Teatro de San Pedro Calungsod aims to tell timely stories about hope and truth

This year is a busy one for Teatro de San Pedro Calungsod (TSPC) as various religious organizations and sponsors have requested them to stage plays that preach faith through timely stories. Fortunately, the ministry's founder and playwright Msgr. Agustin Ancajas has a wealth of material to meet the demand.

- By JANUAR JUNIOR AGUJA

"I am very grateful because I was able to come up with so many stories despite my migraine," Msgr. Ancajas told The FREEMAN in an interview yesterday at his office in the Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod near SM Seaside City. "I just have to make sure the material is good while complying with the fundamentals of playwriting."

Ancajas has written over 40 plays in his three-decade career. His full-length works include "Laptop" and "Paklay Paras Canta Misa," as well as the "Mga Dula" anthology series, which began with "Mga Dula sa Pagtuo" ("Plays of Faith"), followed by "Mga Dula sa Gugma" ("Plays of Love") and "Mga Dula sa Duha Ka Balaang Bisaya" ("Plays About Two Blessed Visayans: San Pedro Calungsod and Venerable Teofilo Camomot").

He received his training under Cebuana, New York-based playwright Linda Faigao-Hall, and studied acting and directing at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama during his stay in the United Kingdom.

With an endorsement from Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Msgr. Ancajas does not aim for his theater company to be a profitable business but rather to contribute both to the efforts of the Archdiocese of Cebu and the Cebuano theater scene.

"This is our way of evangelization by using religious narratives. It always goes back to the Catholic imagination," he added.

Feeling inspired by his ministry's desire to expand faith through storytelling, Msgr. Ancajas has no plans to slow down. He already has a couple of ideas for future plays, including one tackling environmental issues and another set during World War II.

He also hopes his ministry will be invited to stage performances outside Cebu, as he plans to translate his works into English for wider accessibility.