Semana Santa in Subic

Shrouded men with crowns of thorns walk the hot streets of the Philippines once again for Penitensiya. Bare-chested and in single-file, the flagellants would scourge themselves with whips for penance or repentance of sins, inflicting cuts on their backs as they marched a number of kilometers from Subic town to Barangay Balaybay Castillejos.

Sweating profusely and dripping with blood on their backs (sometimes paint, depending on how serious the individual is about the penitence), the penitents would walk under the heat of the sun until reaching the site of the crucifixion, inspired by Jesus Christ's suffering.

Although not as formal in Subic, some areas such as in Pampanga intricately mimic the actual event of Christ's crucifixion. The man to be crucified, like Jesus, carried his cross behind two Roman soldiers on horseback. Other Centurians, in red gowns and shiny headgear, marched alongside to keep the crowds away. The procession would stop occasionally as Jesus knelt down with his cross, while Mary and two other girls ran up to him, wept at his feet, and begged his captors to free him.

As day turned into night, the religious procession would continue, but with statues of Saints now being carried. Religious icons of participants in the Passion of Christ are borne on flower-decked karosa or open carriages. The icons represented many of the secondary characters in the events leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ: many of the apostles like Peter, Paul and John, Saint Veronica and Mary Magdalene. One after another they are paraded across town, with a long line of candle-bearing participants on either side of them winding their way along the route as well.

Thanks to Mhar for the pictures.