Ruben Enaje

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Ruben Enaje
Enaje (right)
Born1960 or 1961 (age 63–64)[1]
San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Occupation(s)Carpenter, Construction worker
Known forBeing voluntarily crucified annually on Good Friday

Ruben Enaje is a Filipino carpenter, sign painter,[2] and former construction worker. He is noted for being crucified 34 times as of 2023.[3][4][5]

He has been crucified every year from 1986 through 2019 on Good Friday; the COVID-19 pandemic required that he skip crucifixion in the years 2020–2022.[6] He resumed his annual tradition of crucifixion in 2023, being crucified for his 34th time in San Pedro Cutud.[5]

Background[edit]

Enaje, who was once a construction worker in the Philippines, fell down from an unfinished building in Tarlac, and unexpectedly survived.[7] After the incident, saying that it was to thank the Lord for saving him, Enaje started participating in crucifixions, of his own free will, in a ritual done on Good Friday every year.[8] Initially done only for nine years since the incident, he continued with his another set of nine years as a petition for the healing of his daughter from asthma and another nine years for the good health of his wife.[1]

Crucifixions[edit]

Enaje's 34th reenactment of the crucifixion in 2023, which he stated would be his last

Enaje was crucified for his first time in 1985.[citation needed] He had promised God that he would be crucified 27 times, which came to pass in 2013.[9] He continued thereafter as there were no replacements found. He offered his 30th crucifixion, in 2016, to the people of Belgium, who had recently suffered from a terrorist attack, and prayed for a more peaceful outcome of the 2016 Philippine general election.[10]

In 2019, Enaje re-iterated his hopes to finally find a replacement, having been crucified once a year for 33 years (the same number of years that Jesus was alive).[11] He was crucified for the 34th time in 2023,[12] resuming his participation in the crucifixion after it was halted from 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that his 34th reenactment of the crucifixion would be his last.[1]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Orejas, Tonette (March 16, 2023). "PH's longest-serving 'Kristo' plans to end Lenten vow". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  2. ^ Jaime Uribarri (April 22, 2011). "Christians in Philippines celebrate Good Friday by recreating crucifixion of Jesus". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  3. ^ Orejas, Tonette (March 25, 2016). "15 crucified on Good Friday in Pampanga". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  4. ^ "No more pain for Philippine devotee nailed to cross for 32nd time". Reuters. March 30, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Gomez, Jim (April 7, 2023). "Filipinos nailed to crosses despite church objection". Associated Press.
  6. ^ Cal, Ben (April 13, 2022). "Filipino penitent cancels 'crucifixion' anew due to Covid-19". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  7. ^ Crucifixion re-enactment is annual Good Friday rite in Philippines AP. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  8. ^ Hodari. "Suffered 22 times more than Jesus ever did". Oddee.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  9. ^ "Only one more year to go for Ruben Enaje with his real crucifixions". Demotix. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  10. ^ "Filipino nailed to cross prays for Belgium, PH". Manila Bulletin. March 25, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  11. ^ "Every year a Filipino man marks Good Friday with an actual crucifixion. He just did it for the 33rd time". CNN. April 19, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  12. ^ Gomez, Jim (April 7, 2023). "Filipinos nailed to crosses despite church objection". Associated Press.