Donations saved this year’s edition of the “Buhing Kalbaryo (Life of Calvary)” street drama play held at the San Nicolas Church grounds on Good Friday.
“I’ve always said this is an offering to God and I know that we’ll be faced with shortcomings along the way,” Mayor Michael Rama said.
Funding was cut for the play’s budget after the City Council refused to charge it to Pagcor funds.
The stage inside the Guadalupe church grounds where the reenactment of Christ’s death was shown was built by Dakay Construction while the sound system was lent by Sarua Records.
Other sponsors included PLDT, Filinvest Land Inc. WTG Construction and Metro Gaisano.
About 2,000 people watched the play at the San Nicolas Church grounds which began with a reenactment of Jesus Christ’s arrest.
Raffy Anor, who played the role of Jesus and some Roman soldiers, left San Nicolas Church at 12:50 p.m. and walked the three-kilometer distance to the Guadalupe church grounds for the reenactment of Christ’ death on the cross.
Stations of the Cross were placed along the route of the foot procession at V. Rama Avenue.
Mayor Rama and his children Mikel and Michelen joined the foot procession with 100 other people.
Senior Supt. Mariano Natuel Jr., Cebu City police chief, said about 5,000 to 6,000 people watched the Buhing Kalbaryo play at the Guadalupe church grounds. About 60 Cebu city policemen guided traffic and secured the two play venues.
Buhing Kalbaryo organizer George Chu said the script was translated based on the Cebuano translation of the Bible.
Chu said Mayor Rama supports their group’s plan to produce more plays that focus on heroes and Cebu’s history.
He said their group also hopes the council will reconsider and charge their budget to the city’s share of the Pagcor funds.
Chu said they still have 60 percent payables which was why they still sent letters to their sponsors last Friday. “We owed 120 tarpaulins,” Chu said. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac and Correspondent Christine Emily L. Pantaleon