Filipino devotees flagellate themselves for Easter, defying ban on gatherings

Filipino Catholics flagellate themselves outside a church on Good Friday, defying the government’s ban on religious gatherings amid a surge in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, in Manila, Philippines, April 2, 2021. REUTERS / Eloisa Lopez

MANILA – Barefoot and bloodied from repeated lashing, devout Catholics in the Philippines defied the ban on Good Friday gatherings to perform a self-flagellation ritual as a means of atonement during Holy Week.

Participants were few compared to recent years, after authorities re-imposed strict restrictions in response to the rise in coronavirus infections, exacerbated by the spread of more communicable variants.

But near a church in the Tondo area of ​​Manila, about 10 devotees, wearing face masks and with the cloth cut from the back, beat their backs with bamboo whips balanced rhythmically from left to right as they walked.

“I prayed for my parents. I’m thankful they didn’t get sick, ”said 25-year-old devout Melvin Devibar.

“Even during this pandemic, I don’t think COVID will affect us while we pray.”

Other larger groups from other areas had tried to join in the flogging ritual at Tondo church, but were stopped at police checkpoints and forced to return.

The Philippines reported a daily record of 15,310 new coronavirus infections on Friday, one of the highest in the region since the pandemic began, bringing its total to 771,497 cases, among the most in Asia.

Many Filipinos perform religious penance in the week leading up to Easter in the hope that they will be cleansed of sins and diseases and that their wishes can be granted.

But the Catholic Church, the dominant faith in the Philippines, has voiced its disapproval of self-flagellation and sees it as an extreme misinterpretation of the faith.

It says that prayers and sincere repentance are enough to commemorate Lent.

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