YOUSCOOP: Citizen journalists cover Holy Week around the country

(Updated April 2, 9:42 p.m.) To support GMA7’s ongoing coverage of Holy Week, citizen journalists from around the Philippines have been sending in their pictures and videos of religious rituals and tourist activities in their communities this holiday season. Through YouScoop, GMA7 aims to empower ordinary citizens to participate in reporting the news. Now, anyone with a mobile phone or internet access can send in their photographs, videos or even audio files of newsworthy happenings. The hottest scoops may even be used in our news reports on television or online! Featured below are some of the scoops we received for Holy Week: YouScoopers Bryan Villareal from Cavite City and Racel Rallos from Angeles City sent pictures of live reenactments of Jesus Christ's suffering performed yearly in their communities. YouScooper Emman Martin, Jr. sent photos of tourists arriving at Magallanes in Limasawa Island, Leyte for the celebration of the 489th anniversary of the First Mass in the Philippines last March 31. YouScoopers Klhonar de la Cruz and EJ Santos, both from Bulacan, sent videos of the Senakulo and Penitensiya being performed in their towns of Bocaue and Balagtas.
Video submitted by EJ Santos. * * * While practicing the Bisita Iglesia, YouScooper Benjar Manalili witnessed thousands participate in this procession at Bilibid Viejo in Quiapo, Manila. He writes: "Good Friday!This is the first time i witnessed this kind of event,so i decided to share it :) more power and Godbless." * * * YouScoopers Conrad Vincent Iguico sent this video of the Penitensiya in Bulacan. * * * YouScooper Winfield Cereno sent us this video of penitents performing a self-flaggelation ritual in Vinzons, Camarines Norte. * * * YouScooper Ariel Dacanay sent a series of photos documenting the observance of Semana Santa in Mawaque, Mabalacat, Pampanga * * * Check out more YouScoop photos and videos posted at our Facebook fanpage. Do you have a hot scoop? Send in your reports to the YouScoop website! You can also send your submissions via SMS or MMS. Simply type SCOOP MESSAGE NAME & ADDRESS and send it to 4627. Disclaimer: Not all videos or photos submitted to us through YouScoop have been verified or fact-checked. -- PF/HS, GMANews.TV