Tell it to Sunstar: St. Lorenzo Ruiz

WHO would have known that the prominent but mysterious St. Lorenzo Ruiz had such a struggle in his life? We Filipinos don’t really know a great deal about our beloved saint.

Generally, all anyone can say about him is that he is the first Filipino saint and he died a martyr. But really, there is so much to read about his very courageous life.

Last Sept. 5, we were very lucky to have been given the opportunity to watch the St.

Lorenzo Play (director: Nanon Padilla; producer: Christopher de Leon; music composer:

Ryan Caybyab) by our theology teacher.

We, unfortunately, were among the many who knew nothing about the reformed man who nonetheless was able to go beyond his life’s worries and fears. When we got to the venue of the play, we had no clue whatsoever of what we were about to see.

The play featured powerful performances evoking in us many different emotions from the beginning until the play’s end.

Many profound themes came about throughout the play and we had this ardent desire to figure out and understand what all of these meant.

Each act had its own importance and effect that it was incredible how the three different acts were able to complement the play as a whole.

Also, it was a good thing that there were 10 minute intervals between the acts so we were able to comprehend what we just saw.

By the end of the play, we realized how brilliant the play was and how it was able to touch each one of us intellectually, emotionally and even spiritually.

To us, the play had the greatest interpretation of modern nationalism because it was the epitome of who a Filipino truly is with regards to his spiritual values.

All in all, the play was absolutely moving. Our hearts were on the brink of bursting because it just had such influential conveyance.

The music and the lyrics played a big role because the words were perfect for each scene. The actors and actresses had incredible voices that showed strong emotions and expressions.

It made us think whether the songs were recorded before the play or done live because the voices were just so powerful.

The whole play was in Tagalog but there was an English translator on top, which for us gave justice to the Filipino version because it still had the same essence as it would have in Tagalog. This play is definitely a must-watch and is appropriate for all ages.

It’s about time Filipinos learned the truth about St. Lorenzo Ruiz’s life and how he became a saint.

And there’s one thing sure: you will end up leaving the theater with no regrets.

(For more information on the play’s showing dates and ticket prices visit: http://www.lorenzorocks.com.) –By Mackey Cureg, Monica Gamboa, Isabel Ipapo, Angelica Martinez, and Valerie Wei of Paref Woodrose Batch 2014