PAOMBONG,
Bulacan—An epileptic mute faith healer led five others that includes two women
in the reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ here, while hundreds
others flagellate themselves in observance of the Holy Week.
This
came as the Catholic Church discourage such acts, while some groups are looking
forward to promoting it as a tourism attraction.
Crisanto
Bautista, a 54-year old mute faith healer who suffers from episodes of
epilepsy was the first to do the reenactment of Christ’s crucifixion on the
morning of Maundy Thursday at the Sto. Cristo Chapel yard at Barangay
Kapitangan here.
A
resident of Barangay Mercado in the coastal town of Hagonoy, Bautista came with
his family and friends who interpreted his message during the interview.
During the interview, PromdiNews learned that Bautista loss his ability
to speak 16 years ago.
He
even tried to write his answer on the wall by writing with his fingers.
Aileen,
the younger sister of Bautista said that her brother suffered from episodes of
epilepsy and was even comatose for three days when he was younger.
“Tatlong
araw siyang patay, nung magising ay hindi na siya makapagsalita,” Aileen said
and added that it was also then when his brother started as faith healer.
Despite
his fragile physical condition, Bautista was nailed on the cross under
scorching heat. It was his 16th year in a row.
Rowena
Enriquez, 34, a friend and assistant, said Bautista’s physical appearance did
not deter him from reenacting crucifixion twice a year.
She
said that Bautista used to reenact crucifixion at the old Santisima Trinidad
Church in Malolos City and in other places in the province.
This
year, Bautista performed the reenactment at Barangay Kapitangan here on Maundy
Thursday and in Malolos City on Good Friday.
He
was followed by a still unidentified devotee who was also crucified on Maundy
Thursday at Barangay Sto. Rosario here.
On
Good Friday, Precy Valencia and Michael Katigbak performed the reenactment once
again along with Evangeline Mendoza and Junjun Tanael.
All
four are resident of this town and some claims, are following the footsteps of
Amparo Santos, a faith healer from Guiguinto town who used to do the
reenactment of crucifixion here in the late 80s and early 90s.
In
other parts of the province, hundreds of devotees who are either carried a cross
or flagellate their bloddied backs filled the streets of Bulacan on Good
Friday.
The
flagellants then braved the murky waters of local rivers in the belief that
saline water on the rivers will heal their wounds faster.
Some
like Nestor Celso and his nephew Joel Martin swam on the Hagonoy river after
flagellating themselves.
The
above acts were discouraged by the Church and even by the Department of Health,
but Celso said they have been doing it for about three decades.
As
this developed, the Bulacan Tourism Convention and Visitors Board (BTCVB) in
coordination with the Tourism Committee of the Paombong Municipal Council is
preparing a tourism master plan for Paombong.
The
plan sources said is designed to improve tourism management in here noting that
it is the only place in the province that draws about 100,000 visitors every
year without a promotional plan. Dino
Balabo
