Barefoot Catholics throng icon in huge Philippine procession | ABS-CBN
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Barefoot Catholics throng icon in huge Philippine procession
Barefoot Catholics throng icon in huge Philippine procession
Agence France-Presse
Published Jan 09, 2018 11:26 AM PHT
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Updated Jan 09, 2018 11:28 AM PHT
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MANILA - A sea of heaving, towel-waving humanity swarmed a black statue of a cross-bearing Jesus Christ in the Philippine capital Tuesday as the Catholic faithful joined one of the nation's largest religious festivals.
MANILA - A sea of heaving, towel-waving humanity swarmed a black statue of a cross-bearing Jesus Christ in the Philippine capital Tuesday as the Catholic faithful joined one of the nation's largest religious festivals.
In a frenzied display of religious fervor, men, women and children climbed over heads and shoulders and flung themselves at the centuries-old Black Nazarene that they say performs miracles.
In a frenzied display of religious fervor, men, women and children climbed over heads and shoulders and flung themselves at the centuries-old Black Nazarene that they say performs miracles.
Drawn by devotees pulling on thick ropes attached to its carriage, the icon left a central Manila park with 490,000 people in tow waving white towels and chanting "Viva" ("Long live"), Manila police said.
Drawn by devotees pulling on thick ropes attached to its carriage, the icon left a central Manila park with 490,000 people in tow waving white towels and chanting "Viva" ("Long live"), Manila police said.
The statue will pass through the streets of old Manila as it is taken to its home in the Quiapo church, a journey that usually takes 20 hours or more and which police said would draw millions of participants.
The statue will pass through the streets of old Manila as it is taken to its home in the Quiapo church, a journey that usually takes 20 hours or more and which police said would draw millions of participants.
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"It is really tough climbing to get to the Nazarene. I get squished, and people step on my face. But I have a devotion," Honey Pescante, a 24-year-old housewife from Bataan province, told AFP.
"It is really tough climbing to get to the Nazarene. I get squished, and people step on my face. But I have a devotion," Honey Pescante, a 24-year-old housewife from Bataan province, told AFP.
The Philippines is Asia's Catholic bastion with a flock of more than 80 million. Spain colonized the archipelago nation in the 16th century and spread the faith.
The Philippines is Asia's Catholic bastion with a flock of more than 80 million. Spain colonized the archipelago nation in the 16th century and spread the faith.
City officials say about 500 people get injured in the procession each year as pilgrims risk life and limb to touch the icon with towels, believing its miraculous powers will be transferred to the cloth. In 2016, two devotees were killed.
City officials say about 500 people get injured in the procession each year as pilgrims risk life and limb to touch the icon with towels, believing its miraculous powers will be transferred to the cloth. In 2016, two devotees were killed.
The risky behaviour has drawn frequent criticism in the Philippines, with some saying it resembles pagan worship.
The risky behaviour has drawn frequent criticism in the Philippines, with some saying it resembles pagan worship.
But church officials and sociologists say devotees see the event as a challenge.
But church officials and sociologists say devotees see the event as a challenge.
"Filipino Catholicism follows the belief that the presence of a higher being can only be made real through the body and via the material," Maria Yohana Frias, an ethnology researcher at the National Museum of the Philippines, told AFP.
"Filipino Catholicism follows the belief that the presence of a higher being can only be made real through the body and via the material," Maria Yohana Frias, an ethnology researcher at the National Museum of the Philippines, told AFP.
"Enduring a challenging procession where devotees walk barefoot is also seen as a test of faith for some."
"Enduring a challenging procession where devotees walk barefoot is also seen as a test of faith for some."
The Black Nazarene was brought to Manila by missionaries in 1606 and is believed to have survived disasters and calamities.
The Black Nazarene was brought to Manila by missionaries in 1606 and is believed to have survived disasters and calamities.
"Filipinos who come to Quiapo... get a sense of being near the Lord, of the Lord touching them and of the Lord accompanying them... through difficult challenges," Quiapo church parochial vicar Father Marvin Cruz told AFP.
"Filipinos who come to Quiapo... get a sense of being near the Lord, of the Lord touching them and of the Lord accompanying them... through difficult challenges," Quiapo church parochial vicar Father Marvin Cruz told AFP.
A devotee for 30 years, 61-year-old Julio Castillo watched from the sidelines of the procession Tuesday after both his feet were fractured in a motorcycle accident last month, leaving him in a wheelchair.
A devotee for 30 years, 61-year-old Julio Castillo watched from the sidelines of the procession Tuesday after both his feet were fractured in a motorcycle accident last month, leaving him in a wheelchair.
"I came here because this is my devotion. I hope my family will have good health and a prosperous life, that we will have no illness and I will heal," he said.
"I came here because this is my devotion. I hope my family will have good health and a prosperous life, that we will have no illness and I will heal," he said.
ajm/cgm/qan
ajm/cgm/qan
© Agence France-Presse
© Agence France-Presse
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Filipina victim reveals beatings, abuse in Myanmar scam center
Filipina victim reveals beatings, abuse in Myanmar scam center
Agence France-Presse,
Sally Jensen
Published Feb 14, 2025 06:25 PM PHT
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Updated Feb 14, 2025 06:26 PM PHT
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An alleged victim of a scam center shows an injury on their arm as they wait to cross the border to Thailand to be repatriated, in Kyauk Khet in Myawaddy in Myanmar's Kayin State on February 12, 2025. AFP photo
![An alleged victim of a scam center shows an injury on their arm as they wait to cross the border to Thailand to be repatriated, in Kyauk Khet in Myawaddy in Myanmar's Kayin State on February 12, 2025. AFP photo](https://od2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com/api/upload-raw/20250214100224/77be36e4b079003b27bd0d7fe81972460d2402e070e00850241b505f6deb1bdd.jpg)
At a scam compound in Myanmar, Filipina worker Pieta had just days to romance strangers online and trick them into investing in a fake business -- failing which she would be beaten or tortured with electric shocks.
At a scam compound in Myanmar, Filipina worker Pieta had just days to romance strangers online and trick them into investing in a fake business -- failing which she would be beaten or tortured with electric shocks.
Pieta was one of 260 people -- many visibly injured or bruised -- rescued from an illicit center along the Myanmar border this week and handed over to Thailand, following a series of crackdowns on the illegal operations.
Pieta was one of 260 people -- many visibly injured or bruised -- rescued from an illicit center along the Myanmar border this week and handed over to Thailand, following a series of crackdowns on the illegal operations.
Scam compounds have mushroomed in Myanmar's borderlands and are staffed by foreigners, sometimes trafficked and forced to work, swindling people around the world in an industry analysts say is worth billions of dollars.
Scam compounds have mushroomed in Myanmar's borderlands and are staffed by foreigners, sometimes trafficked and forced to work, swindling people around the world in an industry analysts say is worth billions of dollars.
Pieta, a pseudonym to protect her identity, thought she was accepting a job in Thailand that paid $1,500 a month when she left the Philippines six months ago.
Pieta, a pseudonym to protect her identity, thought she was accepting a job in Thailand that paid $1,500 a month when she left the Philippines six months ago.
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Instead, she was forced to work grueling shifts for no pay at the compound in Kyauk Khet, a village in Myanmar's Karen state, scamming people in Europe and living in constant fear of punishment.
Instead, she was forced to work grueling shifts for no pay at the compound in Kyauk Khet, a village in Myanmar's Karen state, scamming people in Europe and living in constant fear of punishment.
"If we didn't reach the target, we were beaten up... (or given) electric shocks," she told AFP from a holding centre in Phop Phra, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) south of Thailand's Mae Sot after the rescuees were taken by boat across a small border river on Wednesday.
"If we didn't reach the target, we were beaten up... (or given) electric shocks," she told AFP from a holding centre in Phop Phra, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) south of Thailand's Mae Sot after the rescuees were taken by boat across a small border river on Wednesday.
"I'm just going to cry. Oh my God. I'm so happy... that I left that place," she said, adding that enforced squats -- sometimes up to 1,000 -- were also meted out as punishment.
"I'm just going to cry. Oh my God. I'm so happy... that I left that place," she said, adding that enforced squats -- sometimes up to 1,000 -- were also meted out as punishment.
The 260 foreign nationals -- among thousands allegedly lured into the notorious cyberscam centres with promises of high-paying jobs before they are effectively held hostage -- came from over a dozen countries including Ethiopia, Brazil and Nepal.
The 260 foreign nationals -- among thousands allegedly lured into the notorious cyberscam centres with promises of high-paying jobs before they are effectively held hostage -- came from over a dozen countries including Ethiopia, Brazil and Nepal.
- Signs of physical abuse -
AFP spoke to some of them under the condition of anonymity. Many bore signs of physical abuse, including one woman who had huge bruises on her left arm and thigh and said she had been electrocuted.
AFP spoke to some of them under the condition of anonymity. Many bore signs of physical abuse, including one woman who had huge bruises on her left arm and thigh and said she had been electrocuted.
Liu, one of 10 Chinese nationals rescued, described gory methods his Chinese bosses inflicted as punishment.
Liu, one of 10 Chinese nationals rescued, described gory methods his Chinese bosses inflicted as punishment.
He told AFP that he saw one worker having his face rubbed into a metal grate on the floor until he bled to death -- a claim AFP is unable to verify.
He told AFP that he saw one worker having his face rubbed into a metal grate on the floor until he bled to death -- a claim AFP is unable to verify.
"So many were beaten to death, it was so bloody," he said.
"So many were beaten to death, it was so bloody," he said.
Scam centres have proliferated across Southeast Asia in recent years, including the Philippines, where police this week rescued 34 Indonesians from a Manila compound.
Scam centres have proliferated across Southeast Asia in recent years, including the Philippines, where police this week rescued 34 Indonesians from a Manila compound.
Chinese supervisors there had allegedly stripped them of their passports and said they would be moved to a new site in Cambodia against their will.
Chinese supervisors there had allegedly stripped them of their passports and said they would be moved to a new site in Cambodia against their will.
Gilberto Cruz, of the Philippines' anti-organized crime commission, told AFP Friday that about 21,000 Chinese nationals who had worked for now-banned offshore gaming centers continued to operate smaller-scale scam operations in the country.
Gilberto Cruz, of the Philippines' anti-organized crime commission, told AFP Friday that about 21,000 Chinese nationals who had worked for now-banned offshore gaming centers continued to operate smaller-scale scam operations in the country.
Thai officials said the Kyauk Khet center is also run by Chinese nationals and first appeared on the other side of the Moei River in 2019, although it is still under construction.
Thai officials said the Kyauk Khet center is also run by Chinese nationals and first appeared on the other side of the Moei River in 2019, although it is still under construction.
None of the returnees -- exhausted and overwhelmed -- told how they travelled, or were trafficked into the compound.
None of the returnees -- exhausted and overwhelmed -- told how they travelled, or were trafficked into the compound.
Other victims in the past have said that after arriving in Thailand, they were whisked across the border and forced to commit online fraud.
Other victims in the past have said that after arriving in Thailand, they were whisked across the border and forced to commit online fraud.
But Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, a senior police official, told local news outlet The Standard on Friday that in many instances, victims come to work in the centres voluntarily.
But Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, a senior police official, told local news outlet The Standard on Friday that in many instances, victims come to work in the centres voluntarily.
- Escape attempt -
"The majority are aware of what to expect, although some are deceived while still in their countries of origin," he said.
"The majority are aware of what to expect, although some are deceived while still in their countries of origin," he said.
For those who come out of choice, it is unlikely they fully understand the horror awaiting them.
For those who come out of choice, it is unlikely they fully understand the horror awaiting them.
Kokeb from Ethiopia said he and his fellow were workers were forced to toil for 17 to 18 hours a day, and many had their phones confiscated to prevent escape.
Kokeb from Ethiopia said he and his fellow were workers were forced to toil for 17 to 18 hours a day, and many had their phones confiscated to prevent escape.
Still, two other Kenyans -- who said they had been forced to defraud internet users in "rich countries" such as the United States -- staged an escape with several others days before the handover, and were caught by a local militia.
Still, two other Kenyans -- who said they had been forced to defraud internet users in "rich countries" such as the United States -- staged an escape with several others days before the handover, and were caught by a local militia.
The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) which controls the Kyauk Khet area -- where the compound is located -- claimed responsibility for extracting the workers.
The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) which controls the Kyauk Khet area -- where the compound is located -- claimed responsibility for extracting the workers.
General Saw Shwe Wah, DKBA's second commander-in-chief said on Wednesday he was "relieved to have safely handed them over" to Thai authorities.
General Saw Shwe Wah, DKBA's second commander-in-chief said on Wednesday he was "relieved to have safely handed them over" to Thai authorities.
They and another Myanmar military group have said they will be releasing thousands more scam centre workers into Thailand in the coming weeks.
They and another Myanmar military group have said they will be releasing thousands more scam centre workers into Thailand in the coming weeks.
The returnees told how thousands were still being held in Kyauk Khet, but they are overjoyed to finally be returning home.
The returnees told how thousands were still being held in Kyauk Khet, but they are overjoyed to finally be returning home.
Liu left behind his wife in his hometown in Yunnan province when she was pregnant with his second child.
Liu left behind his wife in his hometown in Yunnan province when she was pregnant with his second child.
"I can't wait to see my children," he said.
"I can't wait to see my children," he said.
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