The 'Taltal', a traditional play depicting the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, evokes the message of renewal. Trite as it may seem, the message of the Holy Week showcase stuck in two former out-of-school teenagers, who said they are now enjoying a life closer to the Lord than they had expected.

Joviro Tabia of Brgy. 12, Bacolod City and Renato Porras of Brgy. 4 said they sought refuge in the Lord by joining the San Sebastian Cathedral's production of the 'Taltal'. The traditional holy week play is set on Good Friday at 8 a.m. with a roadshow starting at the Bacolod Plaza and ending up at the Capitol Lagoon. A stage show of the 'Taltal' will be held at the BAYS Center on the same day at 7 p.m, production manager Tina Salazar said.

After a string of problems forced him out of school for three years, Porras, 20, joined the 'Taltal' in the summer of 2004. "Being part of the Taltal has been a big help," said Porras, who used his background in church theater to earn a scholarship later at West Negros College, where he is part of the Kalingaw Company.

"The 'Taltal' helps in renewal and leads you to respect people from different backgrounds," Porras added as he recounted the times when he engaged in vices, before engaging in church theater. Now in his third year of joining the traditional holy week play, Porras, who portrays the apostle Andrew, said he wants to be a role model to others who had trodden the same path when he was an out-of-school teenager.

Tabia, 23, has been involved with the 'Taltal' production for the past six years. "I was in bad company and I decided to join the 'Taltal' to keep myself busy and away from bad influences," he said. The values presented in the play are helping me strengthen my faith in Him, Tabia, who will play a priest in the play, said.

Salazar said a number of out-of-school teenagers are joining the production. There is a sense of community that gives the feeling of belongingness and affirmation to out-of-school teenagers joining the play, Fr. Ernie Larida, chairman of the production's steering committee, said.*CPT

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