'Caysasay' musical a rousing success

First posted 06:39am (Mla time) July 24, 2005

By Josephine Darang
Inquirer News Service

THE GOOD thing about Taal, Batangas, is the presence of men and women committed to preserving their cultural heritage and propagating then devotion to Our Lady of Caysasay, their patroness.

For "Ang Mapaghimalang Birhen ng Caysasay," staged recently at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Little Theater, the Taal-Charm Foundation, Taal Heritage Foundation and Blessed Virgin of Caysasay Foundation sold tickets and got people to see it.

Executive producer Ramon Orlina worked the hardest at raising P1.5 million for production expenses, getting sponsors and working every step of the way with CCP artistic director Nanding Josef; scriptwriter-director Nestor Torre; Ryan Cayabyab, who wrote the music; Rito Asilo and Noelani Torre, who wrote the lyrics of songs to the Virgin; and musical arranger Jun Murillo.

Ramon was obsessed with putting the Caysasay musical on stage as much as his mother Paulina Gahol Orlina, who dreamt of doing it in 1982 in Taal but was discouraged by some people.

The cast received standing ovations from an audience moved to tears by the haunting melodies.

Mimi Noble, secretary of Taal-Charm, said she cried every time she saw the play. I myself was crying on the first night because I remembered my brother Pompeyo, whom I brought to the shrine in 2003, and how Fr. Carlo Magno put the image on his head. Although my brother has lost a lot of weight, he is still alive, undergoing dialysis twice a week.

On tour

Ramon was asked to bring the musical to other places like Batangas City, Lipa City, Balayan and Lucena. He is also willing to bring the play to the Visayas and Mindanao. Those interested can text him at 0917-5315108.

Ogie Alcasid, Cocoy Laurel and Ryan Cayabyab only got honoraria for their work. A week after the show, Ivy Violan, who played the mother with cancer, went to the shrine.

Healing Masses are held at the shrine at 8 a.m. every Saturday. The new parish priest is Fr. Bong Panganiban. Those who want estampitas can write to me. Please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Orlina said without his wife Lay-Ann, he would not have been able to go on with the production. Lay-Ann cooked food for the cast during rehearsals. She also sold a lot of tickets.

Taal-Charm Foundation

In 1987, the Taal-Church Historical and Authentic Restoration Movement (Charm) was set up to restore the Basilica of St. Martin de Tours, the biggest church in the Far East. Original members of the foundation, which became official in 1989, were Mely Mitra, chair, and Waldy Solis, Emiliana Noble Tamayo, Bro. Amado Carandang and Herminia Alcasid.

The present officers are Gumercindo Ilagan, president; Marina de Castro, VP for internal affairs; engineer Antonio Goco, VP for external affairs; Mimi Noble, secretary; Menchit Lota, assistant secretary; Herminia Alcasid, Delia Lota, treasurers; Virgie Bruce, auditor; and Rudy Estacio, PRO. Spiritual director is Msgr. Alberto Boongaling.

For many years, the image of Our Lady of Caysasay was brought on Wednesday mornings to the basilica and returned to the shrine in Barrio Labac on Saturday afternoons. Now the image will be brought to the basilica only on the Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in October; Nov. 11, feast day of St. Martin de Tours; and Dec. 9, fiesta of the Virgin of Caysasay.

Taal Heritage Foundation

Information provided by Dindo Montenegro, former PRO of the Taal Heritage Foundation, shows the group is committed to preservation and tourism development of Taal. The original Taal Heritage Commission was set up in 1991 with Ligaya Tankeh as chair. It became the Taal Heritage Foundation in 1996.

Officers are Ligaya Tankeh, chair; Fe Cabrera, vice-chair; Edith Okada, secretary; Anna Marie Moreno, assistant secretary; Delia Lota, treasurer; Ermelia Mitra; and Ma. Concepcion Noche, legal adviser.

Blessed Virgin of Caysasay Foundation

The foundation was set up in 2003 when devotees like Ambassador Raul Goco, his wife Marietta Primicias-Goco, Sally Gonzalez, Ramon Orlina, Teodoro Luansing and many others decided to have a grand celebration of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the image of the Virgin of Caysasay in the Pansipit River by Juan Maningcad.

Since the Virgin visited the Greenbelt Chapel in 2003, many miracles had happened including the publication of the Caysasay Magazine in 2004 and now the musical.

Ambassador Goco is chair, while Teodoro Luansing is president. Other officers are Ramon Orlina, VP; Sally Gonzalez, secretary and executive director; Melitz Mitra, assistant secretary; Marietta Goco, treasurer; Delia Lota and Fe Cabrera, auditors.

(c)2005 www.inq7.net all rights reserved

Photo attached on the article of Josie Darang

Another photo attached on Darangs article