Makisig Morales, 15, better known for his starring role in the Emmy- nominated fantaserye Super Inggo played the teen Visayan martyr Pedro Calungsod.
Thousands of Cebuanos caught a glimpse of the life, travels and martyrdom of the young saint in a musical staged at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino Grand Ballroom on Wednesday night.
“Teen Saint Pedro” showed the young martyr from who travelled with Jesuit priest Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores and other missionaries to the Marianas islands (now Guam) in 1668 where they died while propagating the Catholic faith.
The show was an adaptation of Msgr. Rudy Villanueva’s full-length musical, Scenes from a Martyrdom, which was produced and performed by 29AD Musicionaries and members of Couples for Christ and its ministries.
Storyline
The play, opens with Blessed Diego de San Vitores and his co-missionaries including the young Pedro, played by Morales, arriving in the Marianas islands.
The play ends with the whole ensemble singing “Way Sukod” (Without Measure), with a solo by Gretchen Yaoyao.
The song about undying long was composed by Fr. Villanueva in 1983 and has come to be closely identified with Calungsod to underscore his unfathomable love and faith in God even in his dying moments.
The Cebuano audience was generous in showing its appreciation with loud applause after every scene.
The musical merited a standing ovation after the last act with Makisig in centerstage portraying San Pedro Calungsod holding the Bible and a palm branch.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, who was at the front row, went on stage to rejoice with the cast and placed a garland around Makisig’s neck, congratulating him.
Micca Eleccion, 30, who watched the show with her 1-year-old baby said she was impressed by the play.
“I really saw the real saint Pedro Calungsod in him,” she said when asked why she wants to see Makisig up close.
Makisig is a graduating student in St. Augustine International School in Quezon City.
He said he wants to pursue Film Directing and Theater Arts in college.
The musical premiered in the University of Santo Tomas auditorium last Sept. 28.