WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT
Hundreds of people gathered in the Philippine city of San Fernando on Good Friday to witness a series of brutal religious rituals, including men being nailed to crosses in a re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
From early morning, penitents filled the streets of Pampanga province, many barefoot and bare-backed, whipping themselves with bamboo sticks as they walked under intense heat.
Others used small wooden paddles embedded with shards of glass to cut their skin, ensuring blood flowed as part of their act of devotion.
The annual event, held during Holy Week in the predominantly Catholic country, draws large crowds each year, with both locals and tourists travelling to see the stark display of faith.
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By around 1pm, attention turned to an open field where the most extreme part of the ritual unfolded.
Several men were nailed to wooden crosses and raised upright in front of onlookers.
Long nails were driven through their hands, and in some cases their feet, as part of the re-enactment. The men remained suspended for several minutes before being brought down and treated.
GB News regular Benjamin Butterworth, who was among those watching, said the scene was difficult to process.
GB News regular Benjamin Butterworth described the graphic scene
|BENJAMIN BUTTERWORTH
The act is carried out by some devotees
|BENJAMIN BUTTERWORTH
“It was extraordinary to see. The man was wailing in pain as he was hoisted upwards and nailed to the cross. I have never seen anything like it,” he said.
“You could really feel the emotional toll of sacrifice of some of these men.
“It was pretty hard to watch a man be crucified in real life. But the locals take it very seriously. Hundreds waited for hours in the torturous sun to see this spectacle and share their Holy Week.”
The practice is not officially endorsed by the Catholic Church, but continues to be carried out by some devotees as a personal act of penance or prayer.
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Participants often say they are seeking forgiveness
|BENJAMIN BUTTERWORTH
Participants prepare to be hung at the stake
|BENJAMIN BUTTERWORTH
Participants often say they are seeking forgiveness, giving thanks, or asking for healing for loved ones.
Despite its graphic nature, the event remains a major draw, with thousands known to attend in some years.
Many travel long distances to take part or watch, treating it as a central part of their Holy Week observance.
Local authorities monitor the event each year, with medical teams on hand as those taking part are lowered from the crosses and attended to.
For those gathered in San Fernando, the rituals are a stark and physical expression of faith — one that continues to provoke strong reactions from those seeing it for the first time.