Estan Cabigas

A flagellant trying on his tukarol (headress) for fit and balance.

A Ritual of Faith is my main story for my final portfolio in the ACFJ Diploma in Photojournalism course. It is a work on traditional faith in a northern town in Quezon province that is in danger of disappearing in the next few years.

Self flagellation as an act of penitence has its origins in the 11th century in Italy that spread to Europe including Spain. The practice was introduced in the Philippines by Spanish missionaries during the late 16th century. In the past 400 years, it has been adopted and adapted to become an indigenous ritual. Today, it is mainly performed in Central Luzon, Metro Manila and some provinces in Southern Tagalog and climaxes on Good Friday of Holy Week.

Practitioners, do it as a petition or supplication in the form of a panata or vow, sworn for a fixed period of years. It is intended for the healing of a sick relative or a member of the family or, in many instances, as a spiritual investment in the hope that God will grant grace for the family as well as protection from harm and misfortune.

Most, if not all, of the penitents are Roman Catholics. For them, this is the most important and most solemn of days wherein this kind of self mortification is the ultimate expression of sacrifice in order to share in the passion and suffering of Christ.

In the coastal barrio of Boboin, Infanta, Quezon, around 5 hours trip east of Manila, the self flagellation practice is unique because of the elaborate costume that the penitents don. This sets it apart from the rest of the other flagellants found in other parts of Luzon. The outfit consists of a saya or skirt made from dried banana leaves, a panyabat, the flog, tipped with wooden pegs and a floral headdress called the tukarol.

In the 1950s, as much as 300 men from different barrios perfomed this ritual. By 2009, only around 30 can be found and are mainly from Boboin.

Tags: acfj, faith, projects