Preservation of Ilocano Historical and Cultural Value in the Holy Week Procession: A Design Development of the Carroza

Abstract

The “carroza," formerly "andas," are part of our legacy of Christianity from the Spanish era in the Philippines as it also unfolds the historical, cultural, and religious significance of "carroza" to the Ilocanos, especially during the celebration of Semana Santa. . As time goes by, the aging of the wood materials degraded and resulted to a high cost of repair. This study is qualitatively aimed to explore the history, culture, and religion and eventually preserve the old "carroza" among the Ilocanos. The interviews of the encargados-participants emerged four (4) themes: history, cultural, spiritual; issues of the carroza; preservation, and enhancement. In synthesis, it is apparent that it focuses more on the old "carroza" and necessitates its preservation. Results found that the problems with the existing product are stiff suspension, the difficulty of steering on tight turns, and the product being bulky in the storage room. This study addressed their concerns and reinvented the existing products with a new design prototype that is easier to construct and more stable from vibration and turning during the procession. The old carroza called for a new prototype and enhanced it to preserve the physical carroza and its cultural, spiritual, and historical value.