On Good Friday, a 51-year-old 'Jesus' is crucified for the 26th time

On Good Friday, local and foreign tourists flocked to a small village in Pampanga made famous by the annual ritual of penitents being nailed to crosses. The crowd started forming in Barangay San Pedro Cutud in Pampanga’s San Fernando City as early as 7 a.m. as devotees prepared themselves for the crucifixion rites highlighting the Good Friday traditions. The Catholic Church discourages it and many foreigners consider it another example of Filipinos' bizarre religiosity. But practitioners believe it is the key to receiving miracles in their lives.   Although a couple of foreigners took part in the Catholic-influenced rites this year by bearing a wooden cross, they did not have themselves crucified. While the Philippines is predominantly Catholic, the Catholic Church has issued statements saying it discourages the crucifixions and self-flagellations.   At 11 a.m. the procession started with its "star" 51-year-old Ruben Enaje, who has been playing the role of Jesus Christ in the last two decades, walking up towards "Mount Calvary," a dusty hill in the village.   It was the 26th time Enaje was crucified on Good Friday. Self-flagellation   Walking up the hill, Enaje was asked by GMA News how he felt at that moment. He gave the reporter a subtle nod.   Since foreign tourists are barred from being crucified, two female foreigners, clad in the traditional maroon garments, agreed to carry their respective wooden crosses.   Local authorities said four people, including a foreign tourist, suffered from heat stroke.   Aside from Enaje, six other people volunteered to be crucified, including Baby Mondares from Bulacan province.   The Bulacan resident has been participating in the procession in the last four years by carrying a cross. This year she has decided to go a step further.   "Sa four years na nagpapasan ako, nakita ko na maraming nababago. So itong ika-limang anyo ko, talagang handang handa na [akong magpa-pako]," she said.   Mondares ended up not being nailed to the cross, after she failed to submit a waiver required by local authorities.   Allan Navarro, whose father wrote the original script for San Pedro Cutud's “Via Crucis” in 1955, remained firm in his belief in the miracles in the lives of those taking part in the crucifixion rites. He did not elaborate.   "Kahit anong sabihin nila, basta taus sa puso pananampalataya kay Kristo, kahit ang bundok puwede mong palipatin sa iba kapag malakas ang pananampalataya mo," he said.   Like Navarro, polio-stricken Mang Reynaldo shared the same sense of faith. This year, as in the past 20 years, Mang Reynaldo went into self-flagellation, using a bamboo-tipped whip, as he joined the procession to the crucifixion site. —Mark Merueñas/VS/HS, GMA News