CFD QC president, Bro. Bien Agabin, and CFD Cubao president, Sis. Mau Carolino, were guest speakers at Let’s DECAF (DEfend the CAtholic Faith) web series of the Diocese of Novaliches last March 5, 2025.

The duo were invited by regular host and co-founder of Let’s DECAF, Fr. Abe Arganiosa, to answer and discuss common questions about Ash Wednesday, Lent, and it’s three pillars: fasting, prayer and abstinence.

“Ang salitang Kuwaresma ay nagmula sa salitang latin na quadragesima na ang ibig sabihin ay “fortieth”. Ito ay nagsisimbulo sa apat na pung araw ng kuwaresma na nagsisilbing paghahanda ng mga Katoliko sa nalalapit na Mahal na Araw,” Sis. Mau explains.

(The word Kuwaresma comes from the latin word, quadragesima, which means “the fortieth”. This symbolizes the forty days of preparation of Catholics for the coming Holy Week.)

“Ang kuwaresma ay may apat na pung araw, pero kung bibilangin natin, mayroong 46 days sa Lent. Ito ay dahil yung mga linggo ay hindi kabilang sa bilang ng 40 [days]. At kung bibilangin natin mula ngayong araw hanggang Maundy Thursday, it is 46 days minus the 6 Sundays,” Bro. Bien discussed.

(Lent has 40 days, but if we manually count, there are actually 46 days in Lent. This is because Sundays are not included. And if we count the days beginning today until Maundy Thursday, that is 46 days minus the 6 Sundays.)

Host of show, Sem. Aldy Balmes, asked the two about what Lent is, and why it is important for the faithful to commemorate.

“Ang Kuwaresma ay ang paghahanda ng ating mga sarili para alalahanin at maki-isa sa pagpapakasakit ng ating Panginoon. At ang paghahandang ito ay isang form of self-denial: we refrain from looking at ourselves – kung anong gusto ko, kailangan ko. Instead, we look outside of ourselves – anong kailangan nila, ng ibang tao,” Sis. Mau replied.

(Lent is a preparation of ourselves to commemorate and share in the sufferings of our Lord. And this preparation is a form of self-denial: we refrain from looking at ourselves – what I want, what I need. Instead, we look outside of ourselves – what others need, other people.)

In the middle of the interview, Sem. Aldy asked the two about the biblical source of Lent and its three pillars.

“Mahahanap ba natin ito sa bibliya?” Sem. Aldy asked.

(Can we find these in the bible?)

“Yes,” Bro. Bien proudly answered. “Mababasa natin sa Jonas 3:4, ‘At pumasok si Jonas sa bayan na may isang araw na gumagala, at siya’y sumigaw, at nagsasabi, Apat na pung araw pa at ang Ninive ay mawawasak.’ Sa New Testament naman, Mateo 4:2, ay mababasa natin na ang Panginoong Hesukristo ay nag-ayuno ng apat na pung araw at gabi bago pumunta sa disyerto.”

(Yes. We read in Jonah 3:4, ‘Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” And in the New Testament, in Matthew 4:2, we read of Jesus Christ fasting for 40 days and nights before he went to the desert.)

They proceeded to give many verses that support the importance of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. As we often read in biblical stories, Israelites would fast for 40 days and nights, and repent of their sins by placing dirt on top of their heads, wearing sackloth, and praying to God. A similar story can be read in Nehemiah 9:1-2.

“Paano naman ang Ash Wednesday? Saan mababasa sa bibliya na dapat maglagay ng krus na abo sa ating mga noo?” Sem. Aldy asked.

Both read verses from Ezekiel and Revelations. “And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof”. (Ezek. 9:4) And from Rev. 14:1, “Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.”

Finally, Sem. Aldy asked for a simple summation and advice from our two apologists. And both agreed that Lent is a season of repentance and self-reflection. And during the season of lent, we are called to reflect on ourselves, repent our sins, and make amends for our sins by denying ourselves the things of this world – money, power, fame – through fasting, almsgiving, and prayer.

Furthermore, Sis. Mau posed a challenge to all Catholics. “Maybe we can try not to limit fasting, almsgiving and prayer during Lent only. Subukan natin itong i-extend beyond Lent, and persist in them which are essential for our spiritual growth and maturity.

(Maybe we can try not to limit fasting, almsgiving and prayer during Lent only. Let us try to extend [these] beyond Lent, and persist in them which are essential for our spiritual growth and maturity.)

Watch the entire Ash Wednesday episode of Let’s DECAF here.