Jomar de Leon, 19, Grade 11, of Sitio Bubuyog here, started varnishing his wooden cross and readied the red robe he will wear on Good Friday.
He will carry the cross in upward position that will be tied to his stretched hands and his feet.
“May paniniwala ako . . . ,” he tried to answer the question on why he carries the cross but he was overcome by emotion and merely said “sa akin na lang kung bakit.”
Flagellants have varied reasons for undertaking their penitence like wishing for cure of sick relatives, good life for children and personal wishes.
“Hangga’t nabubuhay ako, ipagpapatuloy ko pagpapasan ng krus,” the young man said.
De Leon will be among hundreds of flagellants who will darken the MacArthur Highway in Bataan, particularly in the towns of Hermosa, Orani, Samal and Abucay and the City of Balanga, on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Other flagellants are the “manggagapang” or those who crawl on hot pavements, the “mandurugo” or those who whip their bloodied back with bamboo slats.
