With over 75 million Catholics, a number which is growing steadily each day due to the ever-increasing birthrate, it is scarcely a surprise that Holy Week is commemorated with such intensity throughout the Philippines.
Just two hours north of the capital in the village of San Pedro Cutud, 50,000 tourists from all over the world converge each year on Good Friday to witness a most bizarre and gory spectacle. The day begins with 5,000 masked male barefoot flagellants whipping themselves to demonstrate public penitence for their sins. After this ritual, around a dozen worshippers give thanks to God by volunteering to get nailed to crosses by locals dressed up as Roman centurions. Whips can even be purchased for 300 pesos (around US $8) as rather gruesome souvenirs before the crucifixion ceremony begins.
Thankfully, here in Manila, the public displays of faith by individuals, couples and families are far less extreme. Instead, they are more personal and individualised, and Bonifacio High Street commemorated the occasion by erecting 14 Stations of the Cross.
At various times during Holy Week, long queues formed of people wishing to carry a heavy cross upon their shoulders.
Others chose to bear the considerable weight of just one part of the cross instead.
At the station commemorating the Garden of Gethsemane, mirrors were placed on the lawns to encourage people to reflect, both literally and metaphorically.
There was an oversized replica of the Crown of Thorns at the station of The Curse.
While visiting the station of the Crucifixion, many took the opportunity to symbolically nail
a piece of red felt to a large cross.
The station of The Mother encouraged people to give thanks by hanging up pictures of their loved ones.
Having done so in abundance, the photographs generated considerable interest.
Despite the blistering heat, more and more people came to the station of The Cloth to add yet more names to a giant wall of thanksgiving.
And of course, after the last of the 14 stations had been visited,
there was the obligatory merchandise on sale as well.
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