Man Endures 36th Brutal Crucifixion in Controversial Good Friday Ritual

How far would you go for faith? For most, Good Friday involves a bit of chocolate abstention, maybe some extra church-going, but what if your devotion led you to actually get nailed to a cross? Not every year, not every decade, but 36 times! Yep, in the Philippines, Ruben Enaje has made a literal and quite painful tradition out of it. Think about the dedication – or should I say, the serious commitment? Every time, he lets folks hammer nails through his hands and feet. If that isn’t putting skin in the game, I don’t know what is. Is this the ultimate in spiritual SEO optimization – trying to get to heaven through nails? Who knows, but it definitely ranks high on the dedication scale. Here’s a thought-provoking question: If spiritual devotion was an SEO strategy, where would your passion project land on Google’s first page? Let me delve into this intense Good Friday tradition where commitment truly takes the cross. LEARN MORE

Warning: this article contains graphic imagery that some readers may find distressing

To honour the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Christians around the world often abstain from meat, take part in prayer and do a good bit of reflection on Good Friday.

But in some corners of the world, religious devotees really push the boat out during Holy Week – like this bloke, who voluntarily nailed himself to a cross for the 36th time.

Since 1986, Ruben Enaje has been crucified three dozen times as part of the San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites re-enactment in Pampanga, Philippines.

Two-inch nails, which were sterilised in alcohol, were hammered through his hands and feet, while his limbs were tied to the huge wooden cross he was impaled on with ropes and fabric.

Despite previously stating he had got ‘too old’ for his annual act, the 64-year-old performed the ritual once again this year in the sweltering heat in Cutud, alongside ten other blokes.

Ruben Enaje (centre) was nailed to the cross for the 36th time on Good Friday (NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Shocking images show how Ruben was flanked by other devoted followers who were pinned to heavy wooden crosses they had hauled uphill, while each sported a thorny crown made of twigs.

Today (18 March) marks Ruben’s 36th time being impaled on a cross as part of the brutal crucifixion reenactment, as he didn’t want to let villagers down who had requested his presence.

To be fair, after more than three decades at the helm of the Good Friday tradition, he is definitely part of the furniture by now.

Ruben previously revealed that he had began taking part after a near-death experience at the age of 25, when he narrowly avoided meeting his maker after tumbling from a three-story building.

He said he now makes the ‘sacrifice’ to ‘thank God’ for allowing him to dodge a premature demise.

The 64-year-old has been taking part in the ritual in Pampanga, Philippines, since 1986 (NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Ruben also reportedly carried on the crucifixion ritual after his loved ones – including his daughter and wife – miraculously recovered from serious illnesses, while his carpentry business also had a boom.

Last year, he dedicated his excruciating act to those fighting the war against Russia in Ukraine.

“If these wars worsen and spread, more people, especially the young and old, would be affected,” he said in 2024.

“These are innocent people who have totally nothing to do with these wars. This is why I always pray for peace in the world.”

Other participants in the San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites sporting Roman soldier costumes hammered the eleven men to the crosses today.

The process is pretty gruesome, to say the least (Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

Crowds of locals and tourists alike gathered to watch the ritual, which Ruben admitted was initially ‘very painful’.

“The first five seconds were very painful,” he said, as per the Daily Mail. “As time goes and the blood goes down, the pain numbs and I can stay on the cross longer.”

One spectator, tourist Rowan Beard, described the event as ‘a beautiful yet sad thing’ to observe – but he reckons making the mammoth journey to see it is well worth it.

He told ABS-CBN News: “It’s becoming more of a fascination for foreigners here in the Philippines. It’s such an important event here today.

It just creates that curiosity. It’s very moving, it’s very dramatic.

“It’s a beautiful yet sad thing to watch. It’s worth travelling as far as Europe and America to come here to the Philippines to watch it.”