Latest news with #RubenEnaje
South China Morning Post
18-04-2025
- South China Morning Post
Philippine man nailed to cross for 36th time to mark Good Friday
Catholics in the Philippines marked Good Friday with gory re-enactments of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, including one grandfather nailed to a cross for his 36th time, amid warnings of temperatures reaching dangerous levels. Advertisement Churches nationwide were also packed with devotees attending Masses and prayers, while others joined various religious processions despite temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in places. In over a dozen areas in the country, penitents were nailed to wooden crosses while others whipped their backs bloody as an annual ritual for thanksgiving, penance and prayers. The most popular site of the crucifixions is the village of San Pedro Cutud, about 60km (37 miles) north of Manila, where thousands of visitors gathered to witness the extreme acts of faith. Ruben Enaje, 64, took the lead role in the tradition in San Pedro Cutud and was nailed to the cross for the 36th time after carrying a wooden cross weighing 27kg (60lbs) for nearly 2km. Ruben Enaje is carried after being nailed to the cross during his reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Friday. Photo: Reuters The grandfather of seven said he had to make adjustments to the cross he carried to make it lighter from the original weight of 37kg.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Bloody Philippine passion play sees final performance of veteran 'Jesus'
Scores of penitents whipped themselves bloody under a scorching Philippine sun while others were nailed to crosses in a polarising Good Friday tradition drawing the most extreme of Catholic devotees. The macabre spectacle, officially frowned on by the Church, attracts thousands of Filipinos -- and a smattering of tourists -- each Easter weekend to sites across Asia's only majority Catholic nation. In Pampanga province, two hours north of Manila, 64-year-old Ruben Enaje was nailed to a cross for the 36th time on Friday. Minutes after the nails were gingerly removed from his palms, he told reporters it would be for the last time. "I really can't do it anymore. They had to aim portable fans at me earlier just for me to breathe normally," Enaje said, after temperatures reached 39 degrees Celsius (102 Fahrenheit). In an unscripted moment, Enaje had tumbled down an embankment while navigating the narrow path to the cross after being "pushed a bit harder than usual" by a man playing a Roman soldier. He told reporters he had felt "dizzy" while walking to the venue, needing to rest for 30 minutes before reaching the site. He has hinted at retirement in the past, and this year local officials finally introduced his successor: Arnold Maniago, a veteran of 24 crucifixions. Maniaco conceded he was "a little nervous" about taking on the role of Jesus. - More than penance - Among the procession, men with their faces covered by bandanas rhythmically whipped themselves as they walked towards the cross. But the flails, tipped with bamboo shards, rarely produce the desired blood. An older man showed AFP a small wooden paddle embedded with sharp glass he used on the backs of penitents to make it flow. Children trailed many of the processions. A boy no more than eight years old lightly flailed the back of a shirtless man lying in the road. Mark Palma, whose back was raw and smeared with blood, said flagellation was more than an act of penance. The 30-year-old told AFP he had spent half his life taking part in the flagellation ritual as a way of praying for his sister born with a heart defect. "She'll be going through an operation this year, she has a hole in her heart," he said. "I'm praying for her to be healed. I want the operation to be successful." Raymond Ducusin, 31, said he began taking part in 2022 when his parents developed health issues. Though his father passed away, he had no plans to stop. "I want to commemorate his legacy through this. I still believe in miracles," Ducusin said. Officials said about 10,000 people attended Good Friday events in Pampanga. More than 50 foreign tourists who had purchased special passes viewed the proceedings from under a tent. David, a 45-year-old from New York City, said he and his partner had planned their holiday to attend the crucifixions. "To see something born at the community level that's still vibrant... most religious affiliation and sentiment in the West is pretty much fading away and here, it's still incredibly visceral," he said. cwl/dhw
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Filipinos mark Good Friday with crucifixion rituals, processions
Catholics in the Philippines marked Good Friday with gory re-enactments of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, amid warnings of intense heat reaching dangerous levels. Churches nationwide were also packed with devotees attending Masses and prayers, while others joined various religious processions despite temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in places. In over a dozen areas in the country, penitents were nailed to wooden crosses while others whipped their backs bloody as an annual ritual for thanksgiving, penance and prayers. The most popular site of the crucifixions is the village of San Pedro Cutud, about 60 kilometres north of Manila, where thousands of visitors gathered to witness the extreme acts of faith. Ruben Enaje, 64, was taking the lead role in the annual tradition in San Pedro Cutud and would be nailed to the cross for the 36th time after carrying a wooden cross weighing 27 kilograms for nearly 2 kilometres to a hill. The grandfather of seven said he had to make adjustments to the cross he carried to make it lighter from the original weight of 37 kilograms. 'Unfortunately, I am getting weaker with age,' he said. 'The cross has become too heavy for me to carry so I had to shave off 10 kilos.' 'I will try to still take part in the ritual next year, but if not, I know someone will take my place and continue the tradition,' he added. The Catholic Church does not encourage the extreme acts of faith, but does little to stop the practice. Good Friday is a solemn Christian observance that commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ; it falls during Holy Week and leads up to Easter Sunday, in which the faithful celebrate his resurrection. Easter week is the most important religious event in the Philippines, where more than 85% of the population is Catholic. Most of the week had been declared public holidays to allow Filipinos to visit their home provinces or take vacations. Government offices, private companies and commercial establishments are closed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Filipino man nailed to a cross for 36th time to mark Good Friday
Catholics in the Philippines marked Good Friday with gory re-enactments of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, including one grandfather nailed to a cross for his 36th time, amid warnings of temperatures reaching dangerous levels. Churches nationwide were also packed with devotees attending Masses and prayers, while others joined various religious processions despite temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in places. In over a dozen areas in the country, penitents were nailed to wooden crosses while others whipped their backs bloody as an annual ritual for thanksgiving, penance and prayers. The most popular site of the crucifixions is the village of San Pedro Cutud, about 60 kilometres north of Manila, where thousands of visitors gathered to witness the extreme acts of faith. Ruben Enaje, 64, took the lead role in the tradition in San Pedro Cutud and was nailed to the cross for the 36th time after carrying a wooden cross weighing 27 kilograms for nearly 2 kilometres. The grandfather of seven said he had to make adjustments to the cross he carried to make it lighter from the original weight of 37 kilograms. 'Unfortunately, I am getting weaker with age,' he said ahead of the ritual. 'The cross has become too heavy for me to carry so I had to shave off 10 kilos.' 'I will try to still take part in the ritual next year, but if not, I know someone will take my place and continue the tradition,' he added. In the nearby village of Sta Lucia, 60-year-old Joselito Capili was nailed to the cross for the 20th time. Capili, a part-time construction worker, said he started being crucified in 2002 to pray for healing of his father who was diagnosed with cancer. While his father died one year later, he continued the vow to seek protection for his family. 'We are all healthy, my wife, two children and my six grandchildren,' he said. 'We have a good life but I'm afraid I won't be able to do this much longer. I already get dizzy because I'm old. Maybe I can continue only for a few more years.' The Catholic Church does not encourage the extreme acts of faith, but does little to stop the practice. Good Friday is a solemn Christian observance that commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ; it falls during Holy Week and leads up to Easter Sunday, in which the faithful celebrate his resurrection. Easter week is the most important religious event in the Philippines, where more than 85% of the population is Catholic. Most of the week had been declared public holidays to allow Filipinos to visit their home provinces or take vacations. Government offices, private companies and commercial establishments are closed.
