ARCHBISHOP Emeritus Paciano Aniceto (seated, second from left) and Teatru Kapampangan mount the musical “I Love Pope Francis!” ahead of the papal visit to the Philippines in January 2015 to help the Filipino youth get to know the Pontiff. TONETTE T. OREJAS/INQUIRER Central Luzon
ANGELES CITY—A musical in two acts and with 24 original songs focusing on the life and struggles of Pope Francis has been mounted here to introduce the leader of the Catholic Church to the Filipino youth ahead of his first visit to the Philippines in January.
The play “I Love Pope Francis!” is what Archbishop Emeritus Paciano Aniceto described as a “quintessence of faith.”
He said almost 100 laity, six priests and Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David worked together to produce a play inspired by Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s papacy, said Aniceto, the retired head of the Archdiocese of San Fernando.
“We are transmitting value to the next generation. We want the youth to witness a world figure that is credible,” he said during a visit to the rehearsals on Tuesday at Holy Angel University (HAU) here.
Aniceto, 77, guided writer-lyricist Randy del Rosario as well as director-composer Andy Alviz during the production that began in January.
Aniceto said Pope Francis inspired ordinary people due to his humility, evident in his motto, “I’m a sinner. I have been chosen out of God’s mercy.”
Robert Tantingco, HAU vice president for external affairs, said the university grabbed the chance to coproduce the project, together with San Miguel Corp., to be consistent with the pioneering roles of Kapampangan.
Tantingco said he considered the musical a “bold masterpiece,” not only for the choice of subject but also because it is done entirely in the English language. The Kapampangan grapples with the English letter “H,” which is absent in the native language.
Fr. Deogracias Kerr Galang, president of the theater group Teatru Kapampangan, said the play was in response to a call of Pope Francis for “happy evangelization.” “We’re doing that through the joys of talents,” Galang said.
The play dates are Nov. 29, Dec. 12 and Jan. 10, said Teresita Laus, the musical’s executive producer.
Galang said it would be a “wonderful grace” if the Pope would watch the performance. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon