MOUNT PULONGBATO, - Thousands of penitents scaled a hilltop where three members of a Christian cult were nailed to crosses in a Good Friday rite of sacrifice for peace in the Philippines' war-weary south. Crucifixions and acts of self-flagellation are regular Easter Lenten rites in the Philippines, and similar scenes played out around the country Friday. "We are setting an example for sinful people to change so there can be peace," said Jose Felipe, a 24-year-old carpenter and member of the Kristo Rey cult, before four-inch nails were driven through his palms.

The three men grimaced in pain as they were nailed down, with a piece of wood on each cross serving as a footrest. Other cult members raised the crosses using nylon ropes. The men are taken down from the crosses after an hour and many repeat the ritual each year.The 650-foot-high hill overlooks Zamboanga, a predominantly Roman Catholic city of 600,000 people, and the narrow strait that separates it from the island province of Basilan, whose forest-clad mountains loomed on the horizon.

Roel Natividad, a Zamboanga city councilor and Kristo Rey member, said previous crucifixions were done for the spiritual benefit of the group but that this year's rites were sacrifices for peace for Basilan. A U.S.-backed military operation is under way on Basilan against the Muslim extremist Abu Sayyaf group, which has been holding an American couple and a Filipino nurse for 10 months. They are the last of dozens of hostages snatched last year — others were freed.

"We are doing this for peace, but we are ready to defend our city from any group, Muslims or Christians, which will try to foment trouble," Natividad said. He said his group joined a recent rally to back the counterterrorism exercise involving 660 U.S. soldiers, including 160 from the Special Forces deployed with front-line Philippine troops on Basilan. Friday's rites were steeped in superstition. Kristo Rey members wore red shirts and headbands with black Latin markings that they said only their leaders knew the meaning. Some had triangles and crosses tattooed on their chests and arms.

In the middle was bearded cult leader Winnie de Vera, a 23-year-old government waste-recycling employee, who wore a white robe and a wig for his fourth crucifixion. Apparently, his cross leaned too far forward so the nail in his right palm dislodged from the wood and had to be hammered back in. "Lean the cross back a little," he instructed his followers.

My question: This story comes from the southwest corner of Mindanao, chose to the island of Basilan, where rebel moros (Muslims) are fighting government forces. Is religious fanaticism stronger in the area close to the Muslims? In other words, what is the geographical distribution of these flagellations? Perhaps Jim Bowman can answer.

Ronald Hilton - 4/5/02