On the Third Hand…

Ah yes, Holy week in the Philippines. The week when the “true believing” Filipinos have annually conducted reenactments of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion where a penitent is nailed to a cross. Keep in mind these “reenactments” are as real as they come. Complete with real crosses, real nails, real blood and a whole lot of real nut cases.

Case in point, Ruben Enaje has been crucified 18 times as of 2004.

San Pedro Cutud is a town in Pampanga province in the Philippines, approximately 70 kilometers north of Manila. It is known for annual re-enactments of the crucifixion of Jesus. During Holy Week each year, thousands of penitents arrive in the area to watch and take part in a pageant commemorating the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, including the Good Friday flagellation and crucifixion rituals.

And thousands of tourists, mostly from Europe, Japan and Korea. The moment tourists land at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), they head for the information desk and ask: “Where can we find a crucifixion?” according to a longtime employee of the Department of Tourism (DoT).

Thanks to an adoring media that annually highlight the events the crush of tourists has prompted the local Department of Health to issue warnings to those watching and taking part.

Health authorities have cautioned penitents against traditional — but risky — Holy Week activities, such as crucifixion and flagellation.

“From the health aspect, we do not encourage them,” said Dr. Luningning Villa, head of the Department of Health’s infectious disease unit. Penitents planning to have themselves crucified or whipped risk getting tetanus, an infection that could kill victims in a matter of hours, she said.

The health department official also warned people against jumping in rivers after they are crucified, in the belief that they would be cleansed of their sins.

“Just imagine all the infectious agents in a river, not to mention those present in the nails and whips,” Villa explained. “They’re at risk for secondary infection.”

If penitents insist on being crucified or whipped, they should get the whip or nails properly sterilized, she said.

Anyone that has spent time here needn’t stretch their imaginations too far to understand the correlation between the local rivers and “infectious agents.” In fact in some areas getting within 10 feet of waters edge you risk having an “agent” jumping out and attacking you. As for Ruben Enaje and the many like him, good luck, you’ll need it. After 18 crucifixions his hands are so crippled he is unable to work.

Wonder if God has given him workers compensation?

Cross posted within the Cranial Cavity