■ BUHING KALBARYO ORGANIZERS PROMISE GOOD SHOW

Organizers of this year’s Buhing Kalbaryo promise to stage a good show despite major setbakcs. Former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama, the annual show’s overall chairman, said the stageplay will push through despite the absence of support from the City Government. “We are self-reliant. We are centered on volunteerism and cooperation,” he told reporters. Buhing Kalbaryo is a stageplay depicting Jesus Christ’s final days leading to His crucifixion.

Despite major setbacks, organizers of this year’s Buhing Kalbaryo promised to stage a good show.

Former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama, Buhing Kalbaryo overall chairman, said the stage play will push through despite not having any financial support from the City Government and some changes in the venues.

“We are self-reliant. We are centered on volunteerism and cooperation,” he told reporters in a press conference yesterday.

Buhing Kalbaryo is a stage play that depicts the days of Je- sus Christ prior to His crucifixion and death on Mt. Calvary.

For the past 19 years, the threepart presentation has been staged starting from Archdiocesan Shrine of San Nicolas de Tolentino in Barangay San Nicolas before proceeding to V. Rama Ave., and Barangay Calamba area and will end at the grounds of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Barangay Guadalupe.

For its 20th year, though, the crucifixion scene will have to be staged in another venue.

Project Director Rolly Diorico explained that the church’s team moderators have informed him that the Guadalupe parish will be using the church grounds for their own activity.

Diorico and Production Director Jojo Labella sought the help of Archibishop Jose Palma, whom they said was supportive of the play.

“But we didn’t bother appealing to Guadalupe church anymore because we respect their decision,” Diorico said.

The crucifixion scene will instead be staged in a private lot near the church.

While the barangay officials are known supporters of the administration, Labella lamented that they see no politics in the church’s decision to deny their use of the grounds.

As to their budget constraints, he assured the audience that while this may be their “most austere production yet,” the viewers are up for a good show.

“We are now 80 percent ready. We’re working on improving, or at least an equally beauti- ful performance like last year’s,” said Labella.

Labella lamented that they have to stretch out a budget of less than P500,000 to shoulder the meals for some 160 cast and crew, T-shirts, streamers, and sound and light rentals.

Labella said that the organizers are now using the donations from private donors, which is under the custody of the Buhing Pasko Association.

Lnytoni Sable, who has been playing the role of Claudia, the wife of Pontius Pilate for four years now, said that she and the rest of the cast will perform their best on Good Friday, April 14.

The 39-year-old City Hall employee, who just gave birth to her third child a month ago, said that like Jesus Christ, they have to endure adversity for the greater good.

“This is our cross to bear and this ordeal, too, shall pass,” said Sable.

We are self-reliant. We are centered on volunteerism and cooperation. FORMER CEBU CITY MAYOR MICHAEL RAMA Buhing Kalbaryo overall chairman