Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

‘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.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19790416.2.92

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Press, 16 April 1979, Page 8

Word count
Tapeke kupu
327

‘Crucifixion’ in Philippines Press, 16 April 1979, Page 8

‘Crucifixion’ in Philippines Press, 16 April 1979, Page 8

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert