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‘Kristo’ in Cutud, Pampanga to be nailed to the cross for 28th year


On Good Friday, Ruben Enaje will be nailed to the cross for the 28th time.

Enaje, who has been playing the role of Jesus Christ in Cutud, Pampanga’s Via Crucis, will also carry a 37-kilogram wooden cross on his back, up a dusty hill which will serve as Mount Calvary.

The ritual is discouraged by the Catholic Church, but tourists, both local and foreign, flock to the small village to witness this devotion.

A report on GMA News TV’s Unang Balita said that this year, around 40,000 tourists are expected to witness the event.
 



The star of the show for nearly three decades now, Ruben Enaje credits this devotion for helping him rise out of poverty.
Penitent Ruben Enaje, in this file photo, shows the three-inch custom made stainless steel nails that were to be used to pierce his palms and feet during Good Friday crucifixion rites in San Fernando, Pampanga. Reuters/Erik De Castro


“Ang pagbabago sa buhay ko naman, dati 'di ako nagtatrabaho. Ngayon may sarili na akong trabaho. Mula nung ako ay nagpasan ng krus at nagpapako, pakiramdam kong umangat na unti-unti ang buhay ko,” Enaje said.

Enaje first took up the cross and was nailed to it in 1986. The 53-year-old said that he will continue his yearly practice until his body is able to withstand it. However, Enaje also asked fellow Catholics to refrain from judging him and other devotees who turn to alcohol before their great physical sacrifice.

“Ito po ay panata ko, mula’t sapul nung 1986, at ipapagpatuloy ko mula’t kaya ko. Ito ay panata mula sa puso, pero 'di natin maalis sa kanila na umiinom ng alak bago mag-penitensya,” he said.

In addition to several devotees who get nailed to the cross, there are flagellants who use a bamboo-tipped whip and shard of glass to wound themselves in honor of Christ.

Not endorsed by Catholic Church

But for Fr. Rafael Paras, parish priest of Sta. Lucia, physically harming oneself is not the way Jesus Christ would have wanted his church act during Holy Week. Paras however acknowledged that the Catholic Church in the Philippines does not go so far as to condemn the practice.

“Ang una sa lahat, ang inang simbahan ay 'di sinusulong ang ganitong paraan ng pagpapakasakit bilang paghanda sa pagdating ni Kristo. Hindi ito sinusulong although hindi rin naman ito kino-condemn ng Inang Simbahan dahil nakikita naman ng simbahan na para sa mga deboto personally, ito siguro 'yung paraan nila para sa pagbabalik-loob sa Panginoon,” he said.

Paras however reminded the faithful that it is through prayers, fasting and good deeds that one prepares for the coming of Jesus in Easter.

Ang sinasabi ko lang ay mahalagang hindi tayo malayo sa pakay ng ating pagdiriwang sa misteryo ng ating Panginoon. Ang simbahan ay binibigyan tayo ng 40 araw para makapaghanda, at ang paraan ng paghahanda ay sa pagdarasal, pagtitika at paggagawa ng mabuti,” he said.

But Enaje countered that the Church should not think badly of his and other flagellants’ sacrifice, as some saints themselves turned to these extreme measures to show their devotion to the Lord.

“Kung nakikita natin 'yung ibang mahal na santo, sila ay may hawak na Senakulo at pasan na krus. Bakit naman nila ipagbabawal gayong si San Geronimo ay may hawak na ganung mga kagamitan? Kayo, siguro po 'yung panata namin ay 'di maalis dito,” Enaje said, adding that being nailed to the cross gives him a new lease on life, and that he feels refreshed after the whole ordeal.

“Basta pagkabunot ng pako, maganda na 'yung pakiramdam ko, parang nalinis na 'yung mga kasalanan ko,” he said. —Patricia Denise Chiu/KG, GMA News
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