A Good Friday procession in Bulacan drew attention after claims that artificial intelligence (AI) was used to recite prayers during what is traditionally a solemn activity.
Rex Soria shared a video of a procession, which took place in Barangay Calvario, Meycauayan on April 3.
“Ang galing ng sound system nila, hehe,” he wrote on TikTok.
The video featured recordings of both male and female voices reciting Filipino prayers.
However, some viewers said the recordings sounded AI-generated.
@rex.soria Ang galing ng sound system nila hehe #holyweek2026 #semanasanta #fyp #trendingvideo #goodfriday ♬ original sound – rexan
“In 200 meters, kumaliwa… amen,” a TikTok user joked, referencing the Filipino-language recording of Waze, the navigation app.”
“Anlala niyo, imbis galing sa puso ‘yan,” another said.
“That’s so disrespectful, ngl [not gonna lie],” a different TikTok user wrote.
“Ang effort naman, AI talaga ginamit,” another said.
“Na para bang AI ‘yung nagsasalita,” a different Pinoy wrote.
“Parang nag-narrate ng story sa Reels,” another said.
In an interview, Soria said the recordings came from a tricycle equipped with a speaker.
He added that some bystanders and fellow devotees were confused and surprised when they heard the voices.
“Actually, may narinig ako na ‘Bakit ganun?’ Lalo ‘yung mga matatandang nandoon. ‘Yung mga nakinood lang sa mga gilid gilid ng kalsada. So, narinig ko lang, ‘Bakit ganun? Ba’t AI-generated na?'” he told ABS-CBN News.
“I mean, hindi naman sila pamilyar sa mga ganung technology ngayon. Nagtataka lang sila bakit, recorded siya. ‘Yung sound system nila, nakasakay sa tricycle, then nagtataka lang sila,” Soria added.
He said that despite the recordings, the procession stayed faithful to tradition.
“Pero, ‘yung the rest, ‘yung before nun at ‘yung last part ng prusisyon, may aktwal or talagang tao ‘yung nagdadasal,” Soria shared.
He said that if recordings are to be used in such activities, it would be better to record actual humans to preserve the solemnity, especially in religious traditions.
“Dapat pag ganong pangyayari, which is nasa Holy Week tayo, or in this season ngayon, dapat seryoso pa rin tayo. Pwedeng mag-recorded na normal na tao. Pero, ‘yung AI generated, parang hindi ako ano… doon talaga,” Soria said.
Good Friday processions are solemn Catholic traditions during Holy Week that commemorate the passion, crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ.
They are marked by prayers, hymns and candle-lit streets, as devotees carry life-size images of the Passion through town roads.
