As Holy Week nears, Pampanga devotees prepare to be crucified

By VICTORIA CAMILLE TULAD

Published March 16, 2013 5:54pm

Whenever Holy Week approaches, a small town in Pampanga gears up for the annual Catholic celebrations by hammering together crosses sturdy enough to bear the weight of a man and by sterilizing metal and iron nails.

For the love of God, these nails will soon be beat into real hands, and all too real blood will flow from their wounds in what makes San Fernando, Pampanga, popular to both Filipinos and foreigners during the Lenten Season. This is the “Via Crucis”, or the reenactment of Christ’s crucifixion on Good Friday, where devotees are nailed on the cross.

Right now, 34 men have enlisted for crucifixion. This year, 50, 000 people are expected to flock to San Fernando, Pampanga from March 25 to 31 for this year’s celebration of “Maleldo” or Holy Week, according to the local government.

The Kapampangan tradition started in 1955 after writer Ricardo Navarro came up with the play; the crucifixion started in 1962.

At the press conference on march 15, organizers of Maleldo 2013 said they have been preparing for the activities since last December. Part of the plan is to beef up security with 200 police, especially because theft cases have become hard to avoid.

Traffic rerouting

Traffic rerouting will also be strictly observed since three barangays conduct the Via Crucis, namely Brgy. Sta. Lucia, San Juan, and the most popular, San Pedro Cutud. Devotees who use flagellants are expected to come out in the streets as early as Holy Monday.

According to Engr. Mariano Castro, Co-Chairperson of the Executive Team which handles the celebration, steel railings will be placed at the crucifixion site in Cutud because the chicken wire they used last year proved to be useless with the huge crowd.

Medical tents will be readied as well as an ambulance and fire truck. Castro likewise reminded the public to be careful with their belongings and to bring protection from the sun.

More importantly, organizers warned candidates to not take advantage of the event. Campaign paraphernalia are prohibited in the sites where reenactments will be held.

“It was agreed that there will be no posters because March 29 is the start of the local campaign,” Castro said. “If we see posters, we will remove them.”

26 years of devotion

For the past 26 years, Ruben Enaje has been crucified over and over; this year, he says, will be no different.

Enaje started his devotion in 1986 when he fell from the third floor of a building but came out of the mishap unscratched.

“Because of that accident I said that I would get myself crucified to show my thanks to the Lord,” says the 52-year-old believer.

Considering his age, though, Enaje said he would be retiring from playing the role of Jesus in the Via Crucis, and at the same time, say goodbye to his more than two-decade penance.

But, not all are eligible to be nailed on the cross.

“Just because you want to be crucified doesn’t mean you can be crucified,” says Castro. “We ask for a medical certificate. You shouldn’t be diabetic. What’s your blood pressure? It’s only allowed for those who are 55-years-old and below.”

Foreigners are also banned from being crucified after one supposedly drank alcohol during the ritual.

Though the celebration seems to be trivial for others, Castro says that they cherish it dearly. – KDM, GMA News

Tags: holyweek2013, pampanga, cutud, viacrucis