61.9 million: Estimated number of Roman Catholics in PH (2000)

43,000+: Number of hits garnered by https://visitaiglesia.net, a website put up by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) which offers “a virtual experience of celebrating Lent,” on its first day. It was launched during Holy Week last year.

7+: Number of churches visited during the Visita Iglesia, a Christian tradition observed on Maundy Thursday. Devotees visit the churches for penance, the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and prayer-reflection on the 14 Stations of the Cross. Traditionally, two stations are prayed per church; however, some opt to visit 14 pilgrimage churches to correspond with the 14 stations.

11: Area in hectares of the Calvary Hills of Iguig in Cagayan Province, which boasts of life-size colorful depictions of the 14 Stations of the Cross.

2007: Year that the relic of the True Cross of Jesus was enshrined at the Monasterio de Tarlac in San Jose, Tarlac, one of the country’s famous pilgrimage sites. The relic, enclosed in a silver ark, is believed to be a fragment from the cross of Jesus at Calvary. Authenticated by a papal seal, it is the only one of its kind in Asia.

229,636: Total population of Marinduque as of 2007. Marinduque is the site of the Moriones Festival, a weeklong observance every Holy Week, where people, dressed as centurions or “morions” roam the towns of the province.

12 to 24: Estimated number of hours it takes to complete the “Pabasa ng Pasyon” (Reading of the Passion of Christ), a Filipino tradition of chanting or singing the Pasyon, a book narrating the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The pabasa usually ends at 3 p.m. on Good Friday.

1962: Year that the real-life crucifixion in Brgy. San Pedro Cutud in Pampanga was started by Artemio Anoza, a faith healer.

Compiled by Schatzi Quodala, Inquirer Research
Sources: Inquirer Archives, visitaiglesia.net, visita-iglesia.com, simbahan.net, monasterio-de-tarlac.weebly.com, marinduque.gov.ph, census.gov.ph