This is a scene during the Station of the Cross of the 2023 Buhing Kalbaryo on Friday, April 7, 2023.| Wenilyn Sabalo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Thousands of devotees braved the scorching weather and the sudden downpour on Friday, April 7, 2023, as they witnessed the two acts of the Cebu City’s iconic Lenten street play “Buhing Kalbaryo,” including its Station of the Cross.
One of the almost 2,000 devotees, who joined the Stations of the Cross, a 14-step Catholic devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ’s last day on Earth as a man, was Thelma Cabingatan, 32, resident of Barangay Sapangdaku, Cebu City, who had been a devotee and cast of the play as one of the “villagers” since 2003.
“Nagstart ko 2003, unya putol-putol hangtod karon. Ako ning offer [to the Lord], sakripisyo,” she told CDN Digital.
(I started in 2003, and it was not a continuous (on and off participation) until now. I am offering [to the Lord] this sacrifice.)
READ: IN PHOTOS: The 26th ‘Buhing Kalbaryo’ street play of Cebu City
The crowd at the Espina Compound during the final act of the Buhing Kalbaryo 2023, an iconic Cebuano Lenten street play, held on Friday, April 7, 2023.| Wenilyn Sabalo
1,000 devotees
According to the Sawang-Calero police, more than 1,000 devotees have joined the Stations of the Cross alone, covering a 2.6 kilometer distance, traversing V. Rama Avenue.
The street play of the Passion of Christ in Cebu City draws thousands of locals and tourists, who watched the play in Cebu City’s streets. | Wenilyn Sabalo
The opening act of the “Buhing Kalbaryo” was staged in a scorching weather at the grounds of the San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish; however, shortly after the start of the Stations of the Cross, devotees were greeted by a sudden downpour.
The sun shone again by the time the procession arrived in Barangay Guadalupe until the Buhing Kalbaryo culminated at the Espina Compound in the same barangay.
The cast of the “Buhing Kalbaryo” and police, and others involved in making the street play this year possible take time out to have a group photo after the lenten presentation.| Wenilyn Sabalo
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who started the street play with some creatives in 1997, thanked all those who made the Buhing Kalbaryo this year a success, including the production team, the cast, the police, and the medical team, among others.
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