Filipino villager nailed to cross for 35th time on Easter Good Friday

Ruben Enaje, a 63-year-old Filipino carpenter and sign painter, participates in the brutal Good Friday tradition of being nailed to a wooden cross for the 35th time, symbolizing the sufferings of Jesus Christ, while praying for global peace in conflict zones like Ukraine, Gaza, and the South China Sea.

Good Friday, amidst a gathering of over a hundred spectators, Ruben Enaje, along with nine others, endured the reenactment of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion in Pampanga province, Philippines. This annual spectacle paused for three years due to the pandemic, resumed, drawing tourists to witness the gory ritual.

Enaje, who has become a village celebrity for his portrayal of “Christ,” contemplated ending the tradition due to his age but continues to fulfil requests from villagers to pray for the afflicted. Expressing concern over global conflicts, Enaje emphasizes the need for peace, particularly amid rising tensions in Ukraine, Gaza, and the South China Sea.

The crucifixion ritual, intertwined with thorny crowns and heavy wooden crosses, underscores the Philippines’ unique blend of Catholicism and folk beliefs. Despite disapproval from church leaders, the tradition persists, with participants seeking atonement, healing, and miracles through self-sacrifice.