With the entire province and the rest of the cities and municipalities in the National Capital Region plus bubble still under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), traditions such as the Senakulo (a play depicting the life, death, and resurrection of Christ) and Visita Iglesia (church visitation) can still be practiced virtually.
In Cainta, which is home to several Senakulo groups, the performers, who are residents themselves who have their own ‘panata’ or vow, would have been very busy during the entire Holy Week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday if the pandemic did not hit the country.
But the absence of the live presentation of the Senakulo at the public park in Cainta this year, was replaced by the virtual staging of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, by at least two groups of performers- the Krus Sa Nayon Incorporated (KSNI) and the Samahang Nazareno Incorporated (SNI).
The KSNI has been streaming its past presentation, dubbed as ‘Senakulo Playback 2021’ on its official Facebook page, since the start of the Holy Week. Stills from the group’s past performances, even during the 1950s, are also being featured on the group’s social media page.
It was learned that the KSNI’s 2019 performance was sponsored by the Manila Bulletin. A large tarpaulin bearing the logo of the newspaper hanging just below the stage where the group was presenting is shown in the group’s recorded stage presentation that is streamed live on Holy Thursday night.
The video of the KSNI’s Playback 2021 Senakulo for Good Friday can be viewed through the link: https://www.facebook.com/SKSNI.Cainta/photos/a.10152067169303867/10158381763598867/
The Facebook page of the Diocese of Antipolo, “Antipolensis,” has also posted the video of the KSNI’s recorded Senakulo shows in order for the faithful to experience the Senakulo tradition right in their own homes.
Another group, the SNI, is also streaming its 2019 stage performance, entitled, “Senakulo 2021” on the group’s Facebook page, the Samahang Nazareno Inc., and its YouTube channel. It has been streaming its 2019 presentation every 8 p.m. since Palm Sunday night.
Prior to the pandemic, dozens of Senakulo groups, used to join a grand parade of performers to showcase each group’s actors and actresses complete with costumes and props and to give a sneak preview of their nightly performances that are done in their respective venues.
The Diocese of Antipolo is providing the virtual tour of some of the parish churches in the diocese giving the people a virtual Visita Iglesia during Holy Week.
The online Visita Iglesia can be viewed online through the link: https://www.facebook.com/antipolodiocese/videos/347801566672096 giving the readers the chance to visit virtually some of the pilgrimage churches in Rizal Province.