'Buhing Kalbaryo' staging will be graphic - director

Director Al Evangelio described the scenes of this year's staging of "Buhing Kalbaryo" to be as graphic as those in the movie "The Passion of the Christ".

Buhing Kalbaryo is also expected to draw more crowd with the participation of popular Jesus Christ impersonator Gilbert Bargayo who will be nailed anew at the climax of the presentation.

Thus, personnel of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation will be stationed, as many spectators are expected to faint especially when blood starts to drip, Evangelio said.

Evangelio added that a real whip will be used on Bargayo who will assume Jesus' character from the first station of the cross until the nailing. Eumier Erasan will portray Jesus Christ at the Cebu City Sports Center where the scene of the Last Supper until Judas' betrayal will be dramatized.

Bargayo's nailing for the past years in his hometown Carcar were flocked by tourists, but said he chose to join the "Buhing Kalbaryo" cast this year upon Evangelio's request. Evangelio jokingly told reporters he intentionally got Bargayo to divert people's attention from Carcar to Cebu City.

Evangelio revealed he fused different scripts to come up with this year's presentation, among which are scripts from Cainta in Rizal, Bulacan and Germany.

"Buhing Kalbaryo" would start shortly before noontime at the city sports center while the Stations of the Cross will start 12:45 pm to traverse on P. del Rosario streets, Pahina Central, V. Rama avenue and up to Guadalupe where the climax would take place.

Each presentation in each station of the cross would come along with reflections to be read by young individuals and not by radio drama talents. Evangelio said he would want the narration to come "straight from the heart" of the narrators.

A three-layer stage would be put up in barangay Guadalupe where the final presentation will take place and where Bargayo would be crucified. Seventeen wireless microphones will be used by the cast.

Evangelio who apparently will direct next year's 10 years of "Buhing Kalbaryo" declared a musical is on the works, which will include Cebuano celebrities like Sheryn Regis, Raki Vega, and Dulce. Regis had portrayed the character of Claudia twice before. - Joeberth M. Ocao