[lpret]

I lived in the Philippines for 12 years growing up and I saw these crucifixions several times. Here's what I've seen/heard from other Filipinos.

First off, the Philippines were a Spanish colony for 400 years and through that time they had Catholicism impressed upon them. Some took to it very well, others rejected it, yet others incorporated it with their own animistic beliefs.

In the case of the crucifixions, many of those who are being "crucified" are trying to show their dedication to God. It's an extreme sense of penance, an idea in Catholicism that I don't truly understand. This crucifixion is similar to the stories of random Saints who would flog themselves because they want to humble themselves more before God. Not my style, but admirable if that is their true desire.

Physically, they have nails throught their hands and then rope around their wrists (or else, as Shivaa pointed out, they would just fall down with rips throught their hands) and a little hump on the cross to stand on. They will usually hang up there for a couple of hours, or perhaps if they're really dedicated, all night, and then they'll come down. I have heard rumors of people who have actually killed themselves doing this whole thing, but I've never seen it or heard it from a credible source.

It seems to me like it's a big production to scare kids, but I don't want to knock it, since I haven't tried it.