Gilbert Bargayo had himself nailed on the cross on Good Friday for the fifth time in Tuburan town and in front of local and foreign tourists. (CDN PHOTO/NORMAN MENDOZA)
Tuburan town – Gilbert Bargayo had himself nailed on the cross on Good Friday for the fifth time in Tuburan town and in front of local and foreign tourists.
Bargayo’s act impressed foreign tourists, who offered to pay P500 each for the nails used on his hands and feet, for souvenir.
“It was amazing and was indeed reflecting because it demonstrates to us the how Christ suffered on the cross,” said American national David Charman.
Charman, 65, watched Bargayo’s nailing on the cross for the first time.
The New York City native is married to a Tuburan town native and is now based is Seoul, South Korea, where he works as a project contractor.
Charman said he made his visit despite the recent travel issued by the US Embassy against travels to Cebu and Bohol provinces to especially watch Bargayo’s re-enactment of Christ’s death on the cross.
Having a Cebuano wife is already enough assurance that he was in a safe place.
After they spent Holy Week in Tuburan town, Charman he intends to also visit tourism areas in the province.
Police Superintendent Marlu Conag, Chief of the Tuburan Police Station, said they received communication from the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO7) on the sighting of armed men in parts of the province.
With this, they are exerting extra effort to secure residents and guests visiting Tuburan town during the Holy Week.
“Wala ta mokompyansa. In fact naa tay walo ka augmentation personnel gikan sa region (We will never be complacent. In fact, we have eight augmentation (policemen) from the regional office),” said Conag.
Gilbert Bargayo had himself nailed on the cross on Good Friday for the fifth time in Tuburan town and in front of local and foreign tourists. (CDN PHOTO/NORMAN MENDOZA)
Conag said they also tap the assistance of civilian volunteers as force multipliers to especially watch their coastal areas at nighttime.
Huge Crowd
Police said around 5, 000 people including foreign tourists trooped to Tuburan town plaza on Good Firday to watched Bargayo’s nailing on a cross.
The re-enactment of Christ sufferings and death on the cross, followed the town organized Siete Palabras where Tuburan mayor Diamante was one of the speakers.
Other speakers included Vice Mayor Danny Diamante, some barangay officials and a retired principal.
Mayor Diamante said he chose to invite Bargayo to allow people to reflect on Jesus’s life and sacrifices. At the same time, this draws local and foreign tourists to their area.
“Nahimo naman nato ning panaad since 2013 mao nga ipadayon gyud ni nato. Ug wake up call sab ni sa Christians nga unta mahinumduman nila ang kasakit nga giantos ni Kristo (This has become my personal vow since 2013. This is also a wake up call for Christians to remember the sufferings that Christ had to endure (for us),” said Diamante.
Spectators started to crowd the town plaza around 10 a.m.
They waited for the Siete Palabras to start at 12 noon. Bargayo’s nailing followed at 3 p.m.
Performers dressed as Roman soldiers used four stainless nails soaked in alcohol on Bargayo.
One soldier later made a small cut on his lower left chest with the use of a knife to make him bleed.
When the re-enactment was complete, other performers help bring Bargayo down from his cross and took out the nails from his hands and feet. He was later brought to the shorelines to bathe in seawaters to help his wounds heal easily.
Spectator Mark Butaslac, 9, said he felt pity for Christ while he watched Bargayo “die” on the cross. The boy from Barangay 1 in Tuburan town promised to be a good boy always.
Bargayo, 57, said he will continue to have himself nailed on the cross to raise funds for a chapel that he wanted built in his hometown in Carcar City, south Cebu.