An estimated crowd of 20,000 people gathered in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines on Friday to observe the tradition of the Living Crucifixion to commemorate Good Friday, when Christians around the world observe the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in anticipation of Easter’s resurrection. . Sunday.
In the Philippines, there is a well-known tradition of believers participating in self-flagellation on Good Friday as part of penance. In addition to the crucifixion, many people, mostly young people, take part in street processions, beating themselves on the back with bamboo sticks and other objects, leaving blood trails behind them.
Penitents are flogged on Good Friday as part of Holy Week celebrations in San Fernando, Pampanga, March 29, 2024 (Photo by JAM STA ROSA/AFP)
But the crucifixion, unlike any other in the world, tends to garner the most headlines, worrying the Philippines’ main religious group, the Catholic Church. However, a small number of believers who participate in the crucifixion argue that it is a necessary part of their faith, a fulfillment of a personal promise to Jesus, or an expression of gratitude for the miracles of their lives.
Filipino Questioner report This year, 20,000 people reportedly traveled to San Fernando to observe this tradition. The crucified people spent about 10 minutes on the cross. They also carry the cross to the site of the crucifixion as part of the ritual.
The newspaper identified 10 people crucified this year, all of whom were men. However, crucifixion of women is not unheard of and has occurred in the past, although less commonly.
The person most involved in this tradition is carpenter Ruben Enaje, who was crucified for the 35th time on Friday. Enahe is the face of this tradition. He said he started the tradition after falling three stories in the 1980s, calling out God’s name on the way down and coming out unscathed.
Watch: Rubén Enaje is nailed to the cross for the 35th time as part of his Good Friday vows in Bourji. San Pedro Kutud, Pampanga.
Enahe, 63, said she began celebrating Holy Week with a passion every week in 1986 after miraculously surviving an accident at work. #SemanaSanta2024 |… pic.twitter.com/xG5JV5OOGB
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) March 29, 2024
“Before I took this vow, in 1985 I had an accident. I fell off a building, but miraculously I was not hurt. When I came back, I committed myself to the Lord by crucifying myself. We started it in 1986 and only paused during the coronavirus pandemic,” Enage said. Said This was reported by Philippine news agency ABS-CBN.
Filipino Christian Ruben Enahe performs the 35th reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday in San Fernando, Pampanga on March 29, 2024. (Photo by JAM STA ROSA/AFP)
In an interview this week, Enahe said she had dedicated much of her cross to praying for the health, safety and other blessings of her family, but now that God has granted all of her wishes, there is essentially nothing left to pray for. He said that he had lost his job. I wish.
“I don’t pray personally now because the Lord has given me everything I asked for and has given my family a lot of work,” Enahe told the program.
Enahe has announced his retirement multiple times, including on Good Friday in 2023, but he continues to return. The carpenter said to the Filipino: Questioner This year, he said, he mainly participated in the tradition to make sure it never ends.
“I am doing this for our village so that this tradition does not stop,” he claimed. The newspaper reported that local authorities had requested that he be crucified again this year.
Following Enaje is Danilo Ramos, who is celebrating his 31st year on the cross. Among others are Joselito Capili, who was crucified for the 19th time, Fernando Mamangun, 27, and Wilfredo Salvador, who was crucified for the 16th time on Friday.
Local authorities have identified the two men who carried on the tradition and were the first to be crucified: Crisanto Ramos and Ubaldo Yuman.
Salvador, a 67-year-old fisherman, insists he will never retire after being crucified.
“I will continue to do this as long as I live, as long as my body lasts. That is my oath,” he said. Said France 24 said earlier this year that the damage to his body was “nothing” and could take less than a day to recover.
Filipino Christian Wilfredo Salvador participates in a reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday in San Fernando, Pampanga on March 29, 2024 (Photo by JAM STA ROSA/AFP)
Catholic leaders discouraged the practice, but were unable to stop it completely.
Socrates Villegas, Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan: “There is no need to shed blood anymore, because Jesus Christ has done it for us.” Said last year. “We don’t have to hurt ourselves anymore because we can’t add to the merits of Christ’s Passion.”
However, those who witnessed the event claim that witnessing the crucifixion in a living body is worth it.
“If you just read the Bible, you won’t really understand. When you see it in action, you will see more clearly how he suffered for us,” said the regular attender of the event. Local Marilyn Robite said: Said This year it’s France 24.
Christians have been holding Although reenactments of the story of Jesus Christ have been performed for centuries, the tradition of crucifying people in Pampanga began in 1961 with Arsenio Añosa, a local who is said to have been crucified 15 times. It is reported that. This tradition continued uninterrupted until 2020, when anti-Catholic President Rodrigo Duterte, who encouraged his people to “murder bishops” and claimed to have been sexually assaulted by a priest as a child, was forced into action by the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. took advantage of this to discontinue this tradition. President Duterte also banned processions and self-flagellation, but many people across the country ignored this ban and President Duterte did not enforce it.
The tradition was revived without restrictions in 2023 under current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
