20 Good Friday Devotees Crucified In Philippines During Bloody Re-Enactment: ‘I Do This For My God’ [PHOTOS]

By Anila Alexander | April 06 2012 10:04 AM

Photo: Reuters

Religious fanatics nail themselves to crosses to show their devotion to the Catholic faith.

Filipino penitent Bobby Gomez grimaces while being nailed to a wooden cross during a reenactment of Jesus Christ's crucifixion on Good Friday in Barangay Cutud.

Photo: Reuters

Numerous penitents were nailed to a cross on Good Friday in this display of religious devotion in the Philippines, a predominantly Catholic country.

Precy Valencia, a penitent, is nailed to a wooden cross as part of a voluntary ritual to mark the death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday in the town of Paombong in Bulacan province

Photo: Reuters

Only a few women participated.

Blood flows from the wound in the foot of Precy Valencia, a penitent, after pulling out the nail which pinned her to a wooden cross on Good Friday in the town of Paombong in Bulacan province

Photo: Reuters

The procession occurred on April 6, 2012.

JonJon Tanael, a penitent, looks at a nail before he is "crucified" on a wooden cross as part of a voluntary ritual to mark the death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday in the town of Paombong in Bulacan province.

Photo: Reuters

Filipino penitent Gomez grimaces while being nailed to a wooden cross during a reenactment of Jesus Christ's crucifixion on Good Friday in Barangay Cutud

Filipino penitent Bobby Gomez grimaces as a four inch nail is hammered into his palm.

Photo: Reuters

Some showed their devotion by whipping their backs with sharp pieces of bamboo.

Hooded barefoot penitents performing self-flagellation to atone for their sins pray in front of a chapel in San Fernando, Pampanga in northern Philippines

More than 20 Filipinos nailed themselves to crosses on Good Friday in a show of their devotion to the Roman Catholic faith.

The real-life re-enactments are held every Good Friday in the northern city of San Fernando and nearby Paombong town, despite opposition from the Catholic church. The event draws hundreds of tourists, reported AFP.

Arturo Bating, 44 had four inch nails driven through his palms for the first time Friday.

This is a vow I had made to God so that He will spare my family from sickness, he told AFP. He lasted on the cross for several minutes. It was a bit painful, but bearable, he said, vowing to come back next year to partake in the ritual.

Fifty people dragged crosses through the streets while more than 20 people were nailed to crosses. One person had to be rushed to the hospital after his feet sustained heavy bleeding. People undergo the ritual to atone for sins, pray for necessities, or give thanks to God's gifts.

Alex Laranang, 57, told AFP has participated in the crucifixion for the past 12 years.

I had made a vow to do this every year until I die, said Laranang. I do not expect anything in return. I do this for my God.

He said the pain was a minor inconvenience.

I hardly feel any pain. The nerves have been deadened, he said. After this, I go home, eat and go to sleep. After two days I go back to work.

Corazon Cabigting was the one of the only women who participated in the reenactment. She dragged her cross through the streets and was later nailed to it.

I do this penance out of my free will because I believe that God will help relieve my sickness, she said to Reuters.

Others showed their devotion by whipping their bare backs with strips of bamboo.

Archbishop Jose Palma, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said that while the church does not encourage the practice, they find no fault in people participating in it.

We do not judge and condemn, but we discourage it, he said to the Washington Post.

80 percent of Filipinos are Catholic.