A man, Ruben Enaje, aged 65, has undergone his final reenactment of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion after 37 years of participating in the tradition. He made this decision to end his “sacrifice” following years of enduring the grueling ritual without being whipped, kicked, or slapped by actors portraying Roman soldiers. Enaje, along with two other devotees, carried crosses on their backs for half a mile in intense heat before he was nailed to a 20kg cross this year.
In this year’s ceremony, only Enaje’s palms were nailed, sparing his feet from being pierced by alcohol-soaked steel nails, as his wife expressed concerns about his health. The event has made Enaje a local celebrity, attracting devotees to witness the solemn reenactment in three rural communities in Pampanga province, Philippines.
Enaje, who initially hesitated due to his age, continues the tradition out of requests from villages to pray for their sick relatives. He emphasized his desire for world peace, highlighting the impact of conflicts on innocent people globally. The carpenter began the crucifixion practice as a gesture of gratitude after surviving a fall at a construction site in his youth.
The annual ritual involves carrying heavy crosses and wearing thorny crowns before being nailed to wooden crosses for a brief period, while village actors dressed as Roman centurions play their roles. Enaje shared that the reenactment tradition dates back to the mid-20th century in the Philippines, following the end of World War II.
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