President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos to reflect on faith, compassion, and service during Holy Week, urging unity and resilience amid challenges.
In a message, President Marcos said he joins the nation in observing a “brief pause, rest, and reflection” during the solemn religious period.
He noted that the Passion of Christ serves as a reminder that “true greatness is not found in power, but in sacrifice; not in privilege, but in service; and not in comfort, but in the courage to carry the burdens of others.”
“As we reflect on His sacrifice, may we renew our commitment to love one another more deeply, serve one another more faithfully, and stand firm in faith even in the face of trials,” the President said.
Holy Week, observed by millions of Filipino Catholics, begins today with Palm Sunday, which recalls Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
As this developed, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) management said it anticipates a significant increase in passenger traffic during the Holy Week break.
New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the airport’s private operator, projects that over 1.35 million passengers will utilize the airport from March 28 to April 5, indicating a slight rise compared to the traffic figures recorded in 2025.
To effectively manage the holiday influx, NNIC said it will implement additional strategies: deploying more staff at check-in counters, immigration, and security screening areas, enhancing collaboration with airlines and ground service providers, extending hours for passenger assistance desks, and monitoring terminal congestion in real time.
Terminal 3 is projected to handle the largest share of traffic at 712,932 passengers, followed by Terminal 2 with 346,342 and Terminal 1 with 293,990.
The Department of Health, for its part, said it will raise its Code White alert from March 30 to April 6.
“Under Code White alert, health emergency teams, health commodities, and emergency rooms of DOH hospitals will be on standby for immediate response to road crash incidents, injuries, and other health emergencies in the coming week,” the DOH posted in Filipino on social media.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines also assured the public of its continued presence and readiness to ensure safety across key transport hubs and communities nationwide.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines stands watch, not to interrupt the silence of prayer, but to protect it,” military spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said.
