The Ritual of Sacrifice: Ruben Enaje’s 36th Year of Voluntary Crucifixion
Bizarre/Strange
Monday 21st, April 2025
3 minute read.
San Pedro Cutud, Pampanga, Philippines – In a striking display of devotion, 64-year-old Ruben Enaje has been voluntarily crucified for the 36th time as part of an annual Good Friday ritual in the northern Philippines. The ultra-realistic reenactment took place in the village of San Pedro Cutud, a community known for its intense and controversial Holy Week traditions.
Enaje, a carpenter and sign painter, has participated in the ritual since 1986, one year after surviving a near-fatal fall from the third floor of a building while working on a construction site. He considers his survival a miracle and vowed to express his gratitude through an annual act of penitence.
"It all started in 1985, when I fell from the third floor of a building and miraculously escaped death," Enaje told Review of Religions. "At that moment, I made a vow to God that I will make a sacrifice to pay for my second life; I wanted to do that by re-enacting the act of the crucifixion as thanksgiving."
Each year, Enaje joins other Catholic devotees—this year, 10 other men—who carry heavy wooden crosses for more than one kilometre under the scorching tropical sun. Dressed in costumes reminiscent of Roman times, local actors playing centurions then hammer 10-centimetre stainless steel nails through the participants’ palms and feet before raising them onto wooden crosses for roughly 10 minutes. The event draws large crowds of spectators who watch, pray, and document the spectacle.
Although the Catholic Church in the Philippines does not officially sanction the crucifixions and discourages extreme expressions of faith, the tradition remains popular in certain communities. According to Enaje, his decision to continue despite his age is often motivated by requests from fellow villagers who seek divine intervention for family members suffering from illness.
In a previous interview, he explained, "This is why I always pray for peace in the world." He continued, “If these wars worsen and spread, more people, especially the young and old, would be affected. These are innocent people who have totally nothing to do with these wars.”
Last year’s crucifixion held additional significance for Enaje, who dedicated the ritual to peace amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The annual observance in Pampanga has its roots in mid-20th-century traditions, reportedly beginning around 1945 to 1950 after World War II. Enaje stated: "From what I have heard from my grandfather, the re-enactment rituals have been carried out in the Philippines since 1945 or the 1950s (basically after the Japanese left after WWII)."
Over the decades, Enaje has continued his participation not only as an act of thanksgiving but also as a form of intercession. He has attributed the recovery of several family members from serious illness, as well as consistent work opportunities, to his commitment.
Despite previously suggesting he may be too old to continue, Enaje once again took to the dusty hill in San Pedro Cutud this Good Friday, reaffirming a personal vow that has shaped his life and earned global attention.
Enaje, a carpenter and sign painter, has participated in the ritual since 1986, one year after surviving a near-fatal fall from the third floor of a building while working on a construction site. He considers his survival a miracle and vowed to express his gratitude through an annual act of penitence.
"It all started in 1985, when I fell from the third floor of a building and miraculously escaped death," Enaje told Review of Religions. "At that moment, I made a vow to God that I will make a sacrifice to pay for my second life; I wanted to do that by re-enacting the act of the crucifixion as thanksgiving."
Each year, Enaje joins other Catholic devotees—this year, 10 other men—who carry heavy wooden crosses for more than one kilometre under the scorching tropical sun. Dressed in costumes reminiscent of Roman times, local actors playing centurions then hammer 10-centimetre stainless steel nails through the participants’ palms and feet before raising them onto wooden crosses for roughly 10 minutes. The event draws large crowds of spectators who watch, pray, and document the spectacle.
Although the Catholic Church in the Philippines does not officially sanction the crucifixions and discourages extreme expressions of faith, the tradition remains popular in certain communities. According to Enaje, his decision to continue despite his age is often motivated by requests from fellow villagers who seek divine intervention for family members suffering from illness.
In a previous interview, he explained, "This is why I always pray for peace in the world." He continued, “If these wars worsen and spread, more people, especially the young and old, would be affected. These are innocent people who have totally nothing to do with these wars.”
Last year’s crucifixion held additional significance for Enaje, who dedicated the ritual to peace amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The annual observance in Pampanga has its roots in mid-20th-century traditions, reportedly beginning around 1945 to 1950 after World War II. Enaje stated: "From what I have heard from my grandfather, the re-enactment rituals have been carried out in the Philippines since 1945 or the 1950s (basically after the Japanese left after WWII)."
Over the decades, Enaje has continued his participation not only as an act of thanksgiving but also as a form of intercession. He has attributed the recovery of several family members from serious illness, as well as consistent work opportunities, to his commitment.
Despite previously suggesting he may be too old to continue, Enaje once again took to the dusty hill in San Pedro Cutud this Good Friday, reaffirming a personal vow that has shaped his life and earned global attention.
