San Fernando, Philippines Hotels, Vacations, Tourism

SAN FERNANDO , 50km north of Manila and the capital of Pampanga province, is best known for its controversial crucifixion of flagellants . Every year on Good Friday a dozen or so penitents – mostly men but with the occasional woman and sometimes even the odd foreigner – are taken to a rice field in the barrio of San Pedro Cutud, 3km from San Fernando, and nailed to a cross using two-inch stainless steel nails that have been soaked in alcohol to disinfect them. The penitents are taken down seconds later. Other penitents flagellate themselves using bamboo sticks tied to a rope. The blood is real, but the … more »