Ballet Manila once again unearths the magical baul of Lola Basyang as it transports its audience to a world of
fantastic dance, music and spectacular visuals with Ang Tatlong Kwento ni Lola
Basyang set to happen at Aliw Theater from May 11, 2024 at 8PM and May
12 &18, 2024 at 5PM.
The second show among the repertoire for Ballet Manila’s 26th
Performance Season aptly titled “Ballet Masterpieces,” Ang Tatlong Kwento ni Lola Basyang is based on the retellings of
Severino Reyes’ stories by Christine Bellen Ang. Published by Anvil Publishing, the three
stories are an engaging mix of romance, adventure and comedy, touching on such
universal themes as loyalty and commitment to family, the power of humility and
of course, love conquers all.
“We chose three stories out of twelve (12) Lola Basyang books. It was an interesting process because there
were so many great tales that were worth sharing. But in the end, we felt that
the themes we chose can truly resonate with an audience across many
generations,” shared Lisa Macuja Elizalde, artistic director and chief
executive officer of Ballet Manila.
“As a publishing company that’s known for producing books about
Philippine culture, we feel it is part of our duty to ensure that the magic of
these stories is not lost among the younger generation. “Ang Mga Kwento Ni Lola Basyang” is among the
books that have mesmerized generations of Filipino children and we are
confident they will love the ballet version,” shared Xandra Ramos Padilla,
Anvil Publishing president. ”We’re so
thrilled that these stories will once
again be brought to life through compelling performances, thanks to our
partnership with Ballet Manila.”
Bringing life to the enduring character of Lola Basyang is Mitch Valdes
– the acclaimed performance artist who has been active in the theater and
entertainment industry for over 50 years. Best known for her award-winning
roles in Lunes,
Martes, Miyerkules, Huwebes, Biyernes, Sabado, Linggo where she won a Gawad Urian Award for Best Supporting
Actress, Mitch has also starred in highly-acclaimed movies such as Oro, Plata, Mata; Manila by Night; and Bulaklak sa City Jail.
Mitch’s captivating performance of Lola Basyang will open the
production. Not surprisingly, the role has evoked a sense of patriotism in the
actress. “We’re familiar with all the international
classics but this one is a rare chance to see one of our beloved folklore come
to life in classical ballet. It will be beautiful because the story is one of
our own.”
Ang Tatlong Kwento ni Lola Basyang will then unfold with the first story, Ang Prinsipe ng mga Ibon which
tells the tale of a princess who wishes to marry her beloved bird against her
father’s disapproval. In the end, the princess decides to turn into a beautiful
bird to join her beloved bird who happens to be a prince in his kingdom.
Breathing life into the characters are principal dancers
Jasmine Pia Dames/Shaira Comeros as Prinsesa Singsing and Romeo Peralta/Joshua
Enciso as Prinsipe ng mga Ibon. Choreographed by the late Osias Barroso Jr.,
Ballet Manila’s co-artistic director until his passing in December 2023, the
production hopes his legacy will live on through the choreographies he has
created.
Barroso once said, “I want Ang Prinsipe ng mga Ibon to be very romantic. I want people to fall
in love after watching it.” Complementing his vision is the award-winning
musical arranger Mon Faustino who arranged music for the production using
compositions of national artists for music.
From the soaring magic of enchanted birds, the production moves on to
focus on the dark ramifications of greed in Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Maria which tells
the story of a couple who are folk healers, thanks to the leaves of a magical
tree that their three daughters would pick every morning. Because of the
couple’s greed, they were punished by the serpent living in the tree, taking
their three daughters to marry them off to beastly animals. The couple soon had
another child, this time a son, and before the father’s death, he requested his
son to look for his three sisters.
Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Maria is a collaborative partnership between Lisa Macuja Elizalde as the
choreographer, and Filipino Music legend, Joey Ayala who composed the music for
the entire ballet.
“For Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya,
I wanted to merge the movements of the folk dances of Luzon, Visayas, and
Mindanao to represent the three worlds to show the cultural diversity and color
of our nation,” explained Macuja Elizalde.
Apart from the magnificent ballet, the production is an auditory treat
as it will feature a rare combination of raw sounds from kawayan and metal, complemented by orchestral synthesizer sounds to
stimulate the imagination of the audience.
For this story, Anselmo Dictado/Sean Pelegrin will perform the role of
Pedro, while the Tatlong Maria will be played by Rissa May Camaclang (Maria
Trining), Stephanie Santiago (Maria Loleng) and Jessa Balote/Jessica Pearl
Dames (Maria Upeng).
No less than National Artist Ryan Cayabyab composed the lively and
catchy music that will accompany the dancers in
Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin. The
last installment in the trilogy, its tells the story of a young man named
Rodrigo who is rewarded with a magical violin for his kindness to an old woman.
Completing the creative powerhouse for this final tale is the late
award-winning Filipino ballet dancer Tony Fabella, whose amazing choreography
reaffirms his belief that, while the story is easy enough to understand,
audiences will have a deeper appreciation for the beautiful message of Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin if told through
ballet. True enough, theater goers must prepare to be enthralled by the
performances of Gerardo Francisco Jr./Anselmo Dictado as Rodrigo and John Ralp
Balago/Junmark Sumaylo as Ahab.
From the brilliantly written word to the wonderful stage of ballet, Ang
Tatlong Kwento ni Lola Basyang is a production mounted with the heartfelt
intention of giving birth to a newfound
appreciation for our vibrant Filipino culture: “We hope that they come out of
the theaters having learned so many valuable life lessons,” said Macuja
Elizalde.
All performances will be staged at Aliw Theater, Pasay City. For
tickets, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. To
know more about Ballet Manila and its shows, visit www.balletmanila.com.ph
