DOH urges flagellants to undergo medical checkup

Manila, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday advised penitents who whip themselves as a form of penance during Holy Week to undergo a medical checkup before and after the ritual to ensure that they are physically fit and to have a vaccine to prevent tetanus and heat-related illnesses.

DOH Undersecretary Eric Tayag told reporters during the weekly Broadcasters Forum at the Hotel Rembrandt in Quezon City that penitents must be careful to avoid getting ill after subjecting themselves to such Lenten rituals.

Tayag said devotees particularly flagellants are prone to tetanus because of the injuries they inflict on their bodies and for being exposed to the scorching summer heat that could lead to dehydration or even heat stroke.

He said these penitents are exposed to other summer-related illness such as sore eyes, sunburn, and loose bowel movement.

Tayag advised penitents and vacationers, too, to use sun block lotion and drink plenty of water or liquids to prevent dehydration.

Tayag also reminded penitents to watch out for stray dogs while they are performing their rituals to avoid dog bites that could lead to rabies.

If bitten by stray dogs, he advised people to immediately go to a nearest hospital to have an anti-rabies vaccine which he said is available in all government hospitals.

Meanwhile, Mayor Oscar Rodriguez of San Fernando, Pampanga frowns on Good Friday crucifixions in his city, but said these are already part of local traditions.

“Personally, I am not in favor of the crucifixions but the tradition is already there and it attracts thousands of people. As mayor, I will have to see to it that these people are kept safe, their surroundings clean, and the events all peaceful and in order,” Rodriguez said.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has always frowned on violent practices during Lent and even came out recently with an Internet version of the Via Crucis or Way of the Cross.

San Fernando tourism chief Ching Pangilinan said the city government would provide security and health services to the public in three crucifixion venues on Good Friday.

Five penitents are expected to be nailed to the cross in Barangay San Juan at 9 a.m., three in Barangay Sta. Lucia at 10 a.m., and 14 in Barangay San Pedro Cutud at 12 noon.

Barangay San Pedro is the most well-known for the Good Friday tradition because of its colorful reenactment of the last hours of Jesus Christ before crucifixions are done at 3 p.m., which is believed to be the hour of Jesus’s death on the cross.

Penitent Ruben Enaje, 50, would again portray the role of the main “Kristo” to be crucified on a makeshift Golgotha in San Pedro Cutud. 

This would be Enaje’s 25th year to be crucified, a religious vow he started as a way of thanking God for sparing his life after he fell from a scaffolding in a construction site.

Enaje started sporting long hair four years ago instead of using a wig, which often embarrassingly fell off during his crucifixion.

He said he plans to “retire” after two more Good Friday crucifixions, as his self-imposed vow would have been accomplished by then.

Asked why he has ignored the CBCP’s admonition against crucifixions, Enaje, a Catholic, said priests lock themselves up in their houses after Holy Week religious services instead of reaching out to penitents to convince them to resort to other practices more acceptable to the Church.

Among the penitents slated for crucifixion, Hernando Mangun, 41, of Barangay Sta. Lucia, is often the only one who have his hands and feet nailed to the cross.

Mangun, who works as “barker” for passenger jeepneys, said his crucifixion this Good Friday would be his 17th, and that he started it as plea to God for his six-year-old son who needs medical help as he was born without an anus.  

– With Ding Cervantes