When the Goodness and Godliness of “Good Friday” is Lost

Good Friday is the most solemn and the gloomiest day in the Catholic Gregorian Calendar. But in a little barangay in Pampanga, it is quite different.

Thousands of tourists are patiently waiting, vendors restlessly calling for the people’s attention, police gather as if a big hostage crisis is happening, and the medics are on stand-by helping with the tourists and “actors” alike.

This is a typical Good Friday in a small place in the heart of San Fernando Pampanga. People gather in barangay San Pedro Cutud to witness the “exciting” and “blood-pumping” action of the annual street play performance where selected men and women will be crucified until they are in the brink of either losing their faith or losing their lives. 

The view at the front of the gates of the hill where volunteer men and women were crucified

The event is called “Maleldo”, a Kapampangan (their local dialect) word for “holy day”. An annual event where desire of anyone to see themselves nailed at the cross, or to see someone in the cross, comes to life. 

This is my second time going to this world-renowned barangay for their immense devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. I don’t know why they are nailing themselves on to a cross for the entertainment of these tourists, but, I must admit that I enjoyed the gore and the feeling of seeing someone crucified as if you went back to the old times where crucifixion is one the noblest and the least shameful medieval punishments. 

Penitensya, a kind of self-flagellation where cuts are made on the back of a person and is struck with "bulyos" (a type of whip made from pieces of wood ) to induce gushing of blood out of the body

Maleldo means “holy day”. I think everyone here didn't grasp the meaning of “holy” quite well. 

Yes, you can be devoted to your Lord by self-flagellation; this practice is done not only in Catholicism, but in some other form of religion as well. But how can you concentrate repenting from your sins when you hear your friendly neighbor yanking their voice-boxes out in the tune of “Careless Whisper”? Is this the trend in commemorating the death of our Lord Jesus Christ? If this is, I myself will sing my favorite song this coming Black Saturday.

There are also groups of men having the time of their lives surrounding a table full of beers and gins with the sides of menudo, mechado, and other similar dishes (I thought Good Friday means meatless Friday?) 

Children collecting empty bottles

Another point is that there are a lot, I mean, a lot of children scavenging for plastic bottles and asking for money and food from the tourists. How can a place so faithful be so poor? Oh, I forgot about the Philippines, my apologies on that. 

A child eating a bread that he got from a foreign tourist.

Who wants an ice-cold drink?

Thirdly, the tourists themselves. Is they there for their faith? To practice and commemorate Good Friday? To ask forgiveness? I don’t think so. I stayed there during the whole event, and I didn’t hear any tourist utter a single prayer. I also encountered a whole family in their summer attire, complete with their colorful bandanas and salbabidas ready to beat the scorching heat brought by summer

The media covering the whole event

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And I’m sure; the media that flocked there has the word faith in the bottom of their list. May it be foreign or local news coverage, their main reason is to entertain their viewers or their readers.

I must admit, I am there not to show my faith to others, but to hone my observational and photography skills. I am very personal when it comes to my faith but don’t question my knowledge on the Bible, you might embarrass yourself at the front me, and I don’t want you to be that kind of person. 

Vendors of lucky charms, necklaces, and bracelets.

Picture-taking after role-playing!

What am I saying is, WHERE THE HELL (PUN INTENDED) is the faith in there. Seriously. I mean I know that Maleldo initially started with good intention, which is to flourish the religiosity in every Filipino citizen. But now, it is not faith anymore that rules Maleldo, it’s business. More of like what is currently happening in the Vatican.

I am optimist for the change of this practice. I know the government and the church (hopefully) can do something about this. Do not over-sensationalize your faith as if every Good Friday is synonymous with Christmas.

Karaoke, guys, seriously?