Philippines marks Good Friday with crucifixions, bloody rituals
Manila - More than 20 people were expected to be nailed to wooden crosses in the Philippines Friday in an annual re-enactment of the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ.
Hundreds of penitents, walking barefoot and hooded, also whipped their backs bloody as a sign of penance or thanksgiving throughout the predominantly Catholic country.
Tens of thousands of devotees and tourists flocked to the northern provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan to witness the Good Friday rituals that highlight Easter celebrations in the Philippines.
The Roman Catholic Church frowns on the bloody rituals and has urged devotees to instead participate in Masses, vigils and other official celebrations in their parishes.
Easter is a major religious event in the Philippines, where an estimated 80 per cent of the population is Catholic. Good Friday marks the day Jesus died.
Almost all commercial establishments, government offices and even television networks are closed from Maundy Thursday and reopen on Easter Sunday, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.//DPA
