video capturing a glimpse of the event went viral.

AI-assisted rosary? Good Friday procession sparks mixed reactions in Meycauayan

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AI-assisted rosary? Good Friday procession sparks mixed reactions in Meycauayan

Darylle Sarmiento,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 05, 2026 11:44 PM PHT

Read More:

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