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The San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites is a Holy Week re-enactment of Christ’s Passion and Death which takes place in Barangay San Pedro Cutud, City of San Fernando, Pampanga in the Philippines.
Contents
It includes a passion play culminating with the actual nailing of at least three penitents to a wooden cross atop the makeshift Calvary.
Events
Every year on Good Friday or the Friday before Easter a dozen or so penitents - mostly men but with the occasional woman - are taken to a rice field in the barrio of San Pedro Cutud, 3 km (2 miles) from the proper of City of San Fernando, Pampanga and nailed to a cross using two-inch (5 cm) stainless steel nails that have been soaked in alcohol to disinfect them. The penitents are taken down when they feel cleansed of their sin. Other penitents flagellate themselves using bamboo sticks tied to a rope.
2008 Crucifixion
On March 21, 2008, Pampanga carpenter Ruben Enaje, 47, was nailed to a wooden cross on Good Friday for the 22nd time, since his first in 1985. 25 other penitents, including two women, were nailed on wooden cross on Good Friday in San Pedro Cutud. Central Luzon crucifixion reenactments were also held yearly, in Angeles City, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga, and in Bulacan.
Criticism
The Catholic Church does not approve the crucifixions and does not endorse them. The media has also turned against the rites, calling them "pagan and barbaric" but generally admitting they are still a good show.