Local traditions and culture in Angeles City

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After the main event, the open field cleared fairly quickly except for the most dedicated adherents. Some of these, garbed as nuns seemed to meditate on the meaning of the day and those recently crucified sought medical treatment for their wounds. A second group of crucified also had their turn at the cross, while many of the local tourists also laid down for a photo opportunity.

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Penitents portraying fellow crucified are roped to the cross by Filipinos in Roman garb. As each are hoisted aloft, one of the Roman spear-bearers reenacted cutting their victims. When “Jesus” was getting ready to be crucified, older “Romans” doused his hands with alcohol and carefully placed the nails for his hands. A single pop from the hammer set the nail in the flesh, drawing blood and a wince of pain.

Roman officials hoisted the cross aloft for the crowd to see. They reenact the stabbing with spears of the crucified. What must have been agonizing minutes later, the victims were released by either returning the cross down to horizontal or by being wound in swaddling and lowered gently.

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Several people dressed in simple robes knelt before the cross and variously prayed in silence, shouted to the heavens, covered themselves with dust or raised arms. These acolytes didn't seem bent on the same kind of self-destruction evident among others and their religious fervor seemed sincere.

The 3 kilometer Via Cruces (way of the Crosses) re-enacts the path Christ took on the way to the crucifixion. The event’s intent is to invoke for the faithful Christ’s passion that ended his worldly journey in pain and suffering while the faithful pray for days straight over loudspeakers in the surrounding Cutud area neighborhoods.

The individuals that participate may have any response from religious to amusement to shock to commercial opportunism. The event is surrounded by locals, Filipino and international tourists as well as hawkers of all kinds of services… the water sellers were particularly welcome in the scorching hot day.

If you are planning to drink beer in your room, you can actually sell the empty bottles back for P2 a piece but you will have to ask the grocery stores or supermarkets if they take it back or not.

If you were to purchase a 1 litre beer from 7-11 convenient store, you will have to place a P4.50 with them as deposit and then if you return them the bottle after you have finished consuming the contents, you will get the refund.

Pretty funky. Heard its because they want to promote glass bottle recycling. Good effort...

Upon exiting the immigration at the airport, right beside the counters that sells bus and taxi tickets, there is these counters that gives away free maps and tourist guides. Just take some as they are free!!! Good for first timers...

When you are in the jeepney, to get off a station or anywhere you want to be dropped off, just say "pa-ar" (means "stop") or you can give the jeeney roof a couple of knocks before reaching the next destination and the driver will know you need to get off the jeepney.
Depending on the size of the jeepney, the number of passengers is usually around 12 paxs. Most of the jeepneys will wait till the jeepney is full before it moves. If you are seated at the far end of the jeepney, away from the driver, and you need to pay the fare, all you need to do is to hand your fare to the persons nearest to the driver and he will then hand it to the driver. Likewise, the change will be returned to you the same way - from one passenger to anohter.