Funny how the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines annually deny that they abet the practice, yet they never speak out on it really and secretly encourage it with all sorts of pious stories of repentance and generally liberal attitude to it except in official statements.

It's sacreligious commercialism when you peek under the hood and keep your eyes and ears open at one of these bloodfests. You would be surprised at the fakery involved, like "nails" with huge heads for the front page photo, but with thumbtack-size pins behind. Also they stand on platforms hidden by costumes. No one ever dies, it's all a play for parking space rentals, sidewalk vendors, and "license fees" to foreign media eager for a scoop shot.