Buhing Kalbaryo all set for Good Friday

Even without a subsidy from City Hall, the 17th staging of the passion play “Buhing Kalbaryo” (Life in Calvary) will push through on Good Friday next week.
Private donors have taken care of expenses, said project director George Chu, including P80,000 for meals of performers during rehearsals or at least P3,000 per day.
Actors performed an excerpt of the play in yesterday’s press conference with Mayor Michael Rama to give a  sneak peak of this year’s event.
Chu said they were looking forward to City Hall financial assistance as they do every year to help pay for f costumes, T-shirts, props and tarpaulins among others. But since none is forthcoming, they will have to again tap the private sector.
Mayor Rama, one of the founders of the annual Holy Week street drama, said he is looking ahead and preparing for next year’s Buhing Kalbaryo with plans of organizing a foundation to oversee the event so it doesn’t have to rely on government aid.
The passion play on V. Rama Avenue started in 1996, when Rama was still a city councilor and has become one of the city’s most prominent Holy Week events.
The City Council did not approve the P475,000 outlay for the event proposed by Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias to be charged against the city’s share of funds from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).
Councilor Margot Osmeña, chairperson of the Budget Committee said cannot be funded by the city’s Pagcor share as religious activities are not included in the list of project elegible for Pagcor funding.
“It’s not Buhing Kalbaryo that we do not allow. It’s just that it’s not in the guidelines,” said Councilor Margot Osmeña after the session last Wednesday.
In her committee report last March 13, she said the city’s P4-million monthly share of Pagcor funds can only be used for health care, self-sustainable livelihood projects, scholarships and infrastructure projects essential to the community.
The guideline was prepared by Pagcor Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Christino Naguiat Jr. last September 2012.
Gisela Palacios of the Buhing Pasko Association Inc. said that if they City Council really wanted to support the passion play, it would have done so because Buhing Kalbaryo is a youth development activity.
“This is a youth service program focusing on their talents and values,” she said.
The cast has been rehearsing every night ifor the last two months, said Palacios.
Show must go on
Archie Modequillo, play director, said he made sure to bring in new performers for major roles to introduce fresh talents.
“The acting of new actors are now finer. For the old performers, there is little room for creativity because the play has already become a habit,” he said.
As of yesterday over 100 performers of Buhing Kalbary are ready to carry on the 17th edition of Buhing Kalbaryo which portrays the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Most of the performers are out-of school youths.