Six faith healers were crucified on Good Friday at a century-old chapel in the farming village of Kapitangan, Paombong, Bulacan before a multitude of devotees and foreign tourists.
At around 9:00 a.m., thousands of people braved the heat to witness the bloody Lenten ritual that saw the six faith healers nailed to wooden crosses at a man-made Golgotha beside the Catholic chapel.
The crucifixions were held despite warnings from the Department of Health and the Catholic Church against the bloody reenactment.
The six faith healers, three of them women, played the roles of Roman Centurions and were made to carry wooden crosses.
First to be crucified at 9:30 a.m. was a man who live outside Bulacan, and who, according to the Roman Centurions who hammered one of the nails in his palm, stayed nailed on the cross for about 25 minutes.
He was followed around 10:00 a.m. by a young faith healer from Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental who was dragged and whipped by the Roman Centurions while carrying a wooden cross towards the man-made Golgotha where thousands of spectators witnessed the nails being hammered into his palms and feet.
Next to be crucified was his twin brother who also fulfilled their Holy Week vow at 10:30 a.m. He stayed nailed to a wooden cross for about 25 minutes as the multitude sang the Tagalog version of “The Lord’s Prayer” or “Ama Namin.”
At 11:00 a.m., the wife of one of the twins was crucified but she only stayed nailed to the cross for about 5 minutes.
When asked by this writer why they made such kind of sacrifices, they said they had a mission to fulfill.
"Kaya balikan and ticket sa eroplano ang binili namin para agad makauwi pagtapos dito," (That is why we bought roundtrip plane tickets so we can go home immediately after this)," they said.
At 1:30 a.m., another woman was nailed to the cross, followed by another woman at 12:00 noon. Both women are also non-residents of Bulacan, the Roman Centurions said.
Scores of faith healers and the faithful arrived early dawn on Good Friday at the farming village to get the miraculous perfumed oil of the Mahal na Poong Sto. Cristo.
The faithful wanted to be part of the old Lenten tradition of the venerated crucifix, the patron saint of the village, which is bathed in oil and perfume.
The image of the Crucified Christ is taken down from the chapel’s main altar before being doused and bathed in oil and perfume which are collected and distributed to the faithful who have lined up to get the miraculous perfumed oil which is believed to have healing powers.
Meanwhile, on Maundy Thursday, March 28, bareback flagellants walked barefoot towards the Catholic chapel to fulfill their vows or ”Panata” while they were being whipped on their backs.
Despite the heavy downpour, the flagellants did not stop doing their penance.