Cutud Lenten Rites in the Philippines

Festivals are the best moments to capture on your camera. Photography Club member Edmund Low shows you just that by taking you to one of Philippines' extraordinary festivals.

It was surely religious fanatism at its peak, as I took in the sight of masked men flagellating themselves and penitents bearing wooden crosses bigger than themselves toiling along the walls splashed with fresh blood. For the few days I was in the Philippines, I returned to my hotel with this same sight of Cutud Lenten Rites replaying in my mind over and over again.

The Philippines is Southeast Asia's largest Roman Catholic nation. Every year during the Holy Week, Filipinos gather at the area of San Pedro Cutud, San Fernando, for atonement and sacrifice. At this time, the penitents will make cuts on their backs with razor blades and whip their wounds, spurting out blood. This is their way of asking forgiveness for the sins committed, fulfilling religious vows and expressing gratitude for favours granted.

The culmination of this will be the re-enactment of Christ's crucifixion in the street play "Via Crucis" ("Way of the Cross") on Good Friday. Locals dressed as Roman centurions will arrest "Christ", making him bear a heavy cross and trek 4km to a "Golgotha". At noon, a few penitents will be crucified on the makeshift crosses, with steel nails driven through their hands and feet.

In retrospect of the festival, which is actually contrary to the Catholic Church's teachings, I ponder upon these penitents' practices. The majority of them are not consistent in attending weekly church services. A priest mentioned that these people should focus on Catholicism through faithful and consistent attendance of church and study of the teachings. Condensing an annual amount of church attendance and confession of sin into a few days of public pain-bearing is a one-sided belief of a bargain with God.

Nevertheless, the Cutud Lenten Rites is undeniably a visual spectacle and it should definitely be on your list of world's festivals to visit!

Is a camera the best invention since sliced bread for you? Then, Photography Club is the place you should be at! Or swing by the forum and share your photography tips or travel experiences if you are a photo taking globetrotter!

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