The series of unexplained miracles and events that changed
the world forever is the basis of the stranger than fact and fiction,
GUADALUPE: The Musical. The incredible true tale and miraculous stories of the
our Lady Of Guadalupe is a brand-new theatrical musical production in english
comes onstage at The Meralco Theater from 28 September to 14 October 2018,
which is presented by the Julie Borromeo Performing Arts Foundation.
“The story of Juan Diego of Guadalupe is practically a
musical already,” quips Borromeo, who is both producer and choreographer of the
show along with Rose Borromeo. “But what makes this story different is all the
supernatural elements in it that simply can’t be explained.” Of these there are
many, and all a matter of public records: the painted images on Juan Diego’s
now famous tilma(or apron), which show no evidence of any brushstrokes, and
whose pigments come from a source unknown to nature; the seeming
impenetrability of the cloth from which it was made; the mysterious recovery of
Juan Diego’s dying uncle; the list goes on and on. But although it deals in the
miraculous, GUADALUPE: The Musical, which stars stage icon Cocoy Laurel as Juan
Diego, is not a conventional faith-based show.
“It’s not a ‘religious’ musical as such,” declares theater
legend Baby Barredo, who directs the piece. “It’s a powerful piece of theater
that just happens to contain religious elements.” It’s an important
distinction, and one that drove the creation of the show from the start. For
scriptwriter and lyricist Joel Trinidad and composer Ejay Yatco, the creative
task was to use factual, historical events as a backdrop for a true story that
contains some fictional elements. “Some of the most popular musicals in the
world combine fact and fiction this way,” shares Yatco. “MISS SAIGON, EVITA,
LES MISERABLES… The list goes on and on.” But how can GUADALUPE audiences tell
fact from fiction? “You’ll see some things in this show that seem completely
implausible,” says Trinidad with a smile. “Those are the ones that really
happened.”
In 1531, Spaniards have claimed Mexico after thirteen years.
Administered by the kind Archbishop Juan de Zumarraga, Aztecs had been
converted into Christianity. However, under the vicious ruler, Governor Nuño
Beltran de Guzman, native Christians and Pagans bristle in the conquered land.
He believes that violence can happen any time even though Christianity brought
peace. Middle-aged peasant, humble mat-weaver and recent convert, Juan Diego
visited the argumentative archbishop and the governor whom Diego revealed about
an apparition by the Blessed Virgin Mary and that a church should be built to
honor her name. Zumaragga, considered the apparition is a way that Spaniards
and Aztecs can be united and the once broken land can be healed.
Text and Photos by Gilbert Kim Sancha.
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