'KRISTO' SET FOR 26th CRUCIFIXION IN SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA
SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA, APRIL 16, 2011 (STAR) 'By Ding Cervantes For the 26th time, the most famous "Kristo" Kristohas of this province will be nailed on a cross in a re-enactment of Christ's suffering on Good Friday.
Ruben Enaje (photo at left) said priests have failed to persuade penitents like him to shift to non-bloody alternatives in their Lenten practices, as often suggested by Catholic Church authorities.
Enaje will again be the main Kristo and will be crucified in Barangay San Pedro Cutud here on Good Friday.
He said priests "just lock themselves up in their houses after Holy Week religious services instead of reaching out to penitents to try to persuade them to resort to other practices endorsed by the church."
The city government is in the thick of preparations for Maleldo or Holy Week.
Mayor Oscar Rodriquez said that while he has been personally against the bloody crucifixions, he had to do his job to maintain peace and order and cleanliness in his city, which will be visited by thousands to witness the Good Friday crucifixions.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) had 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.
City tourism chief Ching Pangilinan said the city government will provide security and health services to people in the three crucifixion venues in this city on Good Friday.
Five penitents are slated to be nailed on crosses in Barangay San Juan at 9 a.m., three in Barangay Sta. Lucia at 10 a.m., and at least 14 in Barangay San Pedro Cutud at noon.
San Pedro Cutud is well known for Good Friday crucifixions because of its colorful reenactment of the last hours of Jesus Christ before crucifixions are done at 3 p.m., reputed to be the hour of Jesus' death on the cross.
Enaje said his crucifixion is a religious vow that he started as a way of thanking God for sparing his life when, while at work, he fell from a scaffolding.
He is set to "retire" after two more Good Fridays.
Among the penitents, only 41-year-old Hernando Mangun of Barangay Sta. Lucia would have both hands and feet nailed.
Mangun, who works as "barker" for passenger jeepneys, said that while his crucifixion this coming Good Friday would be his 17th, he started being nailed on his feet only five years ago as a plea to God to cure his six-year-old son who needs colonostrophy procedure before he reaches the age of 10. His son was born without an anus.
"I will not stop until somebody helps my son with his medical needs. There had been promises of help but none has been realized. I just can't afford the medical cost," he said.
A time for reflection
Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani yesterday suggested that erring government officials who are looking for sacrifices this Holy Week should consider giving up their corruption habit.
In an interview with the Church-run Radio Veritas, Bacani said that "a good sacrifice for the people in government is to stop being selfish."
In a separate interview, Bishop Bacani said "being selfish" includes corrupt practices and laziness since they would not be fulfilling their obligation.
"Corruption is a form of selfishness and can cause trouble," he said.
But the prelate emeritus said that these "sacrifices" should be done not only during Holy Week but also after.
"Selfless acts should not only be done today but we should practice it throughout our lives. Forgetting one's self interest should not only be seasonal," he added. "In the end, these are crosses that the Catholics should offer to God."
He also reminded the faithful that the best way to prepare one's self this Holy Week and Easter is by repentance or conversion, which means a "change of mind, change of heart, and change of behavior."
Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, on the other hand, said that Holy Week is a time for reflection, to recall the death and suffering of Jesus Christ and the changes in the world and in a person's life.
"It is a time for praying and denying oneself of material pleasures through fasting and abstinence. It is not the time for relaxation and recreation, which has become the practice of some Filipino families," he said.
Bagaforo expressed hope that Filipinos would take interest in the traditional Pabasa, the story of salvation.
"This is a tradition because doing that is an act of sacrifice already, love offering and therefore in return we would receive grace from God," he said.
Good weather on Holy Week
Meanwhile, good but warm weather conditions will prevail over the country during the Holy Week, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.
However, the easterly wave and a low-pressure area may bring scattered rains in some parts of Visayas and Mindanao.
But the weather bureau said no tropical cyclone is likely to affect the country throughout the outlook period.
PGASA said the easterly wave and the low-pressure area are expected to be the dominant weather systems affecting the Visayas and Mindanao from April 17 to 24.
"These weather systems will bring scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms throughout the outlook period, becoming widespread over western Mindanao on Monday and Tuesday (April 18 and 19)," PAGASA said in its special weather outlook.
"Widespread rains are expected to prevail over eastern Visayas and eastern Mindanao on Friday until Sunday (April 22 to 24)," it said.
For Luzon, generally good weather condition associated with warm and humid temperature ranging from 24 to 36 degrees Celsius in plain areas and 14 to 28 degrees Celsius over the mountainous region will prevail, the agency said.
Coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate except during thunderstorms. – Helen Flores, Evelyn Macairan, Dino Balabo
Higher Skyway toll after Easter By Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star) Updated April 16, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (0) View comments
MANILA, Philippines - The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has approved the imposition of higher toll rates at the Metro Manila Skyway and its at-grade section effective April 25.
TRB spokesman Julius Corpuz said the toll rate increase was in line with the completion of the Skyway Stage 2 on April 7 by the project developer, Indonesian-controlled Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. (CMMTC), and operator Skyway O&M Corp. (SOMCO).
Under the toll rate schedule approved by the TRB, motorists in Class 1 vehicles from Makati to Bicutan will pay P65; Bicutan to Sucat would be P41, while Sucat to Alabang would be P41, making the toll fee for the full stretch of Skyway P147.
Currently, the Skyway toll fee from Makati to Bicutan is P85 and is free from Bicutan to Alabang pending the TRB approval of a toll fee schedule.
In the at-grade section, toll fees from Magallanes to Bicutan will be P44, Bicutan to Sucat P 31, Sucat to Alabang P31, for a total toll fee from Makati to Alabang of P106.
Currently, the toll fee at the at-grade section from Makati to Alabang stands at P65, with the Magallanes to Bicutan section at P30, Bicutan to Sucat P18, and Sucat to Alabang P17.
Corpuz explained the TRB-approved new rates were lower than the toll fees sought by CMMTC-SOMCO.
"This was also computed without income tax holiday incentives," Corpuz said.
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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