Politics shunned; penitents nailed

By George Trillo

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Somehow, election candidates didn’t spoil solemnity of the traditional true-to-life crucifixions here on Good Friday in Barangay San Pedro Cutud by taking advantage of the event to campaign, organizers of “Maleldo” bared.

“Maleldo,” a contracted Kapampangan word meaning “holy day,” has been used here to refer to crucifixions that have become the focus of the international media every Good Friday.

Twenty-five penitents were nailed on wooden crosses in Barangay San Pedro Cutud.

This year, though, there were developments on Good Friday in this town as more barangays staged their own crucifixions and the makeshift Golgotha in San Pedro Cutud wastransferred to accommodate more viewers.

City tourism officer Ching Pangilinan said foreigners were barred from flagellation and the actual crucifixion.

“We have had some cases of foreigners joining flagellants but later exhibiting acts manifesting their lack of deeper understanding of the tradition,” Pangilinan said.

But, of course, both foreign and domestic tourists were invited to witness anew the event in San Pedro Cutud.

Supt. Marcelo Dayag, San Fernando police chief, said his men were on “high alert” on Good Friday appealing to the public to be “extra careful” against criminal elements, particularly pickpockets.

No untoward incidents were reported.

Last year, crucifixions of penitents were held not only in San Pedro Cutud, but also in Barangays Sta. Lucia and San Juan, although they were scheduled in a way that enabled tourists to witness one after the other. San Pedro Cutud started the Lenten tradition.

This Good Friday, there were five crucifixion sites at barangays Calulut and Del Pilar with penitents be nailed on crosses.