Sham
Some get crucified outside of Cutud to get paid, according to Enaje, who does not approve of the wrongdoing.
And the consequences are really harsh, Castro warns.
"E la mamangat king bie. Guguyud la pa mu rin (Their lives don't improve. They're unable to rise from hardships)," he says, identifying several men who made profits from the crucifixion rite. "Bad karma struck them and their families."
Enaje says quite a few have lost their sanity and have been punished through bad fortunes.
Even flagellation (pamagparaya), the rite of slitting one's back and whipping this until blood profusely spurts, has lost its prayerful features.
Gone are the days when flagellants (mandarame) would devote the entire Maundy Thursday for sakab or salibatbat (embracing the hot grounds) while contemplating on their sins and recalling Christ's sufferings.
Departing from tradition, penitents turn rowdy as they drown themselves in beer and gin, purportedly to let the blood gush freely.
It used to be that penitents retreat into their homes for silent prayers. Starving to atone for their sins, the diet of penitents only consisted of Sarsi cola mixed with fresh eggs.
Enaje, who grew up seeing his grandfather, father, uncles, and brothers whip themselves no end, observes that these days, flagellation is "yabang namu (done to brag)."
He reckons that out of 100 men, only three have religious intentions. The rest, according to him, join it as a rite of manhood.
"Ala king pilubluban da. Itang tapang ing importante karela ali ing pangadi (They're not sincere about it. What's important to them is that they are able to display courage, not prayers)," he says.
Say, isn't that what Saddam and Sons are doing these days?