Pampanga Faith Trek Draws Crowds Kahit Ang Mahal ng Gas

Hundreds of devotees and tourists still made the trip to San Fernando, Pampanga on Good Friday, proving that even sky-high fuel prices were not enough to stop one of the country's most intense Holy Week traditions. The annual reenactment again turned dusty streets and open grounds into a major religious gathering north of Manila.

The report described bare-chested flagellants walking barefoot under the heat while whipping their backs with bamboo flails. Some also used glass shards attached to wooden paddles to make themselves bleed, a ritual they believe helps them atone for sins and ask God for healing or other miracles.

One devotee, John David, said he was offering the act as a prayer for his seven-month-old baby suffering from pneumonia. He also linked the practice to family tradition, saying the ritual had already been done by his grandfather and father before him.

Despite the expensive trip, many still came. A visitor said he switched from car to motorcycle to cut fuel use, while another woman who traveled from Manila said she prayed not only for good health but also for fuel prices to come down because many people were already struggling.

Vendors near the site also felt relieved that the crowd still showed up. In short, mahal ang biyahe, pero for many Filipinos, faith and tradition still won the argument this Holy Week.

Source: The Manila Times — https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/04/03/news/braving-high-fuel-costs-filipinos-flock-to-crucifixion-spectacle/2313903