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Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Bethlehem in Talavera
Adding a little lift to religious tourism, Aurelia L. Castro visits the living tableux of Talavera.
Cebu must have gotten into a time machine and traveled back some 2000 years ago.
But for real, Cebu indeed, had a glimpse of Bethlehem when the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) brought “Jesus World in Cebu...Bethlehem in Talavera”, as its contribution for this year’s Christmas celebration. First of its kind, it was a magnificent simulation of the ambience in the Holy Land during Jesus’ time.
Spectators held their breath during the spectacular opening ceremony.
As the sun set and left the sky dark, some 700 torches made Talavera House of Prayer like a city on a hill. A 15-minute upbeat play with the drum and bugle corps set the mood. The blowing of horns and trumpets intensified excitement in the wide-eyed audience as USJ-R’s OAR priests, together with DOT-7 Regional Director Dawnie Roa, and Dr. Mila Espina opened the Roman gate set right at the mouth of the retreat house. Fireworks lit up the sky.
The marching squad of Roman soldiers, Roman chariots, horses, and centurions were impressive. Inside the scenic Talavera was a showcase of historical places, people, and events in the Bible. The Court of Herod was the first stop of the walk. The ceremony of the wedding at Cana showed the Hebrew tradition at a solemn wedding. Sung was one of the seven prayer songs for the newly-wed.
A traveler’s inn, which resembled a small, well-guarded fort, was
another significant place that existed in Jesus’ time while Jacob’s well, the nativity, and varied crafts (embroidery, blacksmith, shoe making, pottery, carpentry, shops) were also featured.
Far from the noise in the city, the happy music of the harp at Herod’s palace, the singing, rejoicing, and chanting at the wedding, and the merry songs at Bethlehem filled the air.
A dream came true
The project meant a lot to someone who dreamed about it for 15 long years - Fr. Raul Buhay, OAR, director of USJ-R Basak campus and also of the Talavera Retreat House of Prayer. “I’ve seen this kind of religious project in Italy. From then on, God inspired me and made me dream about coming up with an effort like this in my own community to bring people to the historical Jesus. Our God is not a God who only sits up there. But he was one who came down on earth to share history with us and wanted to be close to us,” he said. With the support of the University of San Jose-Recoletos, and other sectors like the Department of Tourism and other sponsors, the project materialized.
“This is also a good venue for us to build good relationships and a community gearing up towards God,” said Fr. Buhay who talked of the project as a collaborative effort of all departments of the University of San Jose-Recoletos. Most of the cast were students from its college, high school, and grade school departments with its faculty members. Display of lanterns, belens, and cultural presentations of both USJ-R Grade School Dance Troupe and the college Adelante and Dramatics Ensemble were additional features on the four-night cultural and religious event.
Cebu’s landmark
The Talavera House of Prayer Recoletos seated at the serene hill in Greenbelt, Quiot, Pardo has now become a religious landmark of Cebu.
“This is open to all who would like to come for group retreats, activities, or even for individuals who wish to rest and meditate, or commune with God,” Fr. Buhay said and invited people to come.
Indeed, after that mystic walk tour in the ‘Holy Land’, who wouldn’t want to come back?
(December 28, 2004 issue)
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