SENAKULO

PRESENTED BY:
GROUP 3
 OBJECTIVES
1. determine the origin and
history of Senakulo,
2. appreciate every scene
while also deriving from the
contents of the Senakulo;
and
3. identify the examples of
Senakulo.
 HISTORY
INTRODUCTION
• Senakulo is a traditional Filipino
dramatization of the life & sufferings of
Jesus Christ.
• Done in song (pasyon) and recitation.
• Presented to the public during Lent.
• Usually done in the streets or the backyard
of a Church.
• One popular Senakulo is the one held in
Morong, Rizal
 ORIGIN AND
HISTORY
• Initially, the Passion play happened every Good Friday when
Catholics were singing the Gospel. Different persons sang
different parts.

• During the 5th century, it evolved into a mature form. The

depiction of the Passion of Christ became more dramatic with
elaborate props and well-rehearsed action. That was also the time
when it was written in rhyme.
 ORIGIN AND
HISTORY
• The longest running currently-performed Passion play is the
Oberammergau Passion play, which has been performed since
1634, by the inhabitants of the village of Oberammergau in
Bavaria, Germany.
• In the Philippines, this tradition is called Senakulo which started
back in 1904 in Barrio Dayap, which is presently the area
covering three barangays in Cainta—Sto. Domingo, Sto. Nino,
and Sta. Rosa
 ORIGIN AND
•
HISTORY
During that time, Filipinos set up cross on vacant lot for their
belief that it can drive away evil spirits. It was said that one day
there was an unfamiliar yet powerful scent was believed to have
emanated from the cross.
• Since that moment, they promised to read the Seven Last Words
of Christ or the Pasyon every Lenten season. And, as time gone
by, the traditional reading became more elaborated and the
celebration lasted for a week from the Palm Sunday up to the
Easter Sunday
 HISTORY

The Philippines celebrates Holy Week, the largest Christian

country in Asia, with Palm Sunday, Holy Monday, Holy
Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday,
Black Saturday, and Easter Sunday. The holiday, particularly
popular in Manila, emphasizes sacrifice, suffering, and
Christ's glory.
CONTENT
• The Senakulo in Malolos, Bulacan, is a
family tradition performed nightly during
Holy Week. The current generation of
Senakulistas, aged 7-40, receives no
compensation and production expenses are
covered by the local government, with
support from sponsors and donors.
CONTENT
• During Holy Week, Senakulo, a stage or
street play, takes place in Bulacan, Rizal,
and Pampanga provinces. These plays
highlight Jesus' life and Passion, often
highlighting violence and brutality. The most
graphic reenactment is at San Pedro Cutud,
San Fernando, Pampanga.
 HISTORY
TCONTENT
• The Palm Sunday dress rehearsal at the Mini Forest
in Capitol Compound Malolos, Bulacan began at 8
p.m. with an opening narration about the theme
chosen for the year. The two-hour Senakulo
covered Jesus's life from baptism to Passion, death,
and Resurrection. The script is primarily drawn
from the Bible and inflected by the chosen theme.
 HISTORY
TCONTENT
• Since 1974, this group has performed 300
Senakulo, not only in Bulacan but also in
Manila and in nearby provinces. They
describe this as more than a performance, but
as the fulfillment of a panata, or vow, a way
of thanksgiving for favors asked and favors
received.
 HISTORY
PASYON: A SONG FOR
T SENAKULO
Pabasa involves chanting the lines of the 16th-century
Pasyon epic poem, narrating Jesus Christ's life,
passion, death, and resurrection. It is performed in
groups and takes eight nights, from Palm Sunday to
Easter Sunday. Christ is traditionally presented as
humble and submitting to authority.
 HISTORY
PASYON: A SONG FOR
T SENAKULO
Mambabasa refers to chanting Pasyon, with artistic
styles influenced by thickness, pitch, and voice style.
Male mambabasa sing in a deep voice, while females
can use high or high-pitched voices for crying or
lamenting.
 HISTORY
T INVENTO
R
• The Senakulo, as a traditional
Filipino dramatic performance, does
not have a specific inventor attributed
to it. Rather, it evolved from Spanish
Misterios introduced by Spanish
friars during the colonial period.
 HISTORY
T INVENTO
R
• As Filipinos embraced Christianity and
the Catholic faith, the Senakulo evolved
into a localized adaptation,
incorporating Filipino language,
culture, and customs. It became a
communal expression of faith and a
way for the Filipino people to
commemorate Jesus Christ's life and
death.
 HISTORY
T PROPS AND
COSTUME
The artistic costumes of the actors are in the
Arabian and Roman themes. Some of the
costumes especially to the roles who are
playing as Mother Mary and Jesus Christ
wearing crowns or Tres Potentias. On the
other hand, the props are made out of some
material such as leaves, cartons, etc, and
some are made out of paper mache
 VIA CRUSIS HISTORY
SEMANA
T SANTA
Via Crucis artworks depict the The Lenten Season or in
Passion of Christ in detail, layman’s term, Holy
including Pontius Pilate's Week or “Semana
condemnation and Santa” is a festivity or a
entombment. This exceptional
series, on loan from Bangko series of events where
Sentral ng Pilipinas, features the life, death, and
Roman soldiers with hooked resurrection of Jesus
noses, possibly inspired by Christ is celebrated and
Hieronymus Bosch. re-lived.
EVENTS RELATED TO SENAKULO
MORIONES
FESTIVAL
The Moriones is a lenten
festival held annually on
Holy Week on the island of
Marinduque, Philippines.
The "Moriones" are men and
women in costumes and
masks replicating the garb of
biblical Imperial Roman
soldiers as interpreted by
locals
 HISTORY
T EXAMPL Senakulo: Holy Week street plays in the Philippines reenact Jesus' life, Passion

ES
 HISTORY
T EXAMPL SENAKULO 2020: CINEMATIC VIDEO

ES
 HISTORY
T REFEREN
CES
•https://knoji.com/article/senakulo-traditional-dramatization-of-the-
passion-of-jesus-christ/
•https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/philippines-holy-week-street-
plays-reenact-jesus-life-passion
•https://expertworldtravel.com/philippines/senakulo/#:~:text=It
%20was%20named%20after%20the,event%20exclusive%20to
%20their%20tradition.
•https://philnews.ph/2019/04/17/senakulo-passion-play-philippines-
origin-history/
THANK
YOU!

GROUP MEMBERS
CABANGON, JOHN KING

HENEGABUAS, MYLA JANE

MATUGAS, JUCELOU

OBIDOS, JEFFREY

TA-ALA, BENCH MARK