Pampanga's 'Kristo' to get crucified again on Good Friday | ABS-CBN

ADVERTISEMENT

dpo-dps-seal
Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!

Pampanga's 'Kristo' to get crucified again on Good Friday

Pampanga's 'Kristo' to get crucified again on Good Friday

ABS-CBN News

Clipboard

Pampanga's 'Kristo' Ruben Enaje shows the nails that will be used for his crucifixion in this photo from April 9, 2019. Danny Pata, EPA-EFE/File 

MANILA -- Ruben Enaje will be crucified this Good Friday for the 35th year in a row.

At 63, Enaje is now considered a senior citizen in the Philippines. But despite his advanced age, he will still carry a 14-foot long cross through the streets of Pampanga. 

Enaje said this is way of thanking God for helping him survive an accident in the '80s.

“Siguro Siya ang gumawa ng aksidente na 'yun. Kahit na sabihin na natin na aksidente, talagang hindi pa rin Niya ako pinabayaan. Sinalo pa rin Niya ako doon sa pagkahulog ko. 'Yun ang naging siguro simbulo na gaganap ako bilang Kristo," Enaje said.

ADVERTISEMENT

(Maybe the Lord created that accident. Even though it was an accident, He didn't abandon me. He caught me as I fell. I think that was the sign that I must act as the Christ during Holy Week.)

Enaje is already a bit worried about his Holy Week pledge this year, given his advanced age and the heat. As such, the cross he will be carrying this year weighs less than 20 kilos.

His old cross used to weigh 37 kg.

This year, thousands of local and foreign tourists are expected to flock to Pampanga to see Kapampangans carry out their Holy Week pledges.

But Enaje insists they aren't doing this to show off.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Ito ay isang tradisyon namin na ginagawa kapag may hinihingi sa ating mahal na Panginoon. Dadaan muna tayo sa paghihirap para makamit natin 'yung mga minimithi," he said.

"Hindi po biro-biro ang ginagawa namin kaya respetuhin po naman ninyo kami sa aming ginagawa. Lalo na 'yung mga kabataan ngayon, sinasabi na kaya din namin 'yan pero kapag aktwal na, talagang bibigay sila," he said.

(We do this when we are asking for something from God. We go through pain before we get what we want. What we go through is not a joke, so we are asking for respect, especially the youth, who say they can do it also, but when it's time, they fold.)

This year, Enaje is offering his crucifixion for unity in the Philippines. 

"Marami nang hindi magagandang nangyayari ngayon sa ating bansa. Tayo-tayo mismo naglalaban. Ipagdarasal ko 'yan na sana magkaisa tayo, maging mabuti sa susunod na taon ang ating bansa."

ADVERTISEMENT

{There are so may awful things happening in our country. People are fighting. I will be praying for unity, that the next year will be good to us.)

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

It looks like you’re using an ad blocker

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.