Braving high fuel costs, Filipinos flock to crucifixion spectacle

Thousands of Filipinos and tourists flocked to a sun-bleached field north of Manila on Good Friday to witness one of the country's most blood-soaked displays of religious fervour, undeterred by rising fuel prices driven by the Middle East war.

Scores of bare-chested flagellants with covered faces walked barefoot through the dusty streets of Pampanga province's San Fernando as they flogged their backs with bamboo whips in scorching heat.

AFP journalists saw devotees deliberately puncturing their skin with glass shards attached to a small wooden paddle to ensure their bleeding during the ritual, a way to atone for sins and seek miracles from God.

"I'm doing this to pray for the healing of my seven-month-old baby, who is suffering from pneumonia," John David, clutching a whip in one hand, told AFP at the beginning of the procession.

"My grandfather started this, then my father, and now it's my turn," the 49-year-old said. 

"I have been witnessing miracles of healing through the years because of this act of faith." 

The Catholic-majority country's annual spectacle re-enacting the last moments of Jesus Christ typically draws up to 12,000 local and foreign tourists.

This year, at least 15,000 people attended, city disaster official Raymond Del Rosario told reporters.

"We expected that the ongoing (energy) crisis right now would have an effect, but we saw that many people still came," Del Rosario said.

"This is tradition. We don't take our tradition and our faith for granted."

Many in the crowd had driven for hours to witness the play's climax, in which devotees allow three-inch nails to be driven into their palms before they are hoisted upright on crosses.

Ricky Margate, 57, told AFP he had driven a motorcycle to the site this year instead of his car because it consumes less fuel.

"I think that the high fuel prices that I have to pay to be here are just part of my sacrifices this Holy Week," Margate told AFP.

Fuel prices have hit historic highs in the country since the United States and Israel launched their attack on Iran over a month ago, prompting President Ferdinand Marcos last week to declare a "national energy emergency".

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- 'I hope the war stops' -

At least 15 people were nailed to crosses in five different locations in San Fernando, while six people were reported to have sought medical help after fainting in the heat.

AFP journalists saw one flagellant, his back dripping with blood, lose consciousness as he was struck with a slipper while praying in front of the three big black crosses that stood on a mound above the proceedings.

He was escorted by responders to the first aid area minutes later.

In Cutud village, 65-year-old Ruben Enaje was crucified for the 37th time on Friday.

"I hope for the war to stop... that was what I prayed when I was hanging at the cross," Enaje told reporters, lamenting the skyrocketing prices of fuel and liquefied petroleum gas.

"They won't benefit from (the war). They will just hurt each other."

Pilgrims filmed on their mobile phones as Enaje was whipped and escorted by actors dressed as Roman centurions.

"I realised the bloody things that Jesus went through. Coming here strengthened my faith," 63-year-old Angelito Punzalan told AFP, adding he had taken a bus to save on fuel expenses.

Slovakian spectator Simona Kacurek, who travelled to the Philippines just to see the crucifixions, said she was in awe of the production, which involved a mix of solemn music and sound effects like rumbling thunder.

"It was more aggressive than what I expected, but it was very impressive," she told AFP after the performance.

Vendors, meanwhile, were simply relieved that pilgrims showed up despite higher transportation costs.

"I guess fuel prices are no match for the strength of our faith and tradition," snack vendor Mhekyle Salazar, 22, told AFP.

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