15 ‘crucified’ in Pampanga, Bulacan
At least 15 Filipino devotees were nailed to wooden crosses in Pampanga and Bulacan on Good Friday, with some 40,000 local and foreign spectators witnessing the bloody annual rites under the scorching sun.
In San Pedro Cutud, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Ruben Enaje, (lead Kristo), Orlando Valentine, Victor Caparas, Alfredo Bautista, Edwin Tirambulo, all natives of the village; and Joel Ortega, a native of Singcang, Bacolod, had themselves nailed to wooden crosses in the belief that such sacrifice is a way to atone for
their sins and give thanks to the Lord for continues blessings for family and friends, and for miracle healings.
In Barangay San Juan, also in the City of San Fernando, two devotes – Alex Sunga, 60, and Wilfredo Salvador, 59, – were nailed to wooden crosses as early as 10 a.m., according to Romy Gamboa, San Juan crucifixion committee president.
Almost a kilometer from barangays Cutud and San Juan, three devotees were also nailed to crosses in Barangay Sta. Lucia; while another penitent was nailed to a wooden cross in Barangay Calulut, also in the City of San Fernando.
According to San Pedro Cutud Barangay Chairman Zoilo “Tol” Castro Jr., more than 2,000 foreigners, including an African ambassador, joined local tourists in witnessing the actual crucifixion of Filipino penitents at the famous man-made Golgotha. The envoy was not named for security reasons.
Castro noted that despite the extreme heat, massive crowd of devotees and tourists arrived at the site to watch the devotional practice, which combines Roman Catholic devotion with folk belief.
Earlier, Castro estimated there were around 5,000 devotees from Pampanga’s 329 barangays who participated in self-flagellation or selfpunishing rituals
Bulacan crucifixion In neighboring Bulacan, three faith healers were nailed to wooden crosses in Barangay Kapitangan, Paombong town.
The four faith healers, whose names are withheld upon their requests, were “captured” by local residents playing the role of Roman Centurions and then made to carry wooden crosses to a man-made Golgotha beside the Catholic chapel. They were later nailed to wooden crosses for about 15 minutes.
But one of them said it was his 9th time to be “crucified” as a fulfillment of an annual vow.
Another faith healer was nailed to a wooden cross on Maundy Thursday.
The Catholic Church had said that extreme sacrifices such as the ones practiced in Pampanga, Bulacan, and other parts of Central Luzon every Holy Week is discouraged. The Department of Health likewise discouraged the practice because of health risks.
Despite these, the three faith healers from Bulacan said they could not ignore their missions and visions to complete their annual “panata” (vow).
Religious rituals are also practiced in the cities of Malolos and San Jose Del Monte as well as in the towns of Baliuag, Plaridel, Marilao, and Pulilan, all in Bulacan.
Old life-size images of saints are brought out to join the colorful processions on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.