Talamban and San Nicolas to stage Holy Week plays

CEBU, Philippines - For the first time, Talamban Parish in Cebu City will present the “Sugat” and “Pasos” during the Holy Week as a way of conveying the message of Lent.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Government and the Buhing Pasko Association Inc. will present “Buhing Kalbaryo” this Good Friday at the San Nicolas Parish Church.

“Pasos” is the procession of images of people who witnessed the execution of Jesus – the statues of Sta. Maria Cleofe, Sta. Maria Jacobi, Sta. Maria Salome, San Pedro, San Longino, Sta. Maria Magdalena, San Juan Apostle, San Entiero and the Mater Dolores.

According to Father Dennis Ruizo of the Talamban Parish, it’s the first time for Talamban to have this activity.

The Talamban Parish will dramatize their “Sugat” using the nine statues mentioned, along with 50 children who will act as singing angels. This will be held after a mass, at 12:00 midnight. 

Fr. Ruizo said their theme for the Holy Week celebration is “To bring God closer to people and to bring people closer to God.”

“It will give an idea na bisan wala kay access sa Bible ug wa ka magsimba-simba at least during good Friday you have something visible na mulabay sa imong atubangan sa unsa jud nahitabo sa Ginoo,” he said.

The activities for the Holy Week will start on Palm Sunday. After the mass at 7:00 a.m., a Lenten Exhibit will be opened to the devotees at Saint Rita Hall in Tabor Hill. The exhibit would include the ‘Pasos’ collections of Dr. Louie Nacorda.

On Wednesday, there will be a procession of the image of the Jesus of Nazarene from Tabor Hill down to Saint Thomas Community at 7:00 am.

On Good Friday, the ‘Pasos’ will start after the liturgical action and veneration of the cross. In San Nicolas, the “Buhing Kalbaryo” of Jesus Christ will be presented on Good Friday at 10:30 a.m., an annual event that was started in 1998.   The Buhing Kalbaryo would portray the life and crucifixion of Christ and to be performed mostly by out-of-school youth.

Achilles Modequillo, director of the play, said this is his first time to direct a Lenten presentation where he faced the challenge of molding the performers.

This Monday at the Fuente Osmeña, a “Pasyon sa Krus” will be held at the Fuente Osmeña from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. by a militant group.

In a press statement, Panaghugpong Kadamay Cebu Secretary General Socrates Rota Pepino said they would want to “nail” what they called as the social sin, which they think is the cause of poverty and oppression of Filipinos. (FREEMAN)