Philippine Devotees Crucified in Good Friday Rituals

In the rural villages of Pampanga province north of Manila, hundreds of Catholic devotees gathered on Good Friday for annual reenactments of Jesus Christ's crucifixion, with several participants allowing themselves to be nailed to wooden crosses as acts of penance and prayer. The rituals, held under clear but humid skies, drew thousands of local and foreign visitors to sites including San Pedro Cutud and San Fernando, despite soaring fuel prices amid regional conflicts.

The events began early in the morning with processions of barefoot penitents, many bare-chested and hooded, who flogged themselves with bamboo whips or paddles embedded with glass shards to draw blood. These acts, known as penitensya, served as personal offerings for forgiveness, healing, or family vows. By midday, attention shifted to open fields where the most intense displays unfolded. Devotees portraying Jesus were hoisted onto crosses after nails, often soaked in alcohol to prevent infection, were hammered through their palms and, in some cases, feet. Participants remained suspended for about five minutes before being lowered and treated by on-site medical teams.

Among the most prominent was 65-year-old...