ILOILO City – The annual Holy Week presentation “Pagtaltal sa Balaan Bukid” in the island province of Guimaras has been cancelled due to the threat posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Gov. Samuel Gumarin announced the cancellation yesterday.
Now on its 45th year, “Pagtaltal sa Balaan Bukid” in Jordan, Guimaras is an open-air passion play on the death of Jesus Christ.
According to Gumarin, the play attracts at least 50,000 pilgrims and tourists every Good Friday of the Lenten season but the provincial government has deemed it wise to forego the activity this year to protect public health.
Good Friday this year is April 10.
“Pagtaltal sa Balaan Bukid”, which runs for three hours from 12 noon to 3 p.m., has evolved from being a stage play to a street drama.
It starts with the triumphant approach of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem portrayed at the plaza in Jordan’s Barangay Poblacion, and ends with “Pieta” at the highest point of Guimaras at the Balaan Bukid Shrine in Barangay Balcon Melliza.
“Pagtaltal sa Balaan Bukid” has over 100 actors in period costumes followed by devotees as they walk for more than two kilometers passing 14 Stations of the Cross before reaching the mountain top.
“Pagtaltal” in Hiligaynon means “to remove”, thus the street drama ends with the removal of the crucified Jesus Christ from the cross and laid in the arms of His grieving mother Mary.
The cancellation of “Pagtaltal” is part of the provincial government’s precautionary measures against COVID-19.
Gumarin recently issued an executive order “temporarily suspending the entry and/or tours of guests from Metro Manila and those from other areas in the Philippines with localized COVID-19 transmission.”
There are COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila and some provinces. Gumarin mentioned Taguig, Pasig, Marikina, San Juan, Quezon, Makati, Las Piñas, Rizal, Cavite, San Jose Del Monte (Bulacan), New Clark City (Capas, Tarlac), Negros Oriental, Lanao del Sur, and Batangas.
Read part of Gumarin’s executive order: “It is further ordered that Guimaras residents who came from Metro Manila and other areas which have local COVID-19 transmission may be allowed to enter provided they shall undergo mandatory self-quarantine for 20 days under the supervision of the rural health unit concerned.”
The executive order will remain in effect until revoked or lifted, said Gumarin./PN
