Papet Pasyon 2025 comes home to CCP

The Cultural Center of the Philippines and Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas present PAPET PASYON 2025, at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez on April 6, 2025, for two performances at 2:30pm and 6pm.  

Written by National Artist for Theater Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio, Papet Pasyon 2025 features and explores in its storytelling, the important moments during the Holy Week. It begins with Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, His outburst at the Temple, His miracles, His agony in the garden at Gethsemane, His final supper with His twelve disciples, Judas’ betrayal, Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection on Easter Sunday. A young boy who received a miracle from Jesus acts as a central storyteller in this play based on Biblical passages and Filipino tradition during Holy Week.

This puppet play is a celebration, a feast of traditions and heritage of the Filipino people. 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, smithed by master woodcarvers of the woodcarving town of Paete in Laguna.

Teatrong Mulat continues the panata initiated by Lapeña-Bonifacio in 1985. First staged at the CCP, Papet Pasyon has been performed annually in various venues such as churches, schools, and other performing spaces in Metro Manila and Bulacan until it found its permanent home at the Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio Teatro Papet Museo in Teacher’s Village, Quezon City, in 2006. 

Directed by Teatrong Mulat artistic director, Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete, Papet Pasyon 2025 has undergone numerous updates over the years from the length of the texts and the wooden rod puppets to the incorporation of shadow play elements and voice-over recordings; each innovation has helped the play stand the test of time. 

The puppet play features an ensemble of puppeteers, comprised of 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 to life the different biblical characters 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.

Papet Pasyon 2025 is free to the public.

For more updates on Papet Pasyon 2025, follow the official CCP and Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Visit the CCP website for more news on CCP and its programs.