Eight Filipinos were nailed to crosses on Good Friday in the village of San Pedro Cutud, north of Manila, reviving a controversial Easter tradition after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The re-enactment of Christ's crucifixion drew thousands of tourists and devotees, though Catholic leaders have long condemned the practice.
Among the participants was 62-year-old sign painter Ruben Enaje, who underwent the ordeal for the 34th time. He said he prayed for an end to the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which has driven up global fuel and food prices. Enaje, who has four children, indicated he may stop next year due to his age.
Enaje began the ritual after surviving a fall from a three-storey building in 1985, which he considered a miracle. He later extended it following recoveries of loved ones from serious illnesses. Before the crucifixion, he and other devotees carried heavy wooden crosses for over a kilometre in scorching heat, wearing thorny crowns. Roman centurion actors then hammered 10cm stainless steel nails through their palms and feet, raising them on crosses for about ten minutes.
Other penitents walked barefoot, beating their backs with sharp bamboo sticks. Some had cuts opened with broken glass to ensure bloodshed. The spectacle reflects the Philippines' unique blend of Catholicism and folk superstition, with many impoverished participants seeking atonement, healing, or better lives.
Church leaders, including priest Robert Reyes, have criticised the rites, arguing that faith can be expressed through charity rather than self-harm. Reyes noted that the practice highlights a failure to fully educate Filipinos on Christian tenets, leaving them to explore personal forms of devotion. He urged clergy to engage more with communities rather than judge them.
Despite the controversy, the tradition has put San Pedro Cutud on the map. Organisers reported over 15,000 local and foreign visitors attended this year's event.
