How Gen Zs keep the faith

AS HOLY Week unfolds, millions of people worldwide prepare to observe this sacred time, reflecting on the passion, suffering and love of Jesus Christ. In the Philippines, this period is about religious observance and personal sacrifice -- acts that require reflection, discipline and breaks from daily comforts. For many in Generation Z, Holy Week traditions are evolving as they balance modern lifestyles with faith practices.

Young Filipinos are redefining what sacrifice means while maintaining spiritual connections in their own ways. Ambrosse Ibañez, 23, sees Lenten sacrifices as more than abstaining from pleasures or foods -- they represent self-discipline and spiritual growth. “Holy Week means giving up some things from our usual routine to reflect on the suffering and love of Jesus.



It’s all about self-discipline and repentance to reflect on our shortcomings,” said Ibañez. “People make sacrifices to grow spiritually. It’s a way to detach from worldly things and focus on faith and gratitude,” she added.

Ibañez said younger generations are finding modern ways to express their devotion, particularly through social media. “Some people do digital detoxes, donate to causes, or create content that spreads positive or faith-based messages. Others spend time in nature or volunteer as a way of giving back,” said Ibañez.

She pointed out that as younger people immerse themselves in digital spaces, many approach Holy Week with personal intention rather than strictly following traditional practices. In a separate interview, Jake Justine Rago, a resident of Barangay Pardo, Cebu City, said that while Holy Week remains rooted in Christian teachings, participation among younger generations has declined. He said older individuals remain committed to traditional practices despite physical limitations, while many younger people often just post on Facebook during Holy Week.

Rago said academic responsibilities often prevent younger individuals from making traditional Holy Week sacrifices, including fasting, which some avoid due to physical demands. Despite these trends, both Rago and Ibañez, themselves Gen Z members, continue to uphold traditional practices such as fasting and temporarily refraining from eating meat. Father Andrei Ventanilla, director of the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on Youth, said in a separate interview on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, that sacrifice is anything a person doesn’t usually do and that causes personal inconvenience.

He noted that traditional forms of sacrifice are no longer common among the youth. For instance, many young people today follow vegetarian or pescatarian diets, making the traditional practice of abstaining from meat less of a challenge. He pointed out that traditional practices for a sacrifice poses self restraint, self control and self discipline.

When asked whether the meaning of sacrifice during Holy Week has changed over time, Ventanilla agreed, stating that the essence of sacrifice has become more important than the form it takes. “It has changed, but I think ang mas pagtuonan gyud natog pansin (“what we should pay more attention to) is not the type of sacrifice but the essence of making a sacrifice, like for example putting more love in what you do and really emphasizing on self-restraint and self-denial. Something that would really be inconvenient to you, and that’s sacrifice,” he said.

/DPC.