No more actual nailing in "Buhing Kalbaryo"

CEBU, Philippines – No actor will be nailed to the cross in this year’s mounting of the “Buhing Kalbaryo.”

This was confirmed by Al Evangelio, the director of the play, in a press conference yesterday.

Though it was already a practice in previous performances, no Jesus will be nailed during the reenactment of the Passion of the Christ this year to avoid a repeat of last year’s incident in which the in-charge for the anesthesia, supposedly to be administered to the actor, forgot to bring the drug.

However, organizers assured that despite the absence of the actual nailing of the actor to the cross, the drama and the essence of the commemoration will not be affected.

Evangelio said that the performance of the trained casts made up mostly of youths should be anticipated by the audience.

According to him, they have prepared well for the performance despite the lack of budget.

An excerpt of the performance was presented to the media yesterday which Evangelio defined as something new because of the “stylized acting” that has been introduced to the cast. Also, new costumes are expected to be produced this year.

Evangelio said he has 137 cast members and all are raw talents except for the one playing Jesus for this year, Eumier Ian Dean Erasan.

Erasan, a first-year law student of the University of San Carlos, already played Jesus Christ in 2006.

Erasan shared that even if he has classes, he still looked forward to the rehearsals which have not just helped him personally but also the other members.

Other actors, who will be playing as disciples of Jesus, shared that being part of “Buhing Kalbaryo” has helped them become better persons.

Evangelio said that the process which took place during their rehearsals has not only made the cast better performers but also helped them emerge into “upright individuals”.

“Ang uban nila naay mga vices before, ang uban dili ganahan mo-eskwela; pero karon wala nay bisyo ug human na’g eskwela,” he pointed out.

Acting Mayor Michael Rama and Evangelio, together with other organizers at the city government, barangays and parishes from Guadalupe, Calamba, San Nicolas Proper and Pahina Central are inviting the public to watch the performance and other activities slated for the observation of the Holy Week.

“Buhing Kalbaryo” will be staged on April 10, or on Good Friday, 10:30 am at the San Nicolas Parish Grounds.

A Station of the Cross reenactment will follow proceeding to the Guadalupe Parish.

Meanwhile, Evangelio said he agreed on observations that theatre here is a dying form of art. He shared that if not for schools that continue to mount stage plays, people would not see the beauty of stage acting anymore.

He said that this is because the government, most especially the local government units do not support this particular form of the arts in any way.

He also said that he does not understand this since there is in fact Pagcor which is in-charge for entertainment.

Rama, however, assured Evangelio that help and attention will be given for the survival of theatre arts here.

“Having been part of the stage myself, matabangan gyod ni in a matter of time,” Rama said. – AJ de la Torre/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)