The Filipino Easter dawn ritual reenacting the meeting of the risen Jesus and Mary is called Salubong.
Salubong is a Catholic observance held before or around sunrise on Easter Sunday. Separate processions traditionally carry images of the risen Christ and the Virgin Mary. They meet at a designated place, symbolizing Mary’s encounter with her resurrected son. The event then continues with Mass or another worship service.
In some communities, a young girl dressed as an angel removes Mary’s mourning veil. This dramatizes the end of sorrow and the announcement of the Resurrection. Music, candles, flowers, and large crowds can make the ceremony one of the most visually prominent events of Holy Week in the Philippines.
Salubong means a welcoming or meeting, and the ritual is distinct from Simbang Gabi, the series of dawn Masses held before Christmas. It is also different from Panunuluyan, a Christmas dramatization of Mary and Joseph seeking lodging. The exact staging varies by parish, but the dawn encounter is the defining element.