Name: Kieffer Kean Bernarte

Gr & Sec: 7 – Honesty

Senakulo – Theatrical Forms

The Senakulo, passion play or Easter pageant is a dramatic presentation depicting the Passion of Jesus
Christ: his trial, suffering and death. It is a traditional part of Lent in several Christian denominations,
particularly in Catholic tradition.

Senakulo have had a long and complex history involving faith and devotion, civic pageantry,
antisemitism, religious and political censorship, large-scale revival and historical re-enactments.

The predominantly Catholic Philippines has Passion Plays called Senákulo, named after the Upper room,
every Semana Santa (Holy Week). Theatre companies and community groups perform different versions
of the Senákulo, using their own scripts that present the dialogue in either poetic or prosaic form. These
scripts are decades or even centuries-old, and draw from both the Bible and folk tradition.

Costumes and scenery in traditional Senákulo conform to Hispanic iconography instead of actual
historical realism, which is more common with recent productions (particularly by professional
companies). Some productions use ropes to hold actors on crosses while others use actual nails.

One of the more popular Senákulo is Ang Pagtaltal in Jordan, Guimaras, which began in 1975 and draws
some 150,000 visitors annually. Some people perform crucifixions outside of Passion Plays to fulfill a
panatà (vow for a request or prayer granted), such as the famous penitents in Barangay San Pedro
Cutud, San Fernando, Pampanga.

The formation of a Senate is similar to the Easter game. It began as a ritual of the Church, which
stipulated that the Gospel of Good Friday should be sung in various parts to be shared by several people.
Eventually, the Senate took on its own form. The first Senate was staged in Latin, after which there was
a vernacular version. It was augmented by a variety of forms and content beyond what spectators
expected, until the 15th century when popular religious plays were formed. So there, the 13th-century
Benedictbeurn Senate contained mostly Latin dialogue and ecclesiastical hymn, and it was built for
singing.