Spectators watch the reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ at the Espina compound in V. Rama Street, Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City..(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
A change in venue and limited preparations resulted to a smaller crowd who watched the annual Buhing Kalbaryo in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City last Good Friday.
Director Elmer Labella said they only have over 2,000 people who watched the stage play, a reenactment of the passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, at a private lot in Barangay Guadalupe.
Labella said their previous performances at the Guadalupe church grounds would draw in 5,000 to 6,000 viewers.
Still, there were the faithful like 58-year-old street cleaner Vivian Borandante who had been attending Buhing Kalbaryo performances for a decade now.
Borandante would walk from her house in Barangay Calamba to San Nicolas Parish then to Barangay Guadalupe to watch the stage play.
“Ganahan man mi motan-aw kay mag-sacrifice man mi (We want to watch it because it is part of our sacrifice),” said Borandante who was with her three other friends watching the first part of Buhing Kalbaryo in San Nicolas Parish.
The play is divided into three stages with the first part depicting the days prior to the crucifixion.
The second is a reenactment of Jesus Christ carrying the cross, a five-kilometer route marked by stations of the Cross that ended at a private lot where a simulated crucifixion took place at 3 p.m.