Lenten dramas

CEBU, Philippines - There will be the usual fare of Lenten television dramas to mark the upcoming Holy Week season, when regular programs take a break along with the rest of the country and viewers are treated by the major networks with faith-themed storylines. But if you’d like to support Cebuano talent and be spiritually enlightened at the same time, you can switch the channel to the Cebu Catholic Television Network (CCTN) - Channel 47 station as they have mounted at least six originally-written Lenten Week Special dramas, to be alternately aired on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday.

One of these dramas is “Lingkoranan na Bisikleta”, which The FREEMAN was able to view in full during its advance screening Tuesday evening (April 12) at the CCTN station. The screening was attended by the production’s complete cast and crew, with Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma as a special guest.

“Its message is very timely. Many people today are crippled, not only in the physical sense, but spiritually, because they have closed their minds from God. It’s about time we open ourselves to God,” said Archbishop Palma when asked how he found “Lingkoran na Bisikleta”, a Gilfrancis Maningo-helmed drama shot for two days by more or less the same talents that gave us last year’s local teleserye “My Last Refrain.”

Here, Maningo gives life to the role of a famous singer at the peak of his career named Valiente de Leon, whose life suddenly changes when a vehicular accident renders his legs crippled. It has since been a year since the tragedy, but his disability still consumes him with anger towards God, because how many times has he heard people telling him that everything that happens is God’s will? If so, it is also God’s will to bring him misery by not allowing him to ever walk again and as a result, take away his successful career, or so that was how Valiente passionately thought.

He totally turns back from his faith, forbidding the mere mention of God in his presence and even disallowing his loving wife (played by Ruchell Borbajo) from going to church. The story then progresses to show how he will ultimately be led back to believe and find the courage to use his gift of voice once again.

Local veteran actor Maningo is supported by a capable cast made up of Venus Marie Labra, Bong Gemino, Lito Ruiz, John Regala, Genivive Regalado and Mario Leoncio. Teleplay is by Debbie Sta. Cruz.

Below is a guide of the other CCTN Lenten Week Special eye-opening dramas you might find worth watching, if only to support our very own.

“Pito Ka Punyal”. Written by Nara Cui, directed by Douglas McArthur Tariman and the cast made up of Roy Christian Tariman, Jonifer Ventura, Danny Caballero, Vicky Solis, Epoy Caballero, Choi Lucero, Jun Zarda and Val Ylanan. It is the universal story of a long-suffering mother, whose husband’s untimely death leaves her with the burden of raising their many children all alone, including the youngest in her brood which happens to be a special child. Like any mother, she is all too willing to sacrifice everything for the good of her children, but the tragic part is, they do not even acknowledge her unconditional love.

“Lilo Sa Kinabuhi”. Written by Nara Cui, directed by Douglas McArthur Tariman and acted out by Kim Cabanero, Lormil de Gracia, Christian Roy Tariman, Greg Lawas, Lorte Cabrera, Epoy Caballero, Annaliza Cadampong, Jun Avaincia, Jessica Soquillo Fuentes and Vicky Solis. In the center of the story is a fishing magnate known to be very cruel to his laborers. But he has much more reason to be particularly pitiless to one of his men, because that man was once his fierce rival for the love of a woman. So when he learns that his son is in love with his rival’s daughter, it drives him mad. On a Holy Thursday, he orders his rival to join the other fishermen whom he asked to go out to sea because to him, Holy Week is just like any ordinary day. But the tides turn when a drinking spree places the fishing magnate’s life in danger.

“My Boy”. Written by Jurex Vidad, directed by Ruchell Borbajo. Cast include Dondon Taneo, Jim Carba, Ginalyn Amiana, Rex Uriel Minoza, Rey Samaco and Debbie Sta. Cruz. A boy begins indulging in vices after his parents separate and his father remarries. Seemingly in a mission to ruin his life, he wastes away and runs away from his father. It was too late when he realizes his mistake and decides to return. His father dies and our boy beats himself for missing the chance to express his love.

“Kon Ikabalik Pa Lang”. Written and directed by Rey Samaco, characters portrayed by Hon. Gabby Leyson, Celso Canama, Rey Samaco, Romy Warain, Marchita Ortiz, Vic Arellano, Narciso Dizon and Hon. Roger Ruiz. It’s an all-too familiar story of a typical Filipino family, where children who were raised and educated well by their parents leave the nest as soon as they can afford it and never look back. One by one, the kids leave to work abroad, leaving the parents alone to fend for themselves. They don’t even visit on special occasions such as on birthdays, Christmas or New Year. When they did decide to come home, it was for their parents’ funeral.

“Milagro sa Mahal nga Birhen”. Written and directed by Rey Samaco, characters fleshed out on screen by Marites dela Cruz, Rey Samaco, Audrey Gonzales, Christian Rey Samaco, Alanis Bancal, Wilson Abella, Edgar Kalinawan, Father Raffy de Gracia and Florencio Pungautan. A mother of a very religious family was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma, with only six months left to live. Instead of losing faith, they choose to believe in the love and mercy of God. One day while praying, they catch a whiff of a sweet fragrance like that of a rose. To them, it is God’s sign of an answered prayer. True enough, she undergoes surgery, and like a miracle, the tests show that her once life-threatening cyst is now benign. (FREEMAN)