The Passion of the Christ and its re-enactments are one of the most well-known phenomena of the Philippines, but the Cutud Lenten Rites Festival takes things to a whole new level. The penitents involved in the Rites not only flagellate themselves, but the Rites culminate with their being literally nailed to crosses. This is the most sought-after and popular Easter event in the Philippines!
Our day starts bright and early at 5:30am, where we meet in Manila at the Garden Lotus Hotel for the drive to San Pedro, Pampanga. On arrival we’ll arrange your VIP passes (or media passes for accredited press/bloggers). We then spend the day soaking up the atmosphere and taking photos of the flagellants before the main event: people being nailed to crosses.
Those of you on the day trip will then be transported back to Manila; for the overnight bunch, get ready for a wild night on the town in the party capital of Angeles City!
Only YPT is able to arrange the VIP/Media passes for this exclusive event, both of which are in extremely short supply. Note that they cannot be arranged on the day!
Friday 3rd April – Manila – Angeles: Good Friday!
Morning
- Arrive at your convenience into Manila, the capital city and most populated city in the Philippines which is well connected from
many countries. - Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of Manila Lotus Hotel at 5:30am over breakfast and to discuss the tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guides.
- Board our private air-conditioned vehicle for a 2 hour drive north to the San Fernando Area of Pampanga
- On arrival we head directly to the Cutud Lenten Rites Festival –one of the largest and most spectacular festivals in the Philippines.
- The event starts with devoted Catholics self-flagellating themselves which slowly builds up. Here’s a good opportunity to explore the area and follow the journey of the penitents to the mounted crosses – where you can get right into the action.
- The peak of the demonstration is when Jesus is captured by the Cohors I Sebastenorum (Roman Legion) and taken to the crucifixion site. This continues until around 3:00pm. We arrange your media press pass for the event so you’re able to get up close to the action.
Afternoon
- Our vehicle will be well positioned for a cool place to grab water and a picnic lunch
- Day trip group members: return back to Manila in private transportation and dropped off at Manila Lotus Hotel
- Overnight tour group members: continue onwards to Angeles
- City to check into the Best Western Hotel, one of the most deluxe hotels in the city boasting a large swimming pool – amongst other luxuries.
- Angeles City is a former US military base but is equally infamous as a city of sin and the culinary capital of the country; we head out for dinner, followed by the legendary Angeles Walking Street Bar Crawl
Overnight in Angeles
Saturday 4th April – Angeles
- Breakfast in the hotel before traveling back to Manila at 10 am in our private vehicle. Drop off point will be the Manila Lotus Garden
- Group members on our Extreme Philippines tour onwards to Baguio
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Tour Highlights
Get VIP passes for the best spots to spectate and photograph the self-flagellating local chosen ones before they get nailed to a cross
City tour of San Fernando
Night out in Angeles: the party and culinary capital of the Philippines