Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Article (news)

Courtesy: Ewoks Simbulan/Enchong Reyes

Jonathan Magistrado

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — A float in Baliwag, Bulacan’s renowned Holy Week procession captured public attention this year due to the unique theme of the soldiers guarding the image of “Ang Pagbabalabal kay Jesus ng Kapang Purpura,” or The Enrobing of Jesus in Purple.</p><p>In a departure from traditional Roman centurion attire, owners Ewoks Simbulan and Enchong Reyes—both audit staff at an agricultural company—dressed the soldier figures in Korean Joseon Dynasty royal guard costumes.</p><p>The scene depicted on their carroza illustrates the biblical moment when, after being crowned with thorns, Jesus was clothed in a purple robe by soldiers to mock Him as a &quot;pretend king.&quot;</p><p>According to Simbulan, the practice of &quot;theming&quot; costumes is not a new concept in Baliwag, provided the sanctity of the holy images is preserved.</p><div><br/></div><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="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:514px;height:905px;display:block;flex-grow:1" 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=2040522945844723937&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%3A2026-04-05T00%3A47%3A54.471556%3Ae539bee9-d852-4ac3-ae42-4416979e63a0%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=8caea52067c4c595ee97e22be2092afab32b2355&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="2040522945844723937"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>“Wala akong binastos na banal na imahe dahil mga sundalo lamang ang ginawan ko ng tema, hindi ang Mahal na Poong Hesukristo. Ang mga sundalong ito ay hindi naman mga banal at santo,” Simbulan explained in response to comments on social media.</p><p>He further noted that employing diverse themes, such as the Tudor costumes they used in 2025 and the Korean Joseon attire this year, symbolizes the &quot;universal&quot; nature of the Catholic Church.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/4/4/-saklot-how-an-easter-sunday-tradition-endures-in-rapu-rapu-albay-1016">&#x27;Saklot&#x27;: How an Easter Sunday tradition endures in Rapu-Rapu, Albay<br/></a></div><p>The owners emphasized that even the Blessed Mother has appeared in various countries wearing local traditional clothing, such as in Guadalupe, Mexico, and Lourdes, France, to better identify with the people.</p><p>&quot;Kaya nga during the time of Queen Isabella of Spain, &#x27;La Catolica,&#x27; she decreed that all Marian images in the whole Spanish empire—which included the Philippines during that time—be attired in Spanish regalia, particularly the image of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores or Mater Dolorosa,&quot; he stressed.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775347687808Our-Lady-of Guadalupe.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the mantle (tilma) of Juan Diego, public domain</span></span></span></div><p>&quot;When the Blessed Mother appeared in Guadalupe, Mexico, the visionary said that she was dressed like a Mexican woman of nobility. When she appeared in Lourdes, Bernadette said she was attired in white French winter clothes. So we come to know her more closely because she wanted to be identified with us, like her Son who lived among us,&quot; he continued.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/5/south-korea-president-reunites-with-filipino-worker-he-helped-three-decades-ago-1108">South Korea president reunites with Filipino worker he helped three decades ago<br/></a></div><p>Simbulan added that while formal permission from the church is not strictly required for such creative themes, the Association of Float Owners and the parish constantly remind members to avoid any attire that is lewd or sacrilegious.</p><p>“Sa ngayon, wala pa namang plano kung magtetema ulit kami, pero isa lang ang sinisigurado namin: walang pambabastos sa mga kasuotan ng mga banal na imahe, lalo na sa kasuotan ng Kristo,” he added.</p><p>The float is one of 128 grand carrozas featured every Holy Wednesday and Good Friday at the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Saint Augustine in Baliwag, home to one of the longest and most opulent processions in the Philippines.</p>

<p>In a departure from traditional Roman centurion attire, owners Ewoks Simbulan and Enchong Reyes—both audit staff at an agricultural company—dressed the soldier figures in Korean Joseon Dynasty royal guard costumes.</p>

In a departure from traditional Roman centurion attire, owners Ewoks Simbulan and Enchong Reyes—both audit staff at an agricultural company—dressed the soldier figures in Korean Joseon Dynasty royal guard costumes.

Baliwag carroza owners defend ‘Korean’ soldiers; cite ‘universal’ nature of faith

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Baliwag carroza owners defend ‘Korean’ soldiers; cite ‘universal’ nature of faith

Jonathan Magistrado,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 05, 2026 08:17 AM PHT

Read More:

Baliwag

Bulacan

Holy Week

Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Saint Augustine

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