By Nirva Delacruz
How does one share the experience of grief and tragedy?
As the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights (EUSR) Mr. Eamon Gilmore said, he had probably seen all the ways it can be expressed, but watching extra-judicial killings (EJK) widows and orphans perform onstage on March 30, 2023 at the Notre Dame of Greater Manila, Caloocan City, was both unique and powerfully moving.
“I travel a lot to talk about human rights, but never have I seen what it’s all about expressed so clearly as you have done today.”
“I travel a lot to talk about human rights, but never have I seen what it’s all about expressed so clearly as you have done today,” shared Gilmore after watching 25 orphans and widows of Arnold Janssen Kalinga Foundation Inc. (AJKFI)’s Program Paghilom re-tell their story as EJK victims in their 12th theatrical showcase that included dancing, re-enactments, and a socio-political situationer of the Philippines.
‘An empty seat’
Together with Gilmore were other EU and United Nations (UN) officials, including Luc Veron, EU Ambassador; Signe Poulsen, the UN Senior Human Rights Adviser; and Viktor Velek, EUSR Political Adviser. Several officials from the EU Delegation to the Philippines also attended: Christoph Wagner, Minister, Counsellor, and Head of Cooperation Section; and Frederic Grillet, First Secretary, Deputy Head of Political, Press, and Information Section.
Giving his thoughts about the show, Gilmore added: “In my job, I hear some of the worst things that human beings can do to each other.”
Meanwhile, Fr. Flavie Villanueva, SVD commended Gilmore for taking the time to shake the hand of every EJK family member in the audience that day.
“It’s a message parallel to that of Christ stretching out his hands on the cross. As He stretched His hands, He did not only shake our hands but He shattered the world of sin and death to bring us healing and new life,” the priest explained.
A true encounter
According to AJKFI managing director Tessam Castillo, the theatrical presentation was organized to give members of the EU party a chance to interact with and to have a more personal sense of what EJK victims and their families have gone through.
For AJKFI founder and president Fr. Flavie Villanueva, SVD, the encounter of the EU party and some of the members of Paghilom is hopefully a sign of justice.
Meanwhile, Fr. Flavie Villanueva, SVD commended Gilmore for taking the time to shake the hand of every EJK family member in the audience that day. “It’s a message parallel to that of Christ stretching out his hands on the cross.
As He stretched His hands, He did not only shake our hands but He shattered the world of sin and death to bring us healing and new life,” the priest explained.
A true encounter
According to AJKFI managing director Tessam Castillo, the theatrical presentation was organized to give members of the EU party a chance to interact with and to have a more personal sense of what EJK victims and their families have gone through.
The priest noted that it is only fitting that the EUSR for Human Rights was this year’s special guest because of the key role he plays in “enhancing the presence, effectiveness and visibility of EU human rights policy.”
Crash course in theater
Aside from the EJK family members, 2 former street dwellers currently serving at the AJ Kalinga Center took a crash course in theater acting to be able to join this year’s teatro.
They learned and practised the basics of theater voice, stage movement, and improvisation under the mentorship of stage director Albert Saldejano, head animator of Kalipaya Centre, a church-based theater arts ministry.
He has been handling Teatro Paghilom since it started in 2017.
Around 100 people were present to watch the 40-minute presentation, which carried the theme “Kamulatan: Kalinga at Paghilom sa Bagong Ngayon” (Awareness: Compassion & Healing in the New Normal).
Inspired by his own exposure to theater, Villanueva organized the first teatro run for Paghilom’s widows and orphans as another form of therapy for the EJK families, who are still in the process of recovery, healing, and empowerment. ∎