Catholic zealots in the Philippines whipped their backs bloody and raw on Good Friday, as the fervently religious country marked Easter with gruesome displays of faith.<\/p>\n
Scores of men their faces covered walked barefoot as they flogged themselves with bamboo whips under a blazing sun near the capital Manila, while others carried wooden crosses as they were beaten, in a ritual frowned upon by the Church.<\/p>\n
Roy Balatbat, his skin still bearing fresh wounds from a public flailing on Thursday, walked for about a kilometre, striking himself and stopping to prostrate in prayer on the hot ground.<\/p>\n
Its punishing but if you have a wish, you will endure the pain, Balatbat, 49, told AFP in Hagonoy municipality, Bulacan province.<\/p>\n
I have been doing this for 30 years since I was a young man. My devotion is that I will only stop when I cant do it anymore.<\/p>\n
While most devotees in the mainly Catholic nation spend Good Friday at church or with family, others go to these extreme lengths to atone for sins or seek divine intervention.<\/p>\n
Before the grisly flogging begins, the mens bare backs are deliberately punctured to make them bleed.<\/p>\n
Veterans of the gory spectacle display scars of previous whippings, while others endure the punishing act for the first time.<\/p>\n
I inflict the wound to the penitents, if theres not much blood coming out, theyll ask for another one so their sins would be forgiven, Reynaldo Tolentino, 51, explained.<\/p>\n
They wont feel the pain when theyre doing the penitence as long as they are sincere in doing it.<\/p>\n
Good Friday is also usually marked by crucifixion reenactments in a city north of Manila, but the event was cancelled for the third year in a row due to Covid-19.<\/p>\n
About a dozen Catholics regularly have themselves nailed to wooden crosses as penance for their sins. The event attracts thousands of tourists.<\/p>\n
We do not encourage acts of self flagellations and crucifixions, said Father Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines public affairs committee.<\/p>\n
The suffering and crucifixion of Christ is already enough to save humanity, he told AFP, adding devotees should instead confess their sins.<\/p>\n
The Philippines has lifted most Covid-19 restrictions after a sharp fall in infections and rising vaccination rates.<\/p>\n
But the health department warned Thursday of a possible surge in cases as Filipinos dropped their guard and mingled more freely.<\/p>\n
by Ron LOPEZ<\/p>\n
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Religious whipping marks Good Friday in the Philippines - Macau Business<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Catholic zealots in the Philippines whipped their backs bloody and raw on Good Friday, as the fervently religious country marked Easter with gruesome displays of faith. Continue reading