Briton wishes to join Pampanga crucifixion rites

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — A British man has signified his intention to join the Good Friday crucifixion reenactment in Barangay San Pedro Cutud here but has yet to confirm his arrival date, organizers of this year’s kalbaryo said.

Barangay chairman Zoilo Castro told reporters yesterday that his committee will be willing to accept the foreign "Kristo" and include him among the list of people willing to endure the ritual of being nailed to a wooden cross as long as he is physically fit and his papers are in order.

"We will allow him to join as long as no law will be violated, his travel and other papers allow him to join in the rites and (he is) physically fit," said Castro. He added that at the moment the identity of the Briton has not yet been revealed by his local contacts.

Castro said the visitor has until Maundy Thursday to visit their office to finalize the program.

He said once the British man arrived here, he will immediately be subjected to a rigid medical and physical examination. He said the committee is doing everything to ensure the safety of the participants in the crucifixion.

Castro, who presided over the press conference at his residence, said this year’s crucifixion reenactment and "Way of the Cross" ritual will be even more colorful than last year’s.

He said they are expecting an increase in the number of spectators, both local and foreign tourists.

The barangay chairman said the surroundings of the entire barangay have been cleared of garbage and other debris, traffic has been rerouted and parking areas identified to keep the annual ceremony organized.

Every year, thousands flock to this city and other places in the provinces to witness reenactments of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Senior Superintendent Enrico Salapong, police chief here, said that at least 350 policemen will be fielded to the area, particularly the makeshift Golgotha, site of the public crucifixions. He said the deployment of policemen is to ensure the safety of spectators coming from various provinces including Metro Manila.

"Good Friday is also the barangay fiesta, so we fielded more policemen at the area to maintain peace and order because more visitors will be expected," said Salapong.

As of yesterday, Castro said at least eight people had already listed up to be crucified.

He said Ruben Enaje will play Jesus Christ, replacing Chito Sanggalang who has had the lead role in the reenactment of the crucifixion here for the past 15 years.

From San Pedro to Lourdes

Having second thoughts about witnessing the traditional Good Friday true-to-life crucifixions in San Pedro Cutud because of fearsome crowds?

The Department of Tourism (DOT), which promotes local Lenten traditions as a tourist attraction for their cultural value, offers an alternative in Barangay Lourdes Northwest in Angeles City.

"Many foreign and local tourists who flock to witness the annual crucifixions in Barangay San Pedro Cutud often complain about the huge crowds there on Good Friday," DOT regional director Ronaldo Tiotuico told The STAR.

Tiotuico said that tourists now have another alternative in Lourdes Northwest, near this city’s public market, where crucifixions started on Good Friday last year.

"There were five local folk who had themselves crucified in Lourdes Northwest last year, and it is expected that no less than five will again be crucified this year," he said.

Because the crucifixions here are not yet as well known as the crucifixions in San Pedro Cutud, the crowds are not as huge, he noted.

"So to avoid the crowd and the consequent heat of summer, others can opt to go to Lourdes Northwest instead. The ceremonies there are similar to those at San Pedro Cutud," he said.

The crucifixions in San Pedro Cutud have been attracting tens of thousands of foreign and local tourists since the tradition started some 50 years ago.

Tiotuico said that like their counterparts in San Pedro Cutud, folk in Lourdes Northwest also reenact the episodes in the life of Jesus Christ before the actual crucifixions.

While the reenactment of Christ’s last days start at 10 a.m. and end with crucifixions at about 12 noon in San Pedro Cutud, the Lourdes Northwest version starts at about 1 p.m. and wraps up at about 2 to 3 p.m.

In both reenactments, appropriately costumed cast of New Testament characters portray various roles, including those of the Blessed Virgin, Mary Magdalene, Veronica, Pontius Pilate and Judas.

"In Lourdes Northwest, the scenario starts with the Jews knocking on doors of barangay folk looking for Jesus. When the character portraying the main Kristo is arrested, the rest of the so-called stations of the cross follow, winding up with the crucifixions of Christ portrayed by several Kristos," Tiotuico said.

Tiotuico said that no less than 5,000 foreign and domestic tourists, including foreign media, usually trek to San Pedro Cutud for the Good Friday crucifixions.

"Already, all the five bigger hotels in San Fernando are fully booked. Many families have again reserved rooms in their homes to accommodate paying tourists," he said.

Tiotuico said that the DoT has been suggesting to tourists to make donations to the organizers of the Lenten activities in San Pedro Cutud and Lourdes Northwest whose residents merely pitch in for the costumes and other needs. "The funds can be used for expenses for the same activities next year," he said.

Catholic Church officials have long frowned on the bloody practices that have become a tourist attraction in Pampanga, but have not banned them.

Former priest Crispulo Cadiand said that to ban them "would be to uproot tradition."

But priests have repeatedly warned folk in San Pedro Cutud that they are not exempt from Good Friday fasting and abstinence prescribed by the Church. Residents of the barangay consider Good Friday their fiesta wherein they serve all kinds of meat dishes and alcoholic beverages for their guests, even if their actual fiesta is in June commemorating the feast of their patron St. Peter. — With Ding Cervantes