Rough Groove

Semana Santa 06: Flagellants

One of the familiar scenes during Holy Week, as far as South and Central Luzon provinces are concerned (Metro Manila, Laguna, Rizal, Tarlac, Pampanga and Quezon), are the presence of flagellants. I’ve always wanted to document this one and unfortunately, it is not present in Lucban. My original plan was to go to Kalayaan, Laguna by the morning of Good Friday and do the photo documentation. It was still Holy Wednesday that we (with Jason Maceo and his friends) went to Paete to witness the resplendent carrozas there. A side trip was also done in Pakil where I first witnessed the group of men flagellating themselves following the procession.

It’s usually the men who do these as a means of penitence, to fulfill a panata (obligation or promise) or to ask for favors from the above. The practices are the same for the provinces mentioned except that they differ in the way they are dressed and means of flagellations. I have only observed first hand those from Laguna and compared to the other provinces (based on books and video), the men are dressed in skirts à to dress like a woman and humiliate their being macho men. The skirts can take the form of dried banana leaves and some men cover it with a woman’s dress. The head is always covered but unlike those in the other provinces, it can take the form of plastic masks or cloth with holes for the eyes and some with a few coconut leaves formed into a crown with a few flowers on their head. The means of flagellating is usually made of thick wooden rods (Kalayaan and Pakil municipalities in Laguna while, as I was told, in Siniloan, another municipality in Laguna uses steel rods) around 6 – 7 inches in length bound together with a rope and the number corresponds to the number of years that the person will do the flagellation. The wounds are induced. A sharp blade cuts the flesh at the back (the men are clothed with the back cut to expose the skin). Once this is done, they then follow the procession, flinging the rods right and left as blood starts to flow. From time to time, these group of men stop, one gets down on the ground, lying on his back and an assistant (also the one who induces the wounds), strikes his back and cuts. Once done, a pail is at hand to cleanse the rods from the blood and his wounds are also wiped clean. The blade is again used to make a fresh cut. After a while, the pail of water just turns red.

Its very ghastly and not for the faint of heart. Its very brutal and then, this is the men’s belief. For them, the sacrifice is worth the forgiveness and favors that they will receive. However, being amidst this group, the sound of the rods hitting the back, the somewhat wavy movements left and right the men make is something that can make a lasting impression on you.

A side note though, Maundy Thursday, after seeing some flagellants in Kalayaan while I was on my way to Pakil, I decided to eventually go to Infanta, Quezon, about 2 hours away by bus from Siniloan. I was hoping to catch the group of flagellants there since in that area, instead of simple hoods and crowns, they have elaborate head gear made from leaves and flowers with a small image of a saint on the top, as what I’ve read in the book Cuaresma. Unfortunately, I was told that it only happens early morning of Good Friday which is just impossible for me to do. Maybe next year.

Left, the group of flagellants in Pakil, Laguna wearing skirts made of dried banana leaves while the head is covered. Right, the wounds are induced on a penitent with a blade done by an assistant.

Left, the pail of water is used to collectively clean the wounds and the wooden rods stained with blood of the flagellants. Eventually, it becomes red. Right, a flagellant goes down while his assistant hits his wounded back.

Left, the thick wooden rods that the flagellants use to strike their back. Right, a woman’s shirt worn with the back cut to expose the wounded skin still oozing with blood.

Just two of the flagellants that I’ve encountered. The one at the right is wearing a crown made from young coconut leaves.

Related posts:

Series 31: Semana Santa 06
Semana Santa 06: Santo Señor Sepulcro
Semana Santa 06: Dressing the Santo Señor Sepulcro
Semana Santa 06: Domingo de Ramos, 1
Semana Santa 06: Domingo de Ramos, 2 and Pabasa
Semana Santa 06: Via Crucis
Semana Santa 06: Senakulo
Semana Santa 06: Paete and Pakil processions
Semana Santa 06: Maundy Thursday
Semana Santa 06: Good Friday, 1