A labor of love on Holy Week

Former Manila Councilor Lou Veloso has been staging an annual passion play or cenaculo, Martir sa Golgota, as his personal devotion or panata for 17 years now. When he was still a councilor, it was easier for him to get sponsors for the Lenten show. Last election, he didn’t run anymore as his term has expired. Now, he is taking money from out of his own pocket just to mount the play this Holy Week.

This will be staged for free at Plaza Morga, Tondo today (sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of District 3810 Centennial Team); Pagsanjan, Laguna town plaza tomorrow; Plaza Hugo, Sta. Ana on Wednesday, March 23; at the San Juan Town Plaza on Thursday, March 24 and at Sta. Rosa Commercial Complex Laguna on March 26 as BPI’s Lenten offering.

"It’s not easy to put up a passion play with meager funding as we have to bring our costume, props and lights wherever we perform, but with the help of dedicated actors who also believe in spreading the message of the Gospel through theater, somehow, nakakaraos kami," says Lou.

In putting up the play, they try to make the flavor more contemporary so today’s young people can relate to it well.

"In modernizing the presentation, it’s like playing a game of what if: What if Christ lived today, what kind of person would He be during our time? As theater, we also try to fulfill its main aims: communication, information and education. We inject other themes like poverty and corruption."

This year, Lou is fortunate to have name actors playing key roles in the play: Alma Concepcion as Mary Magdalene, Ricky Davao and Yul Servo alternating as Pilate, Ivy Violan (who’ll be interpreting a lot of songs) as the Virgin Mary, Bodjie Pascua as John the Baptist, GMA 7 newscaster Candace Giron as Veronica, and theater actor and English professor Richard Signey as Jesus Christ.

For Alma Concepcion, doing theater work is a very fulfilling experience. Since she decided to branch out into stage acting, she has done Ibong Adarna, Rashomon, PnoySpik in English, Ten Times Ten and Silang mga Nalugmok sa Dilim.

"The discipline in theater is so different from the rest of showbiz," she says. "I just love working with actors who act just for the love of it. Playing Mary Magdalene in Martir si Golgota is also my way of renewing my relationship with the Lord. Like Mary Magdalene, I’m also a sinner given a second chance in life and this is a good reminder to all Christians during Lent that, if we’re truly sincere in our repentance, the Lord will forgive us as He even gave us His only Son to save us from our sins."

This is Richard Signey’s most challenging role to date.

"It’s actually the second time I’m playing Jesus," he says. "Last year, when it was first offered to me, ayoko sana. I asked myself: Am I deserving to play Christ? Kung iba siguro ang religion ko, it would be much easier to accept it since it’s not about my own faith. But I was born and raised a Catholic, so I had my reservations. But later on, I welcomed the challenge. So far, I’ve appeared in lighter plays like Butterflies Are Free, Florante at Laura and Grethology. This time, mas mabigat as I do all the highlights in the life of our Lord, from the baptism by John the Baptist, to Satan tempting Christ, to the agony in the garden, the betrayal of Judas and the arrest, the trial with Pilate and the entire Way of the Cross. It’s difficult but very fulfilling. I used to fast during Holy Week. Ito na ang panata ko ngayon."

Richard was a successful financial consultant in New York when he decided to return home to Manila nearly two years ago to teach languages in a school in Makati. Soon after that, theater beckoned and he decided to venture into stage acting, with Bibsy Carballo as his manager.

"That was not in my plans when I came home, but I have since discovered that the world of theater is very exciting," he says. "Naaliw ako nang husto sa bagong mundo ko. Masaya kasi. I enjoyed it even when I played the part of the chorus in the Ifugao musical Hudhud, Ares, the god of war in Grethology, the villain Konde Adolfo in Florante at Laura and multiple roles in Ten Times Ten. Before, I was even afraid I can’t memorize all my lines, so I was so happy when I discovered I can do it. I just keep on reading the script until I’ve memorized my lines. Sometimes, I record all my lines and listen to them sa Walkman even when I’m riding the MRT. It’s easier to commit them to memory when you listen to them being spoken. But playing Christ is really a big challenge. To begin with, the lines used here are taken from the Tagalog Bible, so you have to deliver them verbatim, no adlibs."

The first time he played it, he was so nervous he got sick three days before the first performance. "I had fever, so I really prayed hard. Sabi ko, ‘Lord, nakakahiya if I couldn’t perform.’ I was thinking He didn’t like me to play Him. But on the day of the performance, I got better, so I knew the Lord approved my performance. As I was doing the play, I became more relaxed. In the scene where they were whipping me, tinamaan talaga ako sa likod, so I really screamed as it was painful. I realized Jesus was also a man then, so people should recognize that just like us, He was also afraid. While praying in the garden at Gethsemane, Jesus is usually portrayed as someone very serene in accepting His fate. In my case, I let go of my feelings. He knew He’d die, so I cried and showed that I’m also scared of what would happen to me. I think audiences can relate to this more."

To make this Holy Week more meaningful, go watch Martir sa Golgota. Those who want to watch or sponsor some of the performances may call Lou Veloso at 589-6190 or Bibsy Carballo at 721-0801.