MANILA, Philippines - Gerald Santos takes on what is probably the most meaningful project of his career when he portrays San Pedro Calungsod in a musical based on the life of the Philippines’ second saint, who was officially canonized in ceremonies held at the Vatican recently.
Titled San Pedro Calungsod: The Musical, the show is directed by Jose Christe Nombres, with original music by Eugene Belbis and is written by Luigi Nacario together with the theater group MAT PIL. There will be two shows (Nov. 17 and 28) at 7 p.m., with 4 p.m. matinees, at the PETA Theater, New Manila, Quezon City; and on Dec. 5, 6 and 7 at the Good Samaritan College in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.
The musical will trace the life of Calungsod who was only in his teens when he accompanied Spanish Jesuit missionaries from the Philippines, headed by Fr. Diego Luís de San Vitores, S.J., to the Ladrones Islands in the western North Pacific Ocean in 1668 to evangelize the Chamorros. Calungsod worked with Fr. Diego there from June 15, 1668 until April 2, 1672 when they were both killed by two natives on account of their Christian Faith.
(Tickets for the musical are available at Ticketworld. For additional inquiries, bookings and sponsorships, please call Ms. Gigi Pirote, President of MAT PIL at 0906-297-7505 or Lalaine at 0918-478-5842. You can also e-mail jn_lights@yahoo.com.)