Woman, 11 men to be ‘crucified’

BARANGAY CUTUD, City of San Fernando — A woman and 11 men will be nailed to wooden crosses here on Good Friday in a reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Golgotha.

Police have readied security measures as local and foreign tourists began trekking here to witness the event.

Juraj Mravec, a Slovakian journalist, purposely went to the Philippines to cover the reenactment.

Mravec said he wants to tell his countrymen that "what they (read) in the news is real" and describe to them what the penitents feel during the nailing.

Barangay Cutud chairman Zoilo Castro identified five of the penitents as Chito Sangalang (on his 15th year to be "crucified"), Richard Lazaro (second), Arnold Maniago (fifth), Ruben Enaje (eighth) and Amparo Muñoz (third).

A fiesta atmosphere pervades in this village every Good Friday with residents preparing food for relatives who come from other provinces. — Ric Sapnu