FILIPINOS NAILED TO THE CROSS AS THEY RE-ENACT JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIXION ON THE CROSS

A large crowd of about 4,000 people including foreigners watched as several people were nailed to the cross on Good Friday in San Pedro Cutud village in Asia's  largest Roman Catholic nation, Phillipines.

Church leaders have spoken against the practice which has become a folk belief especially in northern Pampanga province.

Painter Ruben Enaje, 54 is one of thosewho was nailed to the cross on Good Friday. He said he has done it for the past 29 years and its his way of showing gratitude for surviving a fall from a  building.

Those nailed to cross have their hands and feet rubbed with alcohol before sterilised nails are hammered into their flesh.

A tourist who witnessed the enactment, Tracy Sergillo said, "I think it takes an incredible amount of dedication and commitment to really go through something like that" "its really fascinating"

culled from AP. photo: AP/Getty Images