SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines -- Hundreds of flagellants paraded outside the 220-year-old San Fernando Cathedral north of Manila on Thursday to atone for their sins at the start of Easter celebrations.

Stripped to the waist young people whipped their backs, tearing into tender flesh and drawing blood.

"I do this to atone my sins," Gerald Umol told Agence France-Presse.

He had travelled in from a small village just outside San Fernando in Pampanga province north of Manila.

"The pain is nothing ... when it is over I feel clean inside," Umol said.

Across this South East Asian archipelago nation of some 90 million of which 85 percent are Catholic the same ritual will be played out in many towns and villages culminating in crucifixions on Good Friday.

The Church frowns on the practice and every year the health department issues the same warnings against infections and asks that anyone planning to be crucified should ensure that the nails are sterilised beforehand.

The Easter rituals have become something of a tourist attraction especially in Pampanga where many of the major crucifixions take place.

The flagellants begin on Thursday and carry on to Good Friday, whipping their backs in the belief their sins will be forgiven and divine favors granted.

Last year in the Pampanga village of San Pedro 19 men underwent the Easter crucifixion ritual. Many will return again this Friday.