ANGELES CITY, Philippines – Organizers of the Good Friday crucifixions in Barangay Lourdes Northwest here said they had nothing to do with tourists “irreverently” posing for souvenir shots while clinging to wooden crosses to where penitents had earlier been nailed.
The photo of a woman in shorts posing on a cross went viral on Facebook after a certain Maike Domingo posted it in his account.
Hundreds posted comments expressing dismay, if not condemnation, for the alleged “irreverence” of those who posed for the pictures.
“Those photos were taken after the crucifixion rites when everybody, including the marshals who were assigned to secure the site, had already gone home to rest,” barangay chairman and chief organizer Paul Puri said.
The crucifixions in Barangay Lourdes Northwest have become a Lenten tradition since 12 years ago, although the reenactment of the Via Crucis or the Way of the Cross started only when Puri assumed his post two years ago.
“The entire Via Crucis, including the bringing down of the ‘Kristos’ from their crosses, was finished before 5 p.m. and everybody, including the marshals who were already very tired, have gone home,” Puri said.
He said that traditionally, the three crosses were kept standing until the following Monday, in deference to Easter Sunday.
“We never wanted tourists to climb the crosses and have their pictures taken while mimicking crucifixion even after the entire ceremony. That is the reason why we fenced the crucifixion site with cyclone wire with its entrances kept padlocked,” he said.
Puri also said the footrest on the crosses was about five feet from the ground and was not readily accessible.
“It would require the help of others to reach and step on it. Apparently, the tourists who posed for photos arrived after 5 p.m. and trespassed into the area of the crosses by leaping over the lowest areas of the fence,” he said.
However, Puri said the controversy has taught him and his fellow organizers some lessons.
“Next year, we will make sure that the marshals stay on even after the crucifixion, until the crosses are brought down on Monday after Easter. It is also like portraying how centurions guarded the tomb of Jesus only to find it empty after the resurrection,” he said.
Fr. Jun Mercado, parish priest of neighboring Barangay Lourdes Southeast, lamented that a growing number of Catholics have lost respect for sacred objects. He urged the woman in shorts to come out and explain her side.
“Sin depends on the intention, but the fact is that what she did caused a scandal,” he said.