San Fernando village doesn’t run out of ‘Cristos’

SAN FERNANDO CITY — Barangay San Pedro Cutud here, famous for its true-to-life crucifixions, is not about to run out of "Jesus Christs."

This Good Friday, at least 13 people — one of them a woman — are expected to have themselves nailed to wooden crosses to re-enact the crucifixion of Christ as their act of penitence.

The six-inch stainless steel nails that will be hammered through the penitents’ hands have been soaking in alcohol since Monday to safeguard against tetanus infection.

Organizers of the tourist-luring Via Crucis or "Way of the Cross," highlighted by actual crucifixions, said the annual Good Friday tradition would be the same as in years past, except that foreign journalists slated to cover the event have now asked assurances about their security.

Barangay chairman Zoilo Castro, who is among those in charge of staging the annual Via Crucis, said journalists from Spain and other Western countries have coordinated with him for coverage of the religious tradition.

For the first time, they raised the issue of their security, he said. Castro, however, was confident that the Via Crucis this year would go on without hitches.

Pampanga police chief Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Mendoza said: "I have instructed the police in San Fernando to be on alert and keep watch during the Holy Week, especially in Barangay San Pedro where we expect thousands of foreign and domestic tourists to flock on Good Friday."

Not that Mendoza finds any threat from elements with anti-Christian leanings, but foreigners themselves now feel less secure amid worldwide terrorist threats.

At least five "Kristos" are ready to have themselves actually nailed on crosses in a reenactment of Jesus Christ’s last hours on earth, starting with his trial by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.

Among the Kristos are painter Ruben Ynaje, 45, who would act as the main Kristo on his 16th year to be crucified, brothers Chito and Arnel Sangalang, Arnold Maniago, Bob Velez who are all from Pampanga; faith healer Amparo Santos, 61, also known as Mother Paring of Tiaong in Guiguinto, Bulacan, and seven other penitents.

All of them had been crucified in the past years, taking on the role of main Kristo at one time or another.

"But of course, I had them sign first a waiver that would exculpate barangay officials of any responsibility should unforeseen circumstances occur during their crucifixion," Castro said.

More crucifixion volunteers are expected until deadline on Holy Thursday. Foreigners have been barred from participating for some still unknown reason. In the past, a Japanese man and a Dutch woman had themselves crucified in the barangay.

As of yesterday, barangay officials were still in a quandary on who should play the role of the Virgin Mary, since the one who portrayed her last year is now married.

"The role is given to an unmarried woman with unsullied reputation," Castro emphasized.

While the actual crucifixions remain the main highlight of the local tradition, the entire Via Crucis has never failed to attract tourists.

All Bible characters — including Roman soldiers on horseback — wear appropriate costumes. "The barangay had been saving for such costumes which we change as soon as the old ones get too worn out," Castro said.

Castro said that apart from the Virgin Mary and other Bible characters that will trail the Kristos — who will carry their crosses on their shoulders — some 500 flagellants are expected from all over this city.

The Via Crucis starts at about 11 a.m. in an area made over as the Pilate’s court. From there, the Kristos and their entourage proceed to an elevated vacant lot to serve as Calvary.

The Kristos would be laid on the crosses and experienced carpenters will hammer six-inch stainless steel nails through their hands, and the crosses raised.

"We will make sure that they don’t stay hanging on the crosses for over 20 minutes. The weather might be too hot for them," Castro added.

The experienced Kristos attest that their wounds immediately heal by merely applying alcohol. They go to work the following Monday.

Ironically, the Roman Catholic Church has frowned on the bloody acts of penitence, urging the faithful to instead avail themselves of the sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist, especially on Easter Sunday.

There have also been nagging reports that barangay officials in San Pedro Cutud share in the unofficial fiesta borne by the crucifixions.

The barangay council reportedly earns quite a sum from parking fees and other sources of income generated from the presence of domestic and foreign tourists in their barangay.

In 1995, the barangay was strapped for cash when it was inundated by volcanic mudflows from Mt. Pinatubo, several kilometers away in neighboring Zambales province.

Although mostly Catholic, this early local residents have been preparing assorted meat and other dishes for guests — in clear defiance of the Catholic prescription for fasting and meat abstinence on Good Friday, which they have been celebrating as their fiesta for over 20 years.

Actually, their official fiesta falls on June 29, the feast of their patron St. Peter.