PASIG City, Jan. 20, 2012—Many of the four thousand students of St. Paul College Pasig (SPCP) could not help but shed tears after watching Teen Saint Pedro, a musical about the life of the young martyr who died hundreds of years ago, last Saturday.
Purity of heart
Both runs were shown last January 18 at the Mere Marie Anne de Tily Convention Hall, St. Paul Pasig College.
“Many of them were crying. ‘Yung iba sinasabi, ‘Tama na, tama na’ (Others were saying, ‘That’s enough, that’s enough),” Bob Serrano, producer of Teen Saint Pedro said, referring to the Grade 3 and 4 Paulinian students’ reaction while watching the young Pedro, played by Makisig Morales, being speared during the musical’s death scene.
“They saw in him the purity of heart. Though he died years ago, he continues evangelizing. He continues to evangelize me,” Serrano said, describing how St. Pedro Calungsod’s story remains powerful and fresh despite almost fading into anonymity after his death.
Speaking in front of CFC international leaders yesterday, Serrano said Morales, a singer and TV actor, seemed to “disappear” with St. Pedro taking his place during the musical.
Standing ovations
Likewise, he also gave credit to everyone involved in the project.
“I honor all the cast of teen saint Pedro. We have done many things,” Serrano said.
Standing ovations were given to both shows of the musical, organized by the high school seniors of SPCP and the Sisters of St. Paul Community in honor of Fr. James Reuter, SJ, who died last December 31.
According to Serrano, a CFC leader, the impact of the musical was so great that immediately after the musical, students and parents were inquiring how a CFC – Youth for Christ camp could be organized for the students.
St. Pedro Calungsod, a young catechist who was martryed in 1672 while on mission in Guam, was canonized to become the country’s second saint last October 21. [Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz]
