good friday

(c)AC Dimatatac

In the Philippines, Lenten Season is a very sacred holiday wherein Filipinos are doing something to reflect on their sins and re-commit themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ. It's the time of the year where everyone is spending their quiet time either at home or taking retreats in some religious place.Being a Catholic country, Filipinos have a lot of outrageous practices during this season and one of those can be found in a small town known as Kapitangan in Paombong, Bulacan.

Since early 70's people in this area are submitting themselves in flaggelation and crucifixion as a form of penitence every lenten season. Its a common belief that if they willingly hurt themselves by using broken shards of glass to injured their backs then whip it with bamboo sticks or nailing themselves to the cross they are seriously repenting on their sins. Spectators are taking this event as somewhat bizarre and quite absurd even some of them are saying that this is just a gimmick to catch attention or its just all a show, but for those who are doing this it is a sacred act of repentance.

People have different perception on these activities but no matter what it is they should not forget the true meaning of Lenten Season. Whether you crucified yourself or just quietly spend it in your home, this is the moment to remember what Jesus Christ did in the cross and that is to give us the gift of forgiveness and hope.