MARY... UMMM! THAT IS GOOD!

While the Bishops in Manila are preoccupied with egging everyone to break the culture of corruption, here in Cagayan de Oro, Rodelsa Hall of Liceo de Cagayan University has been abuzz over the staging of a show for lent – Jesus Christ: Superstar. Thus, for an hour or two, I disabused my mind from too much politics and started assuming unto myself the sacredness of the coming Passion and Cross.

Jesus Christ: Superstar staged by the locals, mostly students and employees of Liceo de Cagayan University, is an adaptation of a rock opera of the same title by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Judas Iscariot, however, took center stage not only as the betrayer of Jesus but as one who tried so hard to understand their situation in such a milieu.

The portrayal of the role of Mary Magdalene, by one whose name is that of our Muslim sisters, Princess Aline Nonieh Zorayda Improso, is almost world-class and comparable to, if not better than, those trained in Manila.

After viewing the show, I felt Cagayan de Oro is giving birth to something so important, something “significant” and something that our community should not ignore. Most of the shows staged in Cagayan de Oro that may be considered “significant” have always been undertaken by foreign or Manila artists.

The last time I saw a Broadway musical performed here in Cagayan de Oro by the locals was an interpretation of CATS more than thirty years ago. It was presented at an audio-visual room by college students of Xavier University. Lately, I was told Xavier was a venue for an ethnic cultural play entitled “Ming” written by a playwright from Mindanao State University.

Culture here in Cagayan de Oro has been virtually dormant, if not dying. It had been totally disregarded and only our educational institutions are trying to promote those which may be considered worthy of presenting.

Liceo de Cagayan is inevitably doing a service to the city as the city itself has not looked into the promotion of our culture or the preservation of our heritage, except recently, when the Honorable Tinnex dissolved the group supposed to be incharge of preserving our culture. They were found to be an additional yet unproductive expense for our debt-ridden city. Now, I was told the new mayor is looking seriously into old issues that affect our heritage. Way to go Tinnex!

To all the cast of Jesus Christ: Superstar and its Director and the entire Liceo de Cagayan University family who are giving their share to the city’s culture – bravo!