Easter ‘crucifixions’ – Catholics in the Philippines nailed to crosses for Good Friday
Catholic devotees in the Philippines have been nailed to crosses in Easter ‘crucifixions’ recreating the Passion of Christ for Good Friday.
While the ritual is frowned on by church authorities, the voluntary crucifixions in villages north of the capital Manila are one of the most extreme displays of religious devotion in Asia’s largest Roman Catholic state.
Other penitants whipped their backs and chanted prayers as dozens of them mixed faith with gory rituals to mark the church calendar’s most sombre day at Easter.
Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, spokesman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said the church discourages such rituals because the penitents were expecting rewards for hurting themselves.
“We only encourage the faithfuls to fast, pray and confess their sins,” he told the Reuters news agency. “We can’t stop the practice. It is not necessary, but the church has no police power. These rituals challenge us to guide our flock on the true teachings of the Catholic church.”
In the small village of Cutud, 50 miles north of Manila, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was re-enacted in a colourful street play with dozens of men carrying wooden crosses as heavy as 110 lbs and scores whipping their backs to a bloody pulp.
After walking barefoot for almost a mile around the village in scorching heat, the drama ended at a man-made hill where 11 men were nailed to crosses with three-inch nails driven into their hands and feet.
“I am not doing this for fame or money,” said Ruben Inaje, 48, who has played the role of Jesus Christ at Cutud since 1986. “This is my own way of thanking the Lord. He has showered my family with so much blessings and has saved my life many times.”
Inaje, a house painter, said he made a decision to have himself crucified after escaping death after a fall from a three-storey building.
“I believed God was using me as an instrument to show the world the Filipinos’ devotion to God,” he said, showing his bandaged bands at a medical station after the crucifixion.
“I will never get tired doing this every year. This is my personal devotion and I will continue this until the Lord allows my body to endure the pain.”
In the neighbouring province of Bulacan, five people were nailed to wooden crosses, including an 18-year-old woman and an Australian, who said he was hoping his sacrifice would cure his cancer-striken mother.
The crowd cheered John Michael, 33, as the nails were driven to his hands and feet. Minutes, later he gave a broad smile of relief as the nails were pulled out.
About 20 crucifixions were held in four other parts of the country.
Thousands, many of them curious tourists from Australia, Europe and South Korea watched the spectacle in Cutud, which has grown from a village novelty started in 1955 to a media and tourist attraction copied in other parts of the country.
The atmosphere was festive, with hawkers selling bottled water, beer, ice-cream and souvenir whips. VIPs and even some nuns watched from a specially elevated “viewing platform”.
More than 80 per cent of the Philippines’ estimated 90 million population are Catholic.
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/5135356/Easter-crucifixions-Catholics-in-the-Philippines-nailed-to-crosses-for-Good-Friday.html
Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices. Today, this wine shop in Clark Philippines offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world. As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years. Clark Wine Center is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.
Wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, Loire, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Alsace, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Chile and Argentina etc. are well represented in this Clark Wine Shop.
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Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.
Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay
Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.
Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:
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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com
YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.yatsleisure.com
Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com
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