Planning a trip? Those who love to travel know the essence of all travel is about you and your enjoyment. Travelers know that the destination is a major part in planning a trip, experiencing and delving deeper into unfamiliar places, people and culture is paramount.

Expand your horizons and set your sight to the Philippines, an off the beaten path travel site! An undiscovered paradise made of thousands of islands and white sand beaches all around! A tiny dot in the map of the world, and yet a haven for travelers, backpackers, retirees and even passersby.

It offers awesome tourist attractions, magnificent beaches, hot spring resorts, colorful festivals, hundreds of scenic spots and world-class hotels and facilities. Not to mention the tropical climate, the affordable prices as well as the friendly and hospitable, English-speaking people! You will be glad you came, and we’re sure, you WILL come back for more FUN in the Philippines!

SAN PEDRO CUTUD

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During Good Friday, a spectacle is played out in various barangays in Pampanga and even further up in the Campangpangan speaking towns of Tarlac with sinners – mostly male – sacrificing themselves for the community by being literally crucified in a re-enactment of Christ suffering. Hordes of local and foreign tourists, including budding photographers descend and are drawn on these sites.

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The Catholic Church occasional frowns on such practices, but for the most part of it remains content to have the town folks go on with this gory devotion perhaps to assure itself that the Philippines is the only predominantly Catholic nation in Asia stays that way for a long time to come.

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Penitents strip down to their waists, re-enacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, carrying wooden crosses on the streets of San Pedro Cutud, Pampanga. At the end of the agonizing walk – witnessed by some thousands of local spectators – some of the penitents will go to the length of having their hands and feed nailed to the cross.

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Why do the penitents do it? The nailing on the cross seems like a cruel, pointless, gruesome fanatic exercise put on show for a crowd. Surely, when Jesus decided to be crucified to save humanity he didn’t mean for humanity to follow him quite literally. Personally though, I went to witness this Lenten activity, just to experience it but I warn you though, it is not an exercise for the faint hearted. During the Crucifixion rites which take place at about noontime, long nails disinfected in alcohol are driven at the center of the penitent’s palm and the soft tissue between the toes. Medical experts say that if this is not done property, one can suffer not only immense pain but a serious permanent medical injury.

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Some penitents choose to have their heads covered with a piece of “Santo Nino” red cloth with small holes cut through so they could see and breathe during the entirety of the procession. To strengthen themselves before the ordeal, penitents would drink several bottles of local brew but not to the extent of getting drunk.

Photo from: planetphilippines.com

Penitents strip down to their waists, re-enacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, carrying wooden crosses on the streets of San Pedro Cutud, Pampanga. At the end of the agonizing walk – witnessed by some thousands of local spectators – some of the penitents will go to the length of having their hands and feed nailed to the cross.

Photo from: demotix.com

Why do the penitents do it? The nailing on the cross seems like a cruel, pointless, gruesome fanatic exercise put on show for a crowd. Surely, when Jesus decided to be crucified to save humanity he didn’t mean for humanity to follow him quite literally. Personally though, I went to witness this Lenten activity, just to experience it but I warn you though, it is not an exercise for the faint hearted. During the Crucifixion rites which take place at about noontime, long nails disinfected in alcohol are driven at the center of the penitent’s palm and the soft tissue between the toes. Medical experts say that if this is not done property, one can suffer not only immense pain but a serious permanent medical injury.

Photo from: freedomwall.net

Some penitents choose to have their heads covered with a piece of “Santo Nino” red cloth with small holes cut through so they could see and breathe during the entirety of the procession. To strengthen themselves before the ordeal, penitents would drink several bottles of local brew but not to the extent of getting drunk.

Photo from: mithunonthe.net

From here they either carry crosses made from wood or choose to flagellate their wounded, blood stained backs with strips of ropes tied with broken glasses or sharp objects. Most are barefoot and stripped to their waste. Town folks of Pampanga who volunteer to undergo flagellation and crucifixion do so in serious belief that their participation in the rites will help them in their material life and eventually open heaven’s door for them. The locals believe that many of the local penitents participate in the re-enactment of the passion of Christ as a way of atoning for their sins or as a form of sacrifice dedicated to the eternal rest of their departed loved ones or as a way of reaffirming their faith.

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Participation in the Lenten rites varies. Some may choose to carry the cross and just flagellate themselves, while others choose to be crucified. The Lenten practice of the re-enactment of the Way of the Cross has been observed in the province since the 1950’s and the re-enactment of the Crucifixion started in 1962 with Artemio Anoza of Apalit, Pampanga. A friend from Pampanga has an uncle who has been a regular participant in this procession. It has been his vow of faith ever since the late 70’s the year he first joined the flagellations. Usually penitents practice flagellation for years in keeping with their vows. They believe that their participation in this Lenten rite has helped them and their families survive several crisis and trials in life. Each of these devotees interestingly has their own experiences to tell.

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