‘Panata at Panalangin’: A spiritual journey

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The Sinukwan Kapampangan Artists and City of San Fernando Performing Arts Council staged for the first time, “Panata at Panalangin: A Spiritual Journey Through Culture and the Arts” at the mini-convention center of Heroes Hall.

“Panata at Panalangin” featured 15 art pieces, predominantly made using the flagellant “burillos” or the whip with bamboo sticks tied on ropes, and crowns of thorns to depict “plagues and issues” of mankind and Christianity like “danup” (hunger), “Balota,” “Basura,” (garbage) “Kwalta,” (money) “Gabun” (land), “Albug” (flood), “Kanser” “RH Bill” and “Bisyu” (vice) among others.

Sinukwan Kapampangan’s Peter De Vera shared that “Panata at Panalangin” is an experimental presentation that gives a “twist” to the traditional observance of Holy Week, sacrifices and prayers, blending with it the “pasyon” as music and background to interpretative dances.

“It is a bold attempt to fuse together visual arts and dance. It is the “flash mob” style where there are no chairs to sit on, no extravagant costumes but rather simple, realistic and down-to-earth interpretation of penitence and prayers that will take one to a deep spiritual journey,” he said.

De Vera added that the group hopes to take “Panata at Panalangin” into a journey itself in other parts of the country.

“Many have seen it today and we have several invitations to stage it in other parts of the country. We still have to improve it to make the journey more meaningful and the faithful,” he quipped.

“Panata at Panalangin” is supported by the Benedictine Community of St. Scholastica’s Academy-Pampanga and Aslag Kapampangan.