Manila: Central Luzon village, known its realistic depiction of Christ’s suffering on the cross, has barred foreigners from taking part in annual crucifixion rites.
Harvey Quiwa, chairperson of the committee in charge of the 2015 Holy Week rites, said they would exert efforts to prevent foreigners from volunteering and having themselves nailed to the cross so that the Lenten rites “will not become a circus.”
It has been part of the annual tradition in the villages of San Pedro Cutud, Santa Lucia and San Juan, to have people actually nailed to the cross. The person being crucified volunteered for the activity mainly to atone for their “sins.” This symbolic tribute has become a public spectacle that has drawn volunteers from other parts of the Philippines and the rest of the world.
Quiwa said the participation of non-Filipinos in the solemn ritual has contributed to trivialising the tradition and diminishing the moral and spiritual dimension of the depiction of Christ’s suffering.
Last year Danish volunteer Lasse Spang Olsen was able to take part in the crucifixion rites, but his participation was for a realistic depiction of a film that he plans to make. He was reported to have converted to Catholicism before he was crucified.
In 2006, Briton Dominik Diamond was about to be nailed to the cross, but backed out at the last minute after seeing the eight-inch long nails that would be driven into his palms.
Quiwa said they want to avoid similar incidents.
He said the ban on foreigners is being enforced to prevent people from interpreting that the realistic Passion Play is about bravado and not about spiritualism.
According to Quiwa, this year’s Holy Week rites in Pampanga province are expected to be witnessed by an estimated 60,000 foreign and local tourists. On Friday, seven people are expected to be nailed to the cross including 76-year-old Bob Velez of Santo Nino, another village in Pampanga.
Velez has taken part in the annual crucifixion rites 35 times.
