Under an overcast sky with some drizzles of rain, people followed a suffering “Jesus” dragging a wooden cross down V. Rama Avenue in Cebu City on Good Friday.
Young actors, mostly out-of-school youths, wore helmets and robes as Roman soldiers who would whip and taunt the victim.
From San Nicolas Parish to the Guadalupe Church, where a mock crucifixion was mounted, the Buhing Kalbaryo (Life on Calvary) unfolded its 17th annual passion play.
“I’ve been watching this play for three years since I live in Guadalupe. There are some new twists every year,” said American national Andrew Whitelaw who watched the play with his wife.
This year, as “Jesus” hung on the cross at exactly 3 p.m., a woman broke out in the mournful words of “Ning Takna sa Pagpalandong”, a traditional passion song popular in the 1960s.
Evelyn Contratista, 37, was teary-eyed as she stared at the scene.
“Natandog ko sa kanta. Sa akong paminaw murag tinuod gyud ang akong gi tan-aw (I was touched by the song. It was as if I was looking at the real thing),” she said.
The street and stage play on the suffering and death of Jesus Christ was mounted by the Buhing Pasko Association Inc. and the Cebu City government which provided a P500,000 budget.
The five-hour play started at the Archdiocesan Shrine of San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish. Neizzy Diaz sang the theme song introducing Christ and his apostles at 10:30 a.m.
In a cast of 120, the role of Jesus Christ who walked down the road went to 24-year-old Raffy Anor, who marked his third straight year of playing the lead. (Another actor played Jesus in the San Nicolas stage)
Along the 5-kilometer route, he would stop at each of 15 Stations of The Cross, where people would briefly pray and meditate.
“Pasayloa sila kay wa sila nakahibalo sa ilang gibuhat” (Forgive them for they know not what they do), said Anor while hoisted on the main cross.
Among those who followed in the crowd were Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Vice Mayor Edgar Labella.
First-time spectator Rachel Core, 38, waited for the passion play in the Guadalupe Church grounds.
“I love to watch the Buhing Kalbaryo. It`s a great tradition here in the Philippines. It`s my first here and I have lists of how to celebrate Holy Week in Cebu. I got the information online. This is something new to me because we don’t have this in our country,” said Core, an American living in Singapore.
The crowd watched Jesus and two “thieves” hoisted up on crosses with ropes and impaled with make-believe nails.
“Mary” mourned the death of her son, singing the play’s theme song while Roman soldiers carried the body away for burial.
Amid some technical glitches, Vice Mayor Labella said the play was a success.
“You can see it in the crowd. Spiritual intervention came along. The weather cooperated as well.
The rain showers were blessings from heaven,” he said.
Joey Gallardo, a director, said “I told the cast – rain or shine, the show must push through”.
“Last year, there were no songs but we have it this year. We made the play more Biblical and we added some twists including the villain role of Samuel Bilibid.”
Bilibid , which means “jail” in Cebuano, was played by 33-year-old Mark Rosales. Rosales has been part of the Buhing Kalbaryo cast since he was 16 years old and was asigned the role of a Roman soldier. This year, he’s Samuel, the soldier who mocks Jesus Christ.
Cebuano composer Agelio Castañeda-Ceniza wrote the theme song.
The head of production creatives, Jojo Labella, the vice mayor’s brother, said next year will see more improvements.
Mayor Rama asked him to look into using lapel microphones.
“We want everything done live,” he said./with CNU Interns ROSEMARIE R. CANANEA and ANIE M. PAUJANA
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