Philippines has the most number of Roman Catholics in Southeast Asia. One of the traditional practices is the observance of Lent and Holy Week, which is a time for atonement and sacrifice. For the Filipinos in Pampanga every Good Friday, there is a re-enactment of Christ’s passion and death called ‘Via Crucis’ in the form of a street play and it actually culminates with an actual crucifixion of penitents on wooden crosses atop a makeshift calvary. Along the 4km trek to “Golgotha”, there is “pabasa”, which is the chanting of the passion of Christ from a book called Pasyon. This could be heard 24 hours nonstop for the few nights before Good Friday. Other flagellants called “magdarame” will either be carrying wooden crosses or slash their backs with glass shards or steel blades before whipping the open wounds with bamboo pads called burilyo as they walk barefooted to the calvary. They do this to ask for forgiveness for the sins committed, to fulfill religious vows (panata), or to express gratitude for favors granted. To most people, including myself, it makes one curious and brings a lot of questions as to why they will want to perform self-flagellations in the first place. Is that the only way for them to be closer to God and test their faith? The churches in Pampanga actually disapproves of what they are doing and even put up barricades just at the entrance to prevent the flagellants from entering into the compound. The event has also become more commercialised and attracts lots of tourists into the city. Is this really more of a festival itself or a religion for the Catholics in Pampanga? It is up to one to decide but I believe the tradition will stay for quite a long time in the years to come.
