Can you put me up for the night?

When traveling I like to read local papers so it was with a raised eyebrow that I read a front page article in “The Philippine star”, Saturday March 8 edition. “19 Crucifixions set in Pampanga”

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – There were only three cross on Golgotha when Jesus was crucified over 2,000 years ago, but there will be a least 19 crucifixions that will take place in this town to promote the observance of Good Friday and to
attract tourists to attend the town’s “cultural heritage”.

WHAT THE…..

In a Monty Python moment, I cannot believe what I am reading.

People are going to actually crucify themselves to attract tourists. I read on. The article rapidly get’s more surreal:-

“Apart from the San Pedro Cutud crucifixions, which have been a favorite of tourists and international media on Good Fridays, the city government is asking tourists to also witness crucifixions in Barangays Sta. Lucia and San Juan.

These crucifixions have been scheduled so that tourists can witness all of them one after the other on Good Friday,” said Cing Pangilinan, public relations officer of the city governments.

With my Mouth agog by now:-

“Chairman Rene Roldan of Sta. Lucia said the rites of his area will be reenactment of the Stations of the Cross with costumed characters portraying Jesus, Mary and the apostles, Pontius Pilate, and Judas.

“The peculiar thing with our events is that Judas will be hanged while riding on a
chariot,” Roldan said.

In Barangay Cutud – where rituals will be longer with the portrayal of the entire Via Crucis or the Way of the Cross – two residents have agreed to take on the role of Dimas and Hestas, the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus on Calvary.

“No one in the past ever took these roles because local folk did not relish the idea of being thieves. Although we always had a Judas. Now we have Dimas and Hestas,” said Remigio de la Cruz, director of the Sta. Lucia activity.

While the list of volunteers for crucifixion remains open, at least 19 actual crucifixions are already expected in the three barangays.

David said he expects six in San Juan, while Roldan said he expects at least seven in Sta. Lucia, including a few women.

Hmm, equal Crucifixion rights. You don’t hear about that too often. To think Women burned their bras to end up with the right to be legally crucified.

I ask myself “Is this a trend in extreme Christian tourism?”

Perhaps the Rome tourist board will read this and follow. Just imagine the tourist mullah it would bring in: feeding Christians to the lions in the coliseum. They could even televise it.

Thinking about it, you could say that the feeding of a Pat Robertson or others in the Religious Right to poor cuddly Simba is a cruel sport. I don’t think SPCA would go with along with it.

Phileas Fogg.
Manila, Philippines
March 8, 2008