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Crucifixion in the Philippines: Tourists Welcome
As the only officially Catholic country in Asia, the Philippines, thanks to Father Pedro de Valderama who arrived with Spanish explorer Magellan in the early 1500s, is gearing up for Easter. And there are few places on Earth where religious fervor is matched in such graphic shows of penitence and resolve to do better. Although there are calmer, more sedate versions of the Good Friday celebratory happenings, the most extreme are the Penitencia where people mirror Jesus' suffering by being nailed to a cross. Others dress up like Roman soldiers. Really. There's a bit more to it than this, and no one actually dies, but it sure isn't pleasant. The government and the Catholic Church both frown on the practice, but those who are involved are determined.
Tourists do show up. If you're interested, here's a link that lists some of these Good Friday events. I also found this interesting read by Larry Kingston in the online travel magazine The Tangent-Ezine. Kingston was an eyewitness to last year's event. Besides providing an account of the happenings and his impressions, his article is filled with photographs. The photo here is of people waiting for the crucifixion to take place. These crosses are part of the scenery.
Filed under: History, Learning, Asia, Philippines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
kalyan3 Apr 1st 2007 9:57AM
As the only Catholic country in Asia, the Philippines...
Sorry to be a nitpicker, but I think you're forgetting to count East Timor.
Jamie Rhein Apr 1st 2007 2:20PM
Nit pick away. I wasn't aware of that. So, that's what the issues in East Timor are about. East Timor though,is part of Indonesia isn't it? I thought they were trying to get independence? But, I'm a bit fuzzy on this. Thanks for the insight.
Monkey Apr 3rd 2007 8:32AM
You have misspelt CRUCIFIXION in the title of this story. Please correct it.
Jamie Rhein Apr 3rd 2007 8:35AM
The difference between American and British spellings I guess. It's spelled correctly depending on which one you go with.
Monkey Apr 3rd 2007 1:23PM
"The difference between American and British spellings I guess. It's spelled correctly depending on which one you go with."
No, there is only one correct way to spell crucifixion in English and that is CRUCIFIXION. It's the same spelling in British and American English.
http://wsu.edu/~brians/errors/crucifiction.html
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=crucifiction
Jamie Rhein Apr 3rd 2007 1:29PM
I looked it up. A common spelling in American English is crucifiction, although, you are correct, crucifixion is correct. Look and see how many times it appears as being spelled crucifiction and you'll see what I mean. There's an interesting website I found that explains the differences between American and British English and where they came from. Also what are the common mistakes--or not so common.
http://en.allexperts.com/e/a/am/american_and_british_english_spelling_differences.htm
Thanks! Now, I'll change it to be correct, now that I've realized the mistake.
Monkey Apr 3rd 2007 8:53PM
You're welcome for the correction. As a Brit with an American fiancee I think I'm pretty well up on many of the differences between US and UK English too.
Jamie Rhein Apr 3rd 2007 9:22PM
Great! You probably notice them all the time. There is a radio show in the U.S. where people call up to discuss grammar usage and spelling. It's interesting to see what the language uses are and how common use alters what once was.
Carl LaFong Apr 5th 2007 2:07PM
I'd put $100.00 out there that says if Jesus himself were asked about this practice He'd say, "Don't do that, please".
Mark Anderson Apr 5th 2007 2:18PM
I think spelling it "crucifiction" is meant to imply that you think it is "fiction".
Oh- you spelled "correxion" wrong.
Munchkin Apr 5th 2007 2:21PM
Monkey:
The subject is about people in the Philippines reinacting the crucifixion of Jesus, not a spelling contest. Can we stick to the subject at hand please? Didn't Mel Gibson cover this when he directed "The Passion?" People are gonna do what they want anyway no matter what other people think.
mythjones Apr 5th 2007 5:08PM
Of for cryin' out loud, the spelling was a play on words/letterings. I would have marked a paper in red for not using quotes to indicate this, but it is not tough to figure out. Put yer thinkin' caps on sometimes, kids.
Elijah Apr 5th 2007 3:49PM
Easter was supposed to be the day that Jesus ROSE FROM THE DEAD! NOT THE DAY HE WENT TO HELL FOREVER. thats the problem with catholics. they make up too many things that arent in the Bible and they always have jesus hanging on a cross.(and they idolize mary-totally wrong) jesus was resurrected.
Lana Apr 5th 2007 4:11PM
Elijah:
Jesus died on a crucifix just to save our sins...you don't think that we Catholics shouln't make it so every time we walk into our house,church,or school we can remember that Jesus died on the cross and faced so many sufferings just so we don't suffer? and yeah, we pray to Mary...she carried on the responsibility of mothering God!...and she carried on this job with no complaints even though she had watch her only son suffer
Doc Apr 5th 2007 4:07PM
I think that picking out a spelling error in an article that covers a very non traditional and rather distubing occurrence in todays age is not only inane, but gives the impression that the the spelling teacher has zero comprehension skills. Hats off Jamie...outstanding article.
Joseph Apr 5th 2007 4:11PM
Elijah,
You are an idiot, and you know nothing about catholics. #1 They don't do it on easter. They do this on good friday. Though they are still freaks in my book. This practice is not a catholic thing, its a zealot thing. People like this are active in all walks of life. And cotholics do not idolize Mary, they venerate her. Look it up. Praying to mary is no different than having a prayer circle. You are basically asking someone else to pray for you as well. Read the hell mary, it says "pray for us" Get an education, idiot.
keyesdt Apr 5th 2007 4:10PM
First of all CATHOLICS KNOW Easter is the day Jesus ROSE from the dead after spending three days in hell to pay for the sins of bigots and all others. Secondly CATHOLICS DO NOT idolize Mary. She IS venerated as the mother of our Saviour, and as someone who will intercede for us to Jesus,and she is asked to pray FOR US but not TO her. Not much different than asking your friends mother to have him/her get ahold of you if you couldn't get straight through yourself!
TomC43 Apr 5th 2007 4:19PM
Elijah
Are you ranting just for the sake of ranting? No where in the article does it say this is done on Easter or that they don't celebrate the ressurection on Easter. While I have a lot of problems with the Catholic church you'll have to be a bit more specific about what you mean. Jesus did hang on the cross and die on the cross according to the bible and that's what catholics believe. Then rose on the 3rd day, Easter Sunday. And catholics don't even say he decended into hell, catholics use "he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again..." Only some Protestant denominations use the "He desended into hell..." So why don't you get your facts straight before you start ranting.
J. zablotny Apr 5th 2007 4:22PM
Jesus took the crucifixion and death to atone for the sins for all his people. The Crucifix is a symbol of God's great love for us. He rose from the dead and will come to judge us all.
Catholics honor Mary his mother. Don't you honor your mother?
Tess Apr 6th 2007 3:34PM
Catholics do say "desended into hell" in reference to Christ opening the gates of all the GOOD people who died prior to Salvation. But, he didn't stay there.
Also, I remember when I was a kid, this practice in the Phillipines, was denounced by the pope.
As far as Catholics making up stuff...remember Jesus did NOT write the Bible. There are many resources to learn about Jesus' teachings.