This has been an annual ritual for almost five decades now or even more. The sad twist to this spectacle is the fact that almost all the "volunteers" in these yearly crucifixions believe that performing this extreme sacrifice will result in God's grant of their most fervent wishes. Some of the volunteers are former convicted prisoners who admits having murdered a number of people, some have a wife or child who is terminally ill, others beseech God for wealth and prosperity. A few believe they need to do it to "strengthen a talisman or an amulet" or some paranormal activity. And after this exercise in faith, all actually believe they had been blessed. A convicted killer whom I had interviewed for a news story some time back, actually feel he had been forgiven and will do the ritual all over again...Faith and the extreme desire for penance will probably make this sordid practice part of the Philippine sociological landscape for years to come.