Devout Catholics in the Philippines marked Good Friday with a re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in San Fernando City, north of the capital Manila, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. The crucifixion ritual has been a tradition in the province of Pampanga for decades. The gory spectacle attracts huge crowds from around the world each year during Holy Week, despite it being frowned upon by church leaders. On Friday, thousands of people watched on as eight devotees, seven men and one woman, were nailed to wooden crosses. Devotees undergo the re-enactment in the belief that extreme pain is a way to atone for their sins, attain miracle cures for illnesses or give thanks to God. Ruben Enaje, a 62-year-old San Fernando City resident, was the first to be nailed to the cross on Friday - for his 34th re-enactment. “I dedicated this to my family, health, covid-- that it may be gone-- I ask that from God. Also the war between those two countries—Ukraine and Russia. Only two of them are fighting but the whole world is affected,” said Enaje. Among the huge crowd watching the event was Gustavo González, UN representative to the Philippines and first-time audience member of the crucifixions. “This is a quite deep way of expressing the needs of pardon, sacrifice and I think it’s extremely— for me it’s a learning experience," said González. Good Friday is part of the Christian Holy Week, which ends with Easter Sunday, when Christians celebrate Christ's resurrection from the dead.