Religious festivals Philippines

If the festivities linked to Holy Week are legion in the Philippines, San Pedro Cutud, a barangay in the city of San Fernando, north of Manila, has acquired a most atypical (not to say "gory") reputation. Indeed, every year on Good Friday, believers, mostly men, flock there, wearing crowns of thorns, to reenact the Passion of Christ with scourging and other crucifixions. The Church itself does not support this practice, mentioned here for information purposes rather than as an incentive, of course.

The end of January is placed under the sign of the Child Jesus (Santo Niño). It is celebrated in several cities of the archipelago such as Manila, Dumaguete or Dipolog. Dinagyang is one of the most awaited and frequented of the archipelago. The most awaited event is a dance contest where the tribes present their choreographies, some of them very impressive, wearing traditional costumes, each one more beautiful and extravagant than the other. All this to the sounds of the bands and under the astonished look of the visitors.