Passion play sees final performance of veteran ‘Jesus’

MANILA, Philippines — Scores of penitents whipped themselves bloody under a scorching Philippine sun while others were nailed to crosses in a polarizing Good Friday tradition drawing the most extreme of Catholic devotees.

The macabre spectacle, officially frowned on by the Church, attracts thousands of Filipinos – and a smattering of tourists – each Easter weekend to sites across Asia’s only majority Catholic nation.

In San Fernando, Pampanga, 64-year-old Ruben Enaje was nailed to a cross for the 36th time on Friday.

Minutes after the nails were gingerly removed from his palms, he told reporters it would be for the last time.

“I really can’t do it anymore. They had to aim portable fans at me earlier just for me to breathe normally,” Enaje said, after temperatures reached 39 degrees Celsius.

In an unscripted moment, Enaje had tumbled down an embankment while navigating the narrow path to the cross after being “pushed a bit harder than usual” by a man playing a Roman soldier.

He told reporters he had felt “dizzy” while walking to the venue, needing to rest for 30 minutes before reaching the site.

He has hinted at retirement in the past, and this year local officials finally introduced his successor: Arnold Maniago, a veteran of 24 crucifixions.

Maniago conceded he was “a little nervous” about taking on the role of Jesus.

More than penance

Among the procession, men with their faces covered by bandanas rhythmically whipped themselves as they walked towards the cross.

But the flails, tipped with bamboo shards, rarely produce the desired blood.

An older man showed AFP a small wooden paddle embedded with sharp glass he used on the backs of penitents to make it flow.

Children trailed many of the processions.

A boy no more than eight years old lightly flailed the back of a shirtless man lying in the road.

Mark Palma, whose back was raw and smeared with blood, said flagellation was more than an act of penance.

The 30-year-old told AFP he had spent half his life taking part in the flagellation ritual as a way of praying for his sister born with a heart defect.

“She’ll be going through an operation this year, she has a hole in her heart,” he said.

“I’m praying for her to be healed. I want the operation to be successful.”

Raymond Ducusin, 31, said he began taking part in 2022 when his parents developed health issues.

Though his father passed away, he had no plans to stop.

“I want to commemorate his legacy through this. I still believe in miracles,” Ducusin said.

Officials said about 10,000 people attended Good Friday events in Pampanga.

More than 50 foreign tourists who had purchased special passes viewed the proceedings from under a tent.

David, a 45-year-old from New York City, said he and his partner had planned their holiday to attend the crucifixions.

“To see something born at the community level that’s still vibrant... most religious affiliation and sentiment in the West is pretty much fading away and here, it’s still incredibly visceral,” he said.