Shocking Ritual: 65-Year-Old’s Final Crucifixion

April 4, 2026

A 65-year-old Filipino carpenter completed his 37th Good Friday crucifixion reenactment but refused the traditional whipping, raising questions about the future of extreme religious rituals that blend ancient devotion with modern health realities.

Story Snapshot

Ruben Enaje underwent his final crucifixion on April 3, 2026, after 40 years of annual participation in San Pedro Cutud, Philippines
Enaje declined the traditional whipping and beatings, carried a lighter cross, and had only his palms nailed—not his feet
His wife cited health concerns including age and lung deterioration from decades of paint fume exposure in his carpentry work
The Pampanga City Council designated the crucifixion ritual as cultural heritage, despite its extreme physical toll on participants

Final Crucifixion Modified for Health Concerns

Ruben Enaje carried a 20-kilogram wooden cross through San Pedro Cutud on Good Friday 2026, significantly lighter than the 37-kilogram burden he bore in previous years. The 65-year-old carpenter and sign painter requested that Roman soldier actors abstain from whipping, kicking, and hitting him during the reenactment. Enaje also limited nail placement to his palms only, leaving his feet unharmed. His wife Juanita had urged him to retire from the practice, expressing worry about his deteriorating lungs from prolonged paint fume exposure during his career. These modifications marked a stark departure from traditional practice for a man who first underwent crucifixion in 1986.

Four Decades of Devotion Rooted in Divine Calling

Enaje began his crucifixion practice after surviving a three-story fall in 1986, which he interpreted as a divine calling requiring gratitude through suffering. He initially promised God he would undergo the ritual 27 times, fulfilling that vow in 2013. However, lacking replacement participants and responding to villagers’ requests for prayers for sick family members, he continued beyond his original commitment. The practice paused during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022, resuming in 2023 for his 34th crucifixion. Throughout his participation, Enaje dedicated his prayers to world peace and community needs, demonstrating the intersection of personal faith and communal responsibility in Filipino Catholic tradition.

Cultural Heritage or Dangerous Spectacle

The San Pedro Cutud crucifixion ritual attracts between 5,000 and 10,000 flagellants annually, alongside thousands of spectators from around the world. The Pampanga City Council passed Resolution No. 071, formally designating the crucifixion reenactment as a cultural heritage practice, effectively government endorsement of extreme religious expression. Tourism officials promote the event for its economic benefits to the region. The ritual traces its origins to 1962, reflecting the Philippines’ distinctive brand of Catholicism that combines church traditions with folk superstitions. This raises concerns about government promoting practices that inflict deliberate physical harm, even when participants consent. The tension between religious freedom and public health responsibility remains unresolved as Enaje’s retirement leaves succession questions unanswered.

Questions About Succession and Modern Faith

Enaje’s retirement after 40 years creates uncertainty about whether others will maintain the tradition with similar dedication and intensity. His modifications in the final ritual—declining whipping, limiting nail placement, reducing cross weight—suggest even the most devoted participants eventually recognize physical limits. The practice represents an extreme manifestation of penitential devotion that distinguishes Philippine Catholicism globally, yet modern sensibilities increasingly clash with such intense physical suffering. Enaje’s palms reportedly bore no visible scarring despite decades of nail placement, though the cumulative physical and psychological toll remains unmeasured. His final dedication included prayers for global peace amid conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and the South China Sea, connecting local religious practice to international concerns in ways that transcend simple cultural tourism.