Livin’ on a prayer

For the first time in almost 500 years of Catholicism in the Philippines, the pageantry of Holy Week has been canceled and replaced with livestreams of worship services.

The COVID-19 lockdown is extended for two more weeks and ends on April 30. Photographer Cenon Norial III and stylist Mav Bernardo immortalize this period in history, reenacting Michelangelo and Rubens’ depictions of scenes from the Old Testament from their Nueva Ecija home.

Overgrown hair? Just cut it all off like “Samson and Delilah.”

They are practicing social distancing like Father and Son in “The Creation of Adam.” A timely reminder, as the latest study on the coronavirus reveals it actually has a transmission distance of 13 feet and not six. The lockdown takes a hit on the equally beautiful artists’ vanity.

Unable to see their hairdressers, Mav shears off Cenon’s hair like Delilah does to Samson in his sleep. They mourn those we have lost in “Pieta.” As Cenon notes, “Sa version namin, si Mary nagre-represent sa frontliners na vulnerable sa exposure ng virus. Jesus Christ as COVID-19 patient na namatay na wala yung loved ones.”

As loved ones are unable to stay beside COVID-19 patients, Michelnagelo’s “Pieta” is restaged with the frontliners as Mary, mother of Jesus.

The duo intentionally showed the DIY nature of the photos. “Walang prepared sa pagkalat ng virus, so kung ano available, kaya i-improvise para lang makapag-serve ng purpose,” Cenon explains.