Palm Sunday, also known as Linggo ng Palaspas or Domingo de Ramos, marks the beginning of Holy Week. It commemorates Jesus Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, when crowds welcomed Him by waving palm branches.
Today, Catholic faithful and members of other Christian communities bring palm fronds—locally called palaspas, langkay, lukay, or ramos—to church in a reenactment of that biblical moment.
These fronds are blessed during Mass and brought home, often displayed on doors, windows, or altars throughout the year, believed to ward off evil and offer protection from natural disasters.
But while these palm fronds carry deep religious symbolism, the tradition has also become entangled with commercialization.
Commodified Sacrament
Palm fronds can be handmade or bought from vendors clustered around churchyards. On Palm Sunday, these sellers engage in brisk trade—offering everything from simple strips to intricately woven designs.
A single frond, typically made from coconut leaves, is woven, plaited, cut, and curved, often adorned with flowers, ribbons, and crosses for added visual appeal.
Prices range from ₱20 to ₱50, depending on size and craftsmanship. A vendor shared that there are times when buyers specifically ask for already-blessed palm fronds.
“Iyo nag-aanap so iba. Lalo na so mga abo na magpila sa laog kang simbahan o so dae na baga naabot ang misa,” said Soledad, a palm weaver for decades. (Yes, others do look for it—especially those who no longer want to line up inside the church or those who missed the Mass.)
Fr. John Mendoza, a priest for 24 years based in Camalig, Albay, shares a similar concern. He emphasizes that blessed palms are not meant to be commercialized.
“When I was the parish priest, there were a lot of vendors selling palms to be blessed. Once it’s blessed, it cannot be sold because it becomes a sacramental. It’s already part of the people’s devotion, reflecting their faith, their belief in God,” he said.
He reminds the faithful that the proper time to have palm fronds blessed is during Palm Sunday Mass.
“Kaya nga may blessing of fronds on Palm Sunday. That’s the proper time for you to let your fronds be blessed.”
Does Selling Blessed Palm Fronds Take Away Their Sanctity?
The concern goes beyond the act of selling—it’s about the deeper meaning of Catholic tradition being overlooked.
“Ang iba hindi na nagsisimba, papa-bless lang sila ng palm fronds and they go home. Parang importante lang yung blessing, pero they miss the very essence of what a Catholic should be—and that is to attend the Mass, to share in the body of Christ,” Mendoza explains. (Others no longer attend Mass; they just have their palm fronds blessed and then go home. It’s like the blessing is the only important thing—but they miss the very essence of being Catholic: to attend Mass and share in the body of Christ.)
Feiona Theriz Bebe, a churchgoer from Sto. Domingo, practices the “essence” of the tradition by bringing her own or buying unblessed palms.
“Bawal talaga magpabakal ning benditado na palaspas. Never pa ako nag-bakal ning anything na benditado na, including Oliva (palaspas). I prefer bringing my own. Or if may naga-benta na dai pa benditado, nabibili ako.” (It’s really forbidden to buy a blessed palaspas. I’ve never bought anything already blessed, including the Oliva. I prefer bringing my own. Or if there are vendors selling unblessed ones, I buy from them.)
Meanwhile, Jeffrey Bañadera, who arrived early at church to attend Mass, was offered a blessed palm frond for the same price as an unblessed one. He opted for the latter, noting that it’s a matter of personal choice.
Faith, Not for Sale
Church doctrine discourages the sale of any blessed item used in religious devotion—including rosaries and figurines—to prevent the sin of simony.
This Palm Sunday, Fr. Mendoza calls on the faithful to engage in Holy Week observances with sincerity and reverence.
“Ang mga activities na ito must come from the heart and be done with some seriousness. To really treat it as something sacred. We need to participate actively in every liturgical celebration that we do. ’Yun ang pinakamahalaga.” (These activities must come from the heart and be done with seriousness. To really treat them as sacred. We need to participate actively in every liturgical celebration. That is what matters most.)
Palm Sunday is not meant to be an individual ritual but a communal observance shared with the Christian community. Once a palm frond is blessed, it ceases to be a product and becomes a symbol of faith. And faith, as many would agree, cannot be bought or sold.
