Philippines Easter Processions - Young boy with wooden crucifix

A young boy with a toy crucifix waits for the processions to begin in Angeles, The Philippines.
Three empty crucifixes

Empty crucifixes at the beginning of the festival in Angeles, The Philippines.
Hand holding razor blade

A man holds a razor blade, used for cutting celebrants' backs, in Angeles, The Philippines.
Cutting a man's back with a razor blade

A man cuts a celebrant's back with a razor blade during the processions in Angeles, The Philippines.
Boy standing on crucifix to watch the processions

A young boy stands on a crucifix to get a better view of the processions in Angeles, The Philippines.
Masked celebrant whips his blood covered back

A masked celebrant whips his back during the processions in Angeles, The Philippines.
Young boy with blood spotted face

A young boy, his face spattered with blood, watches the processions in Angeles, The Philippines.
Man wearing Jesus mask

A celebrant wearing a mask of Jesus' face in Angeles, The Philippines.
Celebrant lifting a red crucifix

A celebrant lifts a crucifix during processions in Angeles, The Philippines.
Celebrant prostrating himself

A devotee prostrates himself on the ground in front of a local chapel in Angeles, The Philippines.
Celebrants purifying themselves in street

Devotees outside a local chapel in Angeles, The Philippines.
Religious tattoo on celebrant's back

A blood-covered devotee with a Jesus tattoo in Angeles, The Philippines.
Blood spattered young boy watching processions

A young boy, his face and body spattered with blood, watches the processions in Angeles, The Philippines.
Blood-covered back tattoo

A blood-covered devotee with a tattoo reading Lord Mad in Angeles, The Philippines.
Blood-covered celebrants pray in street

Blood-covered devotees kneel before a local chapel in Angeles, The Philippines.
Boy holding praying celebrant's whip

A young boy holds a celebrant's whip while he prays outside a chapel in Angeles, The Philippines.
Devotee carrying crucifix in street

A celebrant walks with a crucufix during processions in Angeles, The Philippines.
Whip laying across blood-covered back

A whip lays on the blood-covered back of a praying devotee in Angeles, The Philippines.
Blood spots on leaves of celebrant's headdress

Blood-spattered leaves on a celebrant's wreath in Angeles, The Philippines.
Devotees arms on ground as they pray

The arms of two celebrants lying prostrate in front of a chapel in Angeles, The Philippines.
Crucifix necklace worn by blood spattered man

A crucifix hangs over the blood-spattered belly of a devotee in Angeles, The Philippines.
Blood drips from the end of a whip

Blood drips from a celebrant's whip in Angeles, The Philippines.
Roman centurion having cigarette break

A man dressed as a centurion has a cigarette before the end of the festival in Angeles, The Philippines.
Roman centurion shouting

A celebrant dressed as a Roman centurion in Angeles, The Philippines.
Jesus on the cross with Roman centurions

The celebrant playing the part of Jesus Christ is crucified and surrounded by Roman guards in Angeles, The Philippines.
Jesus Christ crucified

The celebrant playing the part of Jesus Christ on the cross in Angeles, The Philippines.
Jesus Christ performer carried through crowd

After being taken down from the cross, the celebrant playing Jesus is carried through the crowd in Angeles, The Philippines.
Jesus Christ performer treated in ambulance

After being taken down from the cross, the celebrant playing Jesus is put into an ambulance in Angeles, The Philippines.

Philippines Easter Processions & Crucifixions.

The Easter Processions, and their climax, a reenaction of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, take place in Catholic communities across The Philippines during the Holy Week of Easter. Despite these customs being frowned upon by both the Catholic church within the Philippines and the Vatican itself, they continue with undampened enthusiasm.

Whipping their blood-covered backs, groups of masked penitents move through the streets, stopping to prostrate themselves before local chapels. At the end of the festival, there is a ‘Passion Play’. As in the Bible, soldiers drive Jesus Christ with his crucifix through the crowds. Then on a hill he is nailed to the cross, a thief on either side.

Celebrants believe that in mortifying their flesh through self-flagellation or crucifixion they atone for their sins, pay karmic debts, purify themselves, and give thanks for their good fortune.

Prints

These images can be collected as open edition fine art prints. For details about the printing process, visit my Fine Art Prints page.