Devotee Ruben Enaje hints at his last Holy Week 'crucifixion'

For the 36th time, Ruben Enaje was nailed to a cross, a devotion he made a few decades ago as he played "kristo" again in the annual Holy Week tradition in San Fernando, Pampanga. 

The 64-year-old Enaje, however, said this year could be his last crucifixion.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report on “24 Oras” on Good Friday, devotees and actors endured the scorching heat of the sun for the re-enactment of Jesus Christ’s suffering before his death in Barangay San Pedro Cutud. 

Enaje said his body could no longer endure the pain. 

“Mainit po yung kamay ko sa ngayon. Nagbabadya na titigil na ako. Noong mga nakaraang taon, wala akong nararamdaman na init sa mga sugat, baka mawala na itong sakit ng paa at kamay. Sa balikat, nandito pa. Ang pinakamasakit po ay yung nahilo ako doon sa daan,” he said. 

(My hands feel warm now. It is telling me that I need to stop doing this. Because in the previous years, I didn’t feel any warmth in my wounds, I thought the pain in my feet and hands would go away. I can still feel pain in my shoulders. But the most painful experience for me was when I got dizzy while on the road.) 

However, Enaje’s retirement would not stop the tradition in the coming years. 

“There’s still a lot that we can look forward to in the coming years. And I think it’s about time that we go beyond the idea that faith tourism stops and ends with crucifixion because it’s not,” said Ching Pangilinan, tourism officer of San Fernando, Pampanga.

Enaje will be replaced by Arnold Maniago, who also devoted himself to being crucified for over two decades. 

“Kahit papaano po, dumarating yung nerbyos para sa akin. Hindi biro yung ginagampanan niya,” said Maniago. 

(I must admit that I feel the pressure now because the role he played was a big deal.) 

Despite the extreme heat, there were 6,000 to 8,000 tourists who visited the barangay to witness the crucifixion. Of the said number of tourists, 5 to 10% are foreigners and balikbayans. 

Meanwhile, the medical responders also catered to 45 individuals who fell ill because of the heat as some lost consciousness and felt dizzy. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News