In the province of Pampanga San Pedro Cutud in the Philippines, residents celebrate Easter by nailing themselves to crosses. 62-year-old Ruben Enaje was one of eight people who celebrated the tradition – which attracts thousands of tourists and spectators. – I am nervous, because I risk dying on the cross, he tells the news agency AP. After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the unusual Easter celebration in Pampanga province outside the Philippine capital Manila returned on Friday. Every year, thousands of tourists and onlookers gather to watch residents voluntarily nail themselves to crosses in honor of the holiday. The AP news agency reports that over a dozen people expressed their interest but that only eight men chose to carry out the tradition. One of the people who celebrates Easter this way is 62-year-old Ruben Enaje. This year was the 34th time he nailed himself to the cross. At a press conference before the celebration, Ruben Enaje said that he is praying for the end of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. He tells AP that he usually gets nervous before the event. – I’m nervous, to be honest, because I risk dying on the cross. “There is nothing like it on earth” The Catholic Church in the province has distanced itself from the celebration and has said in a statement that it is possible to practice one’s religion without harming oneself. Robert Reyes, a priest and human rights activist, says he is disappointed by people’s behavior. He also criticizes the church which, according to him, has failed to educate people. – The question is, where were we from the church when they started doing this? Organizers say over 15,000 tourists and spectators gathered to witness the tradition in three villages in the province. – The tourists like this because there is nothing like it on earth, says Johnson Gareth, a British tourist guide to the news agency. See the spectacular images in the player above.
t4-general
Ruben, 62, celebrates Easter by crucifying himself: “Risk of death”
