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Clavados en la cruz cual Jesucristo, la fe llevada al extremo en Filipinas (Fotos)

Arrastrar una cruz durante horas para acabar clavado en ella fue la penitencia de Jesucristo y es también la de decenas de devotos cada Viernes Santo en Filipinas, un país que lleva la fe católica al extremo.

Uno de estos devotos es Rubén Enaje, conocido como el “Jesucristo de Pampanga”, que hoy se crucificó por trigésimo segundo año consecutivo en la localidad de San Fernando, al norte de Manila.

“Aunque es muy duro y doloroso lo hago por mi familia, por Dios y por la fe católica”, asegura el filipino de 58 años mientras enseña a Efe los cuatro clavos de acero de diez centímetros -dos para las manos y otros dos para los pies- durante una entrevista previa a su crucifixión.

Más de 50.000 personas, según autoridades locales, acudieron hoy al barangay (barrio) de San Pedro Cutud en San Fernando para contemplar cómo Enaje y otros nueve penitentes se clavaban en cruces de madera bajo un sol abrasador durante aproximadamente diez minutos.

Los devotos llegaron al montículo de las crucifixiones tras recorrer descalzos centenares de metros con cruces de madera al hombro bajo la custodia de vecinos con disfraces de soldados romanos que les asestaban golpes y empujones.

Con pelo largo y barba al más puro estilo del mesías, el Jesucristo de Pampanga, una provincia al norte de Manila, explica que la travesía con la cruz, fabricada por él mismo y de más de 40 kilos de peso, es aún más dura que el martirio de permanecer ensartado en ella.

Los clavos, que él mismo esteriliza con alcohol, “son muy dolorosos y producen heridas que duelen durante tres días, pero las secuelas de llevar la cruz duran hasta cuatro meses”, afirma.

Tal sacrificio, sin embargo, tiene una merecida recompensa. Conocido en toda la provincia de Pampanga y admirado por los vecinos del pueblo, este pintor de profesión asegura que nunca le faltan ofertas de trabajo.

“Dios me ha recompensado en los últimos años dándome muchos encargos, como pintar en un centro de negocios o en un edificio de 22 metros de altura”, apunta este buen samaritano que reparte la mayoría de sus ganancias entre los niños pobres de la zona.

De hecho, fue su profesión la que le convirtió en Jesucristo en 1985, cuando cayó al suelo desde el tercer piso de una obra y al reincorporarse comprobó que no se había hecho ni un rasguño. Enaje lo atribuyó a una intervención divina y comenzó a crucificarse cada año.

Gracias a las crucifixiones San Pedro Cutud, un deprimido y antes olvidado barrio de unos 12.000 habitantes, atrae a numerosos medios de comunicación y decenas de miles de visitantes cada año con motivo de este sangriento espectáculo.

“Es el evento más esperado del año y nos preparamos a conciencia. Instalamos carpas para proteger al público del sol, tenemos policías, militares y voluntarios que velan por la seguridad y cuatro equipos médicos para asistir a penitentes y visitantes”, indica a efe el secretario del barangay, Venerando Simbulan.

Aunque decenas de filipinos se crucifican en otros lugares del país durante la Semana Santa, el secretario afirma con orgullo que esta tradición surgió aquí en 1956, cuando uno de los vecinos decidió emular a Jesucristo para limpiar sus pecados y otros tantos le acompañaron en los años posteriores.

Este año, en San Pedro Cutud, se ha crucificado Maryjane Sazon, una esteticista de 39 años de la cercana localidad de Santa Lucía, donde ya experimentó este martirio hasta en siete ocasiones en la última década.

Las crucifixiones son uno de los grandes focos de la atención mediática en la Semana Santa de Filipinas, que también ha dejado impactantes escenas de procesiones callejeras en las que miles de penitentes recorrieron kilómetros descalzos hasta la catedral de San Fernando.

Muchos de ellos completaron el recorrido propinándose latigazos en la espalda hasta dejarla en carne viva y sangrando, mientras otros lo hicieron con pesadas cruces sobre el hombro para redimir sus pecados o pedir milagros y buena fortuna.

La colonización española aportó a Filipinas la mayoría de sus tradiciones católicas, aunque estos rituales extremos surgieron en el país asiático en la segunda mitad del siglo XX y no gozan de la aprobación de las autoridades de la Iglesia. EFE

Ruben Enaje, 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, lies on the ground as residents in the role of Centurions looks on during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Ruben Enaje, 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, lies on the ground as residents in the role of Centurions looks on during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

 

Ruben Enaje, 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, is carried by residents dressed as Centurions after he was nailed on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Ruben Enaje, 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, is carried by residents dressed as Centurions after he was nailed on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

 

Ruben Enaje, 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, grimaces in pain as a resident in the role of a Centurion removes a nail from his feet during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Ruben Enaje, 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, grimaces in pain as a resident in the role of a Centurion removes a nail from his feet during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

 

A man portraying Jesus Christ carries a cross while performing a re-enactment during a Good Friday procession in Mumbai, India, March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas
A man portraying Jesus Christ carries a cross while performing a re-enactment during a Good Friday procession in Mumbai, India, March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas

 

A man portraying Jesus Christ carries a cross while performing a re-enactment during a Good Friday procession in Mumbai, India, March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas
A man portraying Jesus Christ carries a cross while performing a re-enactment during a Good Friday procession in Mumbai, India, March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas

 

Ruben Enaje, 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, is seen nailed on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Ruben Enaje, 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, is seen nailed on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

 

Ruben Enaje, 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, is nailed on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Ruben Enaje, 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, is nailed on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

 

Ruben Enaje, 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, grimaces in pain as he is nailed on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Ruben Enaje, 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, grimaces in pain as he is nailed on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

 

Ruben Enaje, 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, grimaces in pain as he is nailed on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Ruben Enaje, 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, grimaces in pain as he is nailed on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

 

Ruben Enaje (C), 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, is seen nailed on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Ruben Enaje (C), 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, is seen nailed on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

 

Ruben Enaje, 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, grimaces in pain after being nailed on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Ruben Enaje, 58, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 32nd time, grimaces in pain after being nailed on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

 

Mary Jane Sazon, 39, grimaces in pain after she was nailed on a wooden cross for the 7th time, during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Mary Jane Sazon, 39, grimaces in pain after she was nailed on a wooden cross for the 7th time, during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

 

Mary Jane Sazon, 39, reacts after she was nailed on a wooden cross for the 7th time, during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Mary Jane Sazon, 39, reacts after she was nailed on a wooden cross for the 7th time, during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

 

Mary Jane Sazon, 39, is carried on a stretcher after she was nailed on a wooden cross for the 7th time, during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Mary Jane Sazon, 39, is carried on a stretcher after she was nailed on a wooden cross for the 7th time, during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

 

Mary Jane Sazon, 39, grimaces in pain after she was nailed on a wooden cross for the 7th time, during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Mary Jane Sazon, 39, grimaces in pain after she was nailed on a wooden cross for the 7th time, during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in Cutud village, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

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