MORIONES 2009 IMAGES: ANG KRISTO: PASYONDULA

Governor Bong Carrion and P.A. Allan Velasco, based on general feedback, initiated the introduction of something new to the evening cenaculo presentations in Boac, stressing that culture should be dynamic and not static. The said cenaculos, a provincial government project introduced in the late 70s, are divided into three parts and shown on Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Black Saturday. All music and dialogues were pre-recorded in 1979 "in highly dramatic fashion", by Manila-based radio talents (most of whom are now presumably dead) and used to this day.

To quote Will Peterson from his published work on the said Boac cenaculo, it's “as if every word is meant to be etched on stone tablets for eternity”. These cenaculos have since been mimed by players composed of capitol employees, students, morions and other participants and have kept the same directorial patterns set down in the 70's.

“ANG KRISTO: PASYONDULA”, (written and directed by this blogger), that had its successful premiere in Buenavista in 2006, (with actor J.E. Sison as Kristo), and in Gasan in 2008 (with award-winning actor John Arcilla as Kristo), was given the Thursday slot in the Boac schedule of activities. (The Holy Wednesday and Black Saturday cenaculos were still presented in-toto by the capitol group). For Pasyondula, done in live theater style, a technical group was hired to handle the sound and lighting requirements of the production that had a cast and crew of about 150 and utilized a vast acting space.

Teatro Balangaw cast were pooled from members from Buenavista, Gasan, Boac and Mogpog (majority are out-of-school youth), with a few selected actors from the capitol. Kristo was played by Janmart Lacdao of Buenavista.

The 2 ½ hour play (beginning with the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist and ending in Resurrection), was mounted in a period of three weeks. For two straight hours it rained heavily then stopped at 9:oo pm at which time the play started.

Pasyondula played to a capacity crowd at Boac’s Moriones Arena (above photo), the biggest audience in the community theater group’s history. (Pasyondula is a major part of Living Asia Channel special feature on the Moriones Festival '09).

Photos by Gerry Jamilla.