(CNN) A man playing the role of Jesus Christ during Holy Week in the Philippines was crucified for the 33rd time on Good Friday.
It's part of a controversial Easter tradition in the country where people will undergo real-life crucifixions as an expression of their faith.
Since the 1980s, Ruben Enaje, 58, has portrayed Jesus Christ's crucifixion and death on Good Friday in front of crowds of locals and tourists in a village north of Manila.
During these realistic crucifixions actors drive four-inch nails into both his hands and feet and lift him on a wooden cross for around five minutes. Enaje, who is Catholic, said he continues the tradition to remind the world about the plight of Jesus Christ, but he added he has decided to stop participating in the crucifixions after next year.
Ruben Enaje grimaces in pain during his cruxifixion in San Pedro Cutud, Philippines.
"I want to only do this until next year," Enaje told Reuters. "What I'm looking for in my successor is that he serves as a good role model in his community and a person with good manners and values, not someone who would boast about the role or be too proud."
There is great significance attached to the fact that this the 33rd time Enaje has done this. According to the Bible, Jesus was 33 years old at the time of his crucifixion.
Catholic officials discourage the crucifixions
The tradition has its origins in a play about Jesus written by a local playwright in the 1950s, which led to the first crucifixion in 1962. It has since grown into one of the most visually striking religious festivals in that part of the world and it attracts thousands of onlookers and tourists to watch the gory displays in the fervently Catholic nation. The crucifixions take place predominantly in the province of Pampanga.
Catholic leaders in the Philippines, however, condemn the practice, and the crucifixions are also discouraged by public health officials.
First-aid personnel are on hand at the events, to help those who collapse from heat and dehydration, or who need their wounds treated.
As Christians around the world celebrate Easter, religious fanatics in the Philippines commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ with extreme acts of penitence. They flog themselves with wooden whips and some are nailed to the cross to atone for their sins. Catholic leaders in the Philippines condemn the practice.
Authorities in the Philippines have said they expect at least 24 penitents to be nailed on the cross on Good Friday.
Maleldo, the Holy Week re-enactment of Christ's Passion and Death, has been performed every year for the past 51 years, city councilor Jimmy Lazatin said.
A portrait of Jesus covers a penitent's face as he carries a cross during a Holy Week ceremony in the northern province of Pampanga in the Philippines.
Penitents commemorate Jesus Christ's crucifixion and resurrection with self-flagellation, whipping their backs with wooden flails.
Renate, pictured, has participated in the Good Friday celebrations for the past 23 years. When asked why he goes through the pain, he says: "Too many sins, too many sins."
Bishops in the Philippines - which is home to 75 million Catholics - have discouraged people from engaging in extreme acts of faith, like self-flagellation.
Devotees believe that by showing penance for their sins, God will provide them with blessings, such as good health.
First-aiders are at the site, helping those who collapse from heath, dehydration and need their wounds treated.
Public health officials in the Philippines have warned those partaking in the ceremonies against the risk of developing infections.
A girl watches penitents carrying wooden crosses taking a rest along a road during a ceremony in Angeles City, Pampanga.
Up to 5,000 men have chosen to participate in the Good Friday celebration as penitents. Jimmy Lazatin, city councilor who co-organizes the event, says the men have different reasons for their actions. For some, it's their faith. For others, it's "macho" entertainment.
Ruben Enaje, 53, a carpenter and sign painter from San Fernando Pampanga, has played the role of Jesus for the past 27 years.
A penitent is nailed to a cross during the reenactment of crucifixion on Good Friday in the village of San Juan, San Fernando City, north of Manila.
For the 75 million Catholics in the Philippines, Easter is the spiritual highlight of the year. Thousands wait patiently for long hours in 40 degrees heat, just to catch a glimpse of this brutal tradition. Lazatin says the city expects around 40,000 visitors.
Many of the penitents believe their sacrifice can help their families. Lazatin says many choose to participate for the first time when their loved ones suffer from illness.
Devotees say their wounds can take up to two weeks to heal but are a small price to pay to be able to express their faith through the extreme acts.
In addition to the Good Friday crucifixions, other believers drag heavy crosses or crawl on bloodied hands and knees in cities and towns across the country. Others, dressed as Roman centurions, aid the voluntary crucifixions.
Two men and a woman were later crucified to wooden crosses after Enaje's act. A total of nine people at three separate sites took part in crucifixions.
CNN's Alice Barnard and Euan McKirdy contributed to this report.