The skull of the La Santa Muerte icon in Argao, Cebu. Made of ivory, it dates back to the Spanish era and was passed by clan generations to the next within the Aguilar family. Victor Kintanar

Unlike in most Good Friday processions, the La Santa Muerte comes first before Christ receiving and carrying the cross. Victor Kintanar

The skeletal left hand of the La Santa Muerte carrying an hourglass which symbolizes our limited time on this world. Victor Kintanar

Parishioners of the Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of San Miguel Arcangel in Argao, Cebu, participate in the Good Friday procession passing along the streets of the town center. The image on the carozza represents Jesus’ carrying the cross. Victor Kintanar

Some of the parishioners watch the procession from their homes with candles lit on their gates or porch. Victor Kintanar

The skeletal right hand of the La Santa Muerte. Wires are used to reinforced its stand and hold on a scythe. Victor Kintanar

The icon of The Crucifixion with the full moon behind. Victor Kintanar

The skull of the La Santa Muerte made of ivory. Victor Kintanar

Part of the Good Friday procession is the Mater Dolorosa (Sorrowful Mother). It represents the sorrow felt by Mary as she mourns the death of her Son Jesus. Victor Kintanar

'The La Santa Muetre reminds us of death. That Christ died so that we may live and when we die we will be resurrected in Him.' Victor Kintanar

The Pieta as Mary cradles the dead body of her Son Jesus. Victor Kintanar

The La Santa Muetre at dusk symbolizes 'that our lives have limits and that death is the door to the next life.' Victor Kintanar

The Santo Entierro (Holy Interment). The image of the dead body of Jesus Christ lays prostrate in one of the carozzas during Good Friday procession. Victor Kintanar

ARGAO, Cebu -- Unlike most of the yearly pasos (steps) or Holy Week processions in parishes across the Philippines, the town of Argao in Cebu offers something different.

Included in its traditional procession during Holy Week are icons that represent and commemorate the stages of the passion and death of Jesus Christ. On Holy Wednesday, 18 carrozas (carriages) joined the pasos, and only 14 on Good Friday.

On Good Friday, first in line was the icon of the La Santa Muerte. A skeleton dressed in black cassock with a blue cape stands on top of a carozza decorated with flowers, candles and electric light bulbs.

Most of these icons in the pasos are heirlooms passed by clan generations to the next. Gwendolyn Aguilar Montañez, 54, recalled that the La Santa Muerte had been passed throughout the Aguilar family in Argao. Since 2008 when his father died, she has been designated to prepare the icon every Holy Week.

According to her grandfather, the icon came from Spain and that there are two of this, with the other one in Panay island.

Years ago people came to their place and introduced themselves as “from the church.” They attempted to get the icon by telling them that it was borrowed form a church in Bohol Island and that they are going to get it back. The “poseurs” were unsuccessful as they directly refused their claim. This was no surprise for the Aguilars as the icon’s skull and hands are made of ivory.

Because of this, every week after the procession, the icon is disassembled. Its parts will be kept by clan members in different locations to keep it safe for next year’s celebration.

Nelson Montañez, 52, travels from faraway Lapu-Lapu City in Mactan Island, Cebu, every Holy Week to decorate the carozza of the La Santa Muerte ever since his sister-in-law Gwendolyn took the responsibility as caretaker of the icon.

With his skills in flower arrangement, it has been a “panaad" (vow) for him every Good Friday to prepare it for the annual procession.

Berto Rubia 76, who also served as decorator of the La Santa Muetre, said in his 40 years of preparing the icon every Good Friday, he realized that “the best way of life, is doing good. For we will all die and meet our maker.”

Rev. Msgr. Camilo P. Alia of the Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of San Miguel Arcangel in Argao emphasized that the diocese of Argao never encouraged the parishioners to have a devotion to her.

“We do not venerate her, she is only part of the pasos. Not like in Mexico where in they treat her like a saint. She serves as a reminder to us that our lives have limits and that death is the door to the next life. The La Santa Muetre reminds us of death. That Christ died so that we may live and when we die we will be resurrected in Him,” he said.