BUENAVISTA, MARINDUQUE

The municipality of Buenavista, the smallest of Marinduque's (still a fourth class province huh), six towns, is located on the southwestern portion of the island-province facing the Tablas Strait. It is populated by 19,607 inhabitants who speak Tagalog with a blend of Masbate and Romblon dialectic influences. Main industries are fishing, farming and trade. It is back-dropped by Malindig Volcano that rises up to 1,157 meters and where the last bastion of biodiversity on this island still thrives on the final 200 meter ascent. Advanced mountain climbers still rise up to the challenge of scaling this majestic mountain (Malindig means steep and elegant). Local folklore foretells of this volcano as the place of 'golden underground cities'. Sightings of golden ships anchored at its foot where the mountain meets the sea still abound in this day and age - the most recent sighting was on Holy Wednesday 2006, when the ship magically attracted thousands of fish sold the next day at P 5.00 per kilo! The fisherfolks wouldn't stop telling you the story...

Malbog Sulfuric Springs some 2 km. away from the town proper await health buffs who find the therapeutic and relaxing effect of hot springs a must when visiting old Buenavista. Other places of interest are the Lourdes Grotto in Sapinit that offers a remarkably good view of the volcano and the Malindig foothills, the beaten coastal path to Libas, Lipata and Yook characteriuzed by a mix of steep cliffs, rocky beaches, smaller coves and quietude interrupted only by the sound of queer birds, wild cats (musang), and monkeys. Elefante Island that once boasted of an exclusive beach club, now gone, but slowly being resurrected, could be visited and its small strip of coral beach could still be enjoyed. The view of the volcano from this island has graced many travel magazines. Bagtingon's cottage industries, backyard butterfly cages in many houses and Bulusucan Falls interest summer visitors and who care for some privacy.

titles 

collage 

Couldn't help it! 

Judas Iscariote, played by Jeff Magsino, a vacationeer from Batangas

Christ is Ressurected. 

Mary and Christ's dead body. 

The miracle of Longinus after piercing Jesus' side with a spear. 

The mockery did not cease even as He was nailed to the Cross. 

Mother Mary with John meets the Christ. 

Veronica wipes the Holy Face. 

Jesus is helped by Simon of Cyrene 

Simon (played by JR Rianzares) with a friend (Divine Grace Peralta) 

Jesus bearing the Cross falls down on his knees.. 

PIlate washes his hands... 

"Ecce Homo!" 

Christ is mocked by the Roman centurions. 

Longinus and his lance. (Claudia's Dream) 

Jesus is dragged by the Roman soldiers (in Claudia's Dream) 

Another scene from Claudia's dream. 

Scene from 'Claudia's Dream' rendered in dance movements. 

Herod mocks the Christ. 

Herodes (played by Rudi Mariposky) is surprised with the arrival of Jesus. 

Judas before hanging himself... a devil throws the rope...

Christ before Pilate. 

Christ before Caiphas. 

An apostle cuts an ear of an enemy, Jesus heals him... 

Jesus to Judas: "... with a kiss you betray me?"  

The agony in the garden. 

"Ang Kristo" apostles. 

Jesus breaks the Bread. 

The disgruntled Judas leaves the guestchamber. 

Jesus and Judas. 

Jesus washing an apostle's feet. 

Magdalene and Jesus, she anointing his hair and body... 

The Angry Christ at the Temple. 

Entry to Jerusalem. 

Jesus heals the lepers. 

That gave us a chance to include Salome, Herodias' famous daughter. 

The female mananayaws (dancers) have always been part of Filipino passion plays since time immemorial. 

Herodes' slave dancers. 

"Herodes and Decadence" is the title of the last scene from Act 1 of Ang Kristo. 

The risen Lazarus being comforted by his sisters, Magdalene being one of them. 

Lazarus being raised from the dead...  

The critical sacerdotes ever-watching Jesus' moves. 

Jesus' apostles. 

Jesus' Transfiguration. (The strange blue lights just came out from Picasa) 

Moses, Jesus, and Elijah meet.  

Jesus explaining Magdalene's act. 

The crying Magdalene wipes Jesus feet with her hair. The pariseos react negatively. 

The Diyablo (played by Ericson Igon Loto) expressing dismay about things this Jesus is doing in Israel.  

The Devil and his/her legion. 

Jesus now in direct confrontation with the parisees and sacerdotes. 

Jesus before his disciples. 

Annas and Caiphas 

The possessed deaf-mute is healed.

Juan Bautista is arrested by Herod Antipas' soldiers. 

Jesus appeasing an apostle during a confrontation with sacerdotes.  

The first encounter with Magdalene who was possessed by seven demons. 

Jesus after reading from Isaiah. 

The Devil's minions. 

Jesus is tempted by the Devil.  

Voice from Heaven. 

Jesus comes: "Siya ang sinasabi kong darating..." 

Juan Bautista - voice in the wilderness 

"ANG KRISTO: PASYON-DULA" PHOTOS FROM TEATRO BALANGAW

CREATING "ANG KRISTO" PHOTOS WITH PICASA


Using Picasa tools I managed to create a slide presentation that features actual scenes from the premiere presentation of "Pasyon-Dula". However, my laptop continued showing signs that it is about ready to say goodbye again. I have nightmares thinking I would wake up one morning and never see the photos again. I captured around 170 photos from the video of the play turned over to me by a friend, and used Picasa's built in effects to improve them as they were shot with a video-cam more than 10 years old.

My immediate option available is to preserve these photos on this blogsite. And so am doing this today. After succeeding to post a few photos, the computer shut down and would not connect to the Internet anymore. Will keep trying, but for now some of these photos could now be viewed, at least... and Rudy (I've been texting him about these photos), who will not be returning to Marinduque until about the end of the month would have an idea about what photos I have been working on for three almost sleepless nights trying to outsmart a battered laptop that wouldn't start or not restart depending on its own caprice, or shut down as it wished!

PS: Oh, oh, I did it! All the good photos are now posted!

MORE "ANG KRISTO" PHOTOS by Mariposky

"ANG KRISTO: PASYON-DULA" PHOTOS

Rudy Mariposky (he played 'Herodes Antipas' in 'pasyon-dula' after about a decade of absence from the Marinduque community theater stage) took these photos (and a lot more), during the dress-rehearsal on 11th April, the premiere on the 12th with Janmart Lacdao playing Kristo and on the 13th, and the first re-run with J.E. SISON (of ABS-CBN's "TV Idol" and "Bikini Open" fame), playing "Kristo".

The municipal government of Buenavista has announced the construction of a new stage near the seawall for this passion-play's presentation next year, 2007.


(Photo) The Buenavista sea and sky looked like this when the cast trooped to the beach after the 3 1/2 hour-play on 13th April; (Photo) Eli directing Janmart; (Photo) J.E. exorcising the Taong Grasa.






(Photo) Janmart (Jesus) reads from Isaiah;
(PHoto) JR Rianzares (as Simon of Cyrene) helps Jesus to carry the Cross; (Photo) JR also doubles as "Taong Grasa"



(Photo) Glenn Bautista plays John the Baptist; (Photo) Janmart alternated as Judas when J.E. played Kristo; Mark Latorre as the Possessed Man.

The experiences of Teatro Balangaw of Marinduque are studied in this book: Art and social meaning. COMMUNITY THEATER: GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

J.E. SISON AS 'KRISTO"

"Superb!" "Fantastic!" "Excellent!" "The single most unforgettable performance by an actor I have seen on stage!" These were words overheard from the audience after J.E. SISON (John Emmanuel Sison), played the role as Jesus Christ in the Tagalog "ANG KRISTO: PASYON-DULA", performed before a mammoth audience at Buenavista Covered Court in Marinduque April 13, 2006. The play lasted four hours, (including a brief speech from Mayor Madrigal, a 4 minute overture, a 7 minute intermission and a prolonged curtain call). From the very first scene to the last (and there were about 38 scenes), the audience applauded heartily every time the lights went out.

When the lights dimmed after the curtain call the actor released a cry, "Yeees!" with hands outstretched as co-actors mobbed him and ladies in the audience with their cameras took shots with Sison wrapped in his Jesus costume.

Sison, then, upon the bidding of the play's director, addressed the Teatro Balangaw ensemble of 70 strong and gave a stirring speech about the wonders of theater and acting stressing that the "one you saw acting there was not me!" "I just prayed, and it seemed to me that something... a force, whatever, seemed to have taken over me when the curtain rose and I just followed it!", he said

"So now I know the purpose why I decided to grow my hair long!" The actor had no inkling that he would be invited on short notice (three weeks), to act as "Kristo", in a play that deliberately shunned ideas to call it a "sinakulo", for it was not. The lady mayor of Buenavista, Mayor Ofelia S. Madrigal, was, to use her own words "overwhelmed" by the success of the lenten play that plans are afoot to really make it Buenavista's annual acting and tourism showcase. Who knows? At Balangaw things like that happen. Ask the ex-actors and ex-directors to share their Balangaw experiences and how it opened doors to their peace... or madness!

(J.E. Sison is a product of an ABS-CBN national talent search, has appeared as lead star in the movie "Bikini Idol" that earned him a Star Awards nomination as best actor).