‘Crucifixion’ in Philippines
NZPA-Reuter San Fernando,] Philippines In San Fernando in the Philippines, a 29-year-old Filipino vendor was nailed to a wooden cross in the middle of a rice field on Friday in a bloody carnival-like reenactment of the Crucifixion. Hundreds of local and foreign spectators, mostly; American servicemen from i the nearby United States) Clark Air Base, jostled fori vantage points as a man costumed as a Roman centu-; rion drove a pair of scm-l long stainless steel nails] through the palms of Mario! Bagtas. Cameras clicked and] whirred, and two press! photographers almost came to blows as Mr Bagtas, now firmly secured to the cross) by ropes tied around his wrists in addition to the; nails, was hoisted up. After about three or four! minutes, Mr Bagtas was! lowered to the ground and; the nails were extracted. His! face contorted with pain, he! shouted: “Alcohol, alcohol,' where’s the alcohol?” ! An hour earlier, Mr] Bagtas led a 3km-long pro- 1
cession from the Roman Catholic church in the town. ■ 60km north of Manila, under a blistering sun and over : dustry roads and trails thick ■ with noisy spectators. Mr Bagtas wore a ! purple robe, a crown of thorns over a wig on bis head, and carried the cross on his shoulder. Behind him,; , dozens of other zealots, theirj faces hidden by multi-col- ; cured hoods, whipped their! .naked backs, drawing blood! from cuts made earlier with; broken glass or razor blades. ( j The crucifixion and the] !self-flagellatio"’ by hundreds!) [of Filipinos atoning for!! ; their sins, have character-' ised the observance of Lent; and Good Friday for years] in Asia’s only Roman Catho-!' [lie country. ; For Mr Bagtas. who! ‘makes a living by selling] food and drink to passengers; (on buses stopping by Sanj [Fernando, the ritual was his| 'third in three years. ! He said he had made a] vow to re-enact Christ’s] passion after his wife had | recovered three years ago i from what he described as; 'cancer.
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Press, 16 April 1979, Page 8
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327‘Crucifixion’ in Philippines Press, 16 April 1979, Page 8
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