Music in itself, defined as the “primitive language of the soul”, often works miracles among its hearers. If it so happens to revolve around the theme of a real miracle, then the effect would be doubly so.
Guadalupe: The Musical promises to be one such example. Based on the real story surrounding the miraculous tilma bearing the image of the mother of God found in Mexico, the Musical captures stories of faith, love, fear, doubt, war and peace in one opus.
“As a lifelong devotee of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I have long dreamed of creating a musical based on this wondrous story,” said the founder of the performing arts school and choreographer (along with Rose Borromeo) of the musical, Julie Borromeo, at the launch in Makati City.
“It’s not a ‘religious’ musical as such,” theater legend Baby Barredo, Director of Guadalupe, said. “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.”
To make this almost 500-year old miracle resound among today’s audiences, Borromeo and Barredo tapped the talents of renowned director, actor and writer Joel Trinidad and composer Ejay Yatco.
After more than three years of research, rejection, and revision, the script for Guadalupe: The Musical was done. “By that time, my natural skepticism had long since begun to erode”, Trinidad says. “The version was the one I wanted to share with the world”.
For his part, composer Ejay Yatco quips “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”.
“We want [the audience] to be inspired, entertained, and uplifted,” Trinidad said. “If it happens to make them reassess their faith, then great. We want them to leave the theater feeling hopeful for the future, [and] that the world is not such a bad place. Maybe [there] can be paradise on earth. We just have to make it happen.”
The musical has an opening night on Sept. 28. It was sponsored by “The Friends of Punlaan School” for the New Punlaan Project by the Foundation for Professional Training, Inc. (FPTI).
Inspired by St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, the school was started informally by a group of volunteer housewives to help house helpers professionalize their work in the home and to learn the value and importance of the spirit of service. To date, Punlaan School continues its dedication to women empowerment and poverty alleviation. Its dual training scholarship program in Hospitality and Culinary Arts offered to young ladies with lesser resources, has been recognized here and abroad. With the combination of high-level skills and excellent work attitudes, the Punlaan graduates are much sought after and they enjoy 100 percent employability.
The Gala premier at the Meralco Theater started with cocktails followed by the show proper at 8:00 p.m. For more details, please contact “Friends of Punlaan” at +63 917 3011384.