0 Calungsod musical’s debut performance ‘amazes’ cast

MANILA - Despite having just a month for rehearsals, the cast of Teen Saint Pedro, a musical about Bl. Pedro Calungsod’s life and death, admits they are amazed by the ensemble’s debut performance last September 28.

“You know, it’s unbelievable! Imagine, for a very short time of preparation, we made it. God blessed us for Bl. Pedro,” Ludjie Aldecoa, who plays a brothel owner who tempts and teases the young Pedro, said in an interview.

She added, “[We had a hard time getting members of] Singles for Christ [because] they don’t know how to flirt and how it was like to be in a bahay aliwan(prostitution den).”

Jose Mari Camus, who convincingly plays Calungsod’s Jesuit mentor, Fr. Diego Luis de San Vitores, said he initially had doubts about accepting the role of Fr. Diego, but eventually trusted God after taking on the role.

Matapang shouts in fury after killing Pedro Calungsod in the musical 'Teen Saint Pedro', which had its first run last September 28. Photo Courtesy: Nirva'ana Delacruz

Bamboo Mananquil, a Singles for Christ member who has had his share of playing bad guys onstage, said of his experience, “Wow, I’m privileged to be part of the play, also blessed.”

Mananquil does one of the more complicated fight scenes in the play, as one of the henchmen of Matapang.

Emer Guingon who plays the colorful and sinister character of Choco commented about the cast’s work together through social media, “Carrying the cross is teamwork. Whew, ang hirap but kinaya rin sa tulong ng lahat. (It was hard, but we made it through everyone’s help).”

Guingon, a member of 29-AD Musicionaries, added that the play was produced not only for the “love of theater and music”, but also to serve as a gift to everyone blessed by the young martyr.

The musical, which was adapted from Msgr. Rudy Villanueva’s full-length musical, Scenes from a Martyrdom, was produced and performed by 29AD-Musicionaries and other members of Couples for Christ and its ministries.

New songs by Bob Serrano and Nonong Sampang were also included in the musical.After its initial run last September 28 at the St. Albertus Magnus Auditorium of the College of Education in the University of Santo Tomas, Teen Saint Pedro‘s next runs are on October 16 and 17 at the Meralco Theatre, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City.

[Nirva'ana Ella Delacruz with reports from Gailbert Bosea]

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