Les étranges célébrations de la Semaine Sainte

epa04169710 Filipino flagellants are whipped on their back outside of a church on Maundy Thursday, in San Fernando city, north of Manila, Philippines, 17 April 2014. Every year, thousands of foreign and local visitors flock to San Pedro Cutud village, San Fernando city, to watch hooded and barefoot penitents lash their backs bloody along a narrow road that leads to a dusty hillock, where other men dressed as Jesus Christ are nailed to wooden crosses. The Catholic Church disapproves of the gory rituals and warns that such fanatical expression of faith could actually take away from the real meaning of Lent. Despite the pageantry and criticisms, the villagers of San Pedro Cutud are holding on to the tradition with the same religious fervour that their forefathers had when they began the practice to atone for their sins, seek wishes or give thanks. EPA/FRANCIS R. MALASIG