‘Papet Pasyon’ Returns to the Stage this Holy Week
The Cultural Center of the Philippines and Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas are set to stage Papet Pasyon 2025 at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez on April 6, 2025, for two performances at 2:30 PM and 6 PM.
Written by National Artist for Theater Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio, Papet Pasyon 2025 begins with Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, His outburst at the Temple, His miracles, His agony in Gethsemane, the Last Supper with His disciples, Judas’ betrayal, and His passion, death, and resurrection on Easter Sunday. A young boy who received a miracle from Jesus acts as the central storyteller in this play, based on biblical passages and Filipino Holy Week traditions.
Papet Pasyon 2025 is a senakulo, a folk-religious and theatrical retelling of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It features wooden puppets crafted by master woodcarvers from Paete, Laguna.
Since its first staging at the CCP, Papet Pasyon has been performed annually in various venues, including churches, schools, and other performing spaces in Metro Manila and Bulacan. In 2006, it found a permanent home at the Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio Teatro Papet Museo in Teacher’s Village, Quezon City.
At the height of the pandemic in 2021 and 2022, Teatrong Mulat produced two stage-to-film versions, which were live-streamed on the official Facebook page of Teatrong Mulat. In 2023, Papet Pasyon was staged at the recently renovated Metropolitan Theater of Manila.
Marking its 40th anniversary, Papet Pasyon 2025 returns to where it all began—at the CCP—welcoming both seasoned and new generations of Mulateers (as the Mulat Theater puppeteers are fondly called) to continue their decades-long panata each Lenten season, a tradition Lapeña-Bonifacio began in 1985.
Directed by Teatrong Mulat artistic director Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete, Papet Pasyon 2025 has undergone numerous updates over the years, from script length and wooden rod puppets to the incorporation of shadow play elements and voice-over recordings.
Amid its constant evolution, Papet Pasyon 2025 has remained steadfast in its original vision since its debut 40 years ago: to present the senakulo through the art of puppetry, bringing the passion of Jesus Christ closer to new and younger generations of audiences.
The puppet play features an ensemble of puppeteers, including Bonifacio-Ramolete, Raymund Ramolete, Roel Ramolete, siglo, Arvy Dimaculangan, Shenn Apilado, Khen Del Prado, Nour Hooshmand, Mina Camacho, Janno Castillo, Hazelle Catena, Ayeesha Cuerpo, Anna Dalet, Ravelyn Dar Juan, Vinzar Rubi, Harvey Sallador, and V Soriano.
Sharing their vocal talents to bring biblical characters to life are Esteban Mara Fulay, Jr., Greg de Leon, Jessamae Gabon, Carlito Camahalan Amalla, Pau Benitez, Fitz Edward Torres Bitana, Darwin Desoacido, Kenneth del Prado, Jules dela Paz, Arvy Flores Dimaculangan, Rej Duka, Marynor Madamesila, Christelle Manuel, Jessette Gonzales Namin, Marvin Olaes, Vincent Kevin Pajara, Aina Ramolete, Katte Sabate, Gabo Tolentino, and Jamee Stevana Vega.
The artistic and production team of Papet Pasyon 2025 include: playwright and puppet designer Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio, director Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete, music director Rodolfo de Leon, puppet designers Bernadette Solina-Wolf, Maurice Carvajal, Joji Pamintuan, Carol Castro, Romerico Romero, and Carlito Amalla, puppet sculptors Paloy Cagayat and Jeriel Madrigal, set designer Ohm David, costume designer Darwin Desoacido, shadow play designer siglo, sound designer and editor Arvy Dimaculangan, audio engineer Jessamae Gabon, light designer and technical director Satya Edilo, video designer/editor Steven Tansiongco, poster designer and assistant stage manager V Soriano, stage manager Shania Lee Cuerpo, production manager Janno Castillo, and production assistant Malvin Abadinas.
Papet Pasyon 2025 is free to the public.
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