Issue 559

I recently had the opportunity in observing some of the
Holy Week practices in the Philippines, no doubt it was one
of the most memorable and thought provoking experience.
In a country where Roman Catholics make up of more than
80% of the
population, Holy Week is a significant religious
occasion for the nation. These Catholic rituals and
religious practice are heavily influenced by pre-Hispanic
beliefs as a result of the Spaniard’s ruling for over three
centuries.
The Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and continues
through the week to Black Saturday. During this period,
Filipino Catholics reflect upon Jesus Christ's passion,
death, and resurrection through various ritual practices.
In the province of Pampanga, the rural villages of San
Fernando, people honor such occasion by physically reenacting
the sufferings of Jesus Christ through the tradition
of crucifixion and flagellation. On Good Friday, local
participants re-enact Christ’s last hours on the cross by
nailing the “Kristos” devotees to the cross with full costume
and assigned Bible characters in the play. Flooding the
street are also flagellants – “magdarame” – carrying
wooden crosses and penitents whipping their own flesh with
bamboo lashes called “burilyos”.
Many penitents who sign up to play Jesus on the
cross annually consider such act as their vow of sacrifice
or what they call “panata” (i.e. doing the masochistic
act in exchange for making a sick family member better).
It is further believed that if the devotee break the vow,
God would punish them. The penitents believe that by
hurting themselves in imitation of Jesus, their sins would
be forgiven — the more painful, the more forgiveness.
One of devotees playing Kristos this year is Ruben Enaje,
a 54-year-old commercial painter, who had portrayed the
role for the 32nd year. His first portrayal of the main Kristo
was as a result of thanksgiving to God for saving his life
when he experienced a fall while he was painting a tall
infrastructure.
These extreme acts of devotions have been named by
the Catholic Church in the Philippines of “mixing Catholic
devotion to folk belief.” Others associate these ritual
practices with village superstitions. Whilst these Holy Week
rituals have not been recommended by religious leaders in
the Philippines, in Asia’s largest Roman Catholic nation,
these gory practices have persisted for years.
On the other hand, such controversial practice
continues to draw huge crowds to this part of the country.
The Good Friday spectacle this year had attracted more
than 50,000 people to the region. The government also
gave budget in celebrating the occasion and assisting local l
businesses. Whilst the event is of a solemn tone, there is
also a general festive mood where numerous hawkers’
stalls selling food and souvenirs have been set up in
catering the needs of a large crowd.
Whilst many people in modern cities will opt to use
the Holy Week (or Easter) for relaxation over reflection, the
Catholic religion and its traditions rituals have no signs
of becoming forgotten in the Philippines. The splashes of
blood left on the streets of Pampanga from the penitents’
self-flagellation undoubtedly demonstrate the strong
devotion to one’s religion.
SAMEWAY ISSUE 559 P. 55 13.4.2018