‘Lola Basyang’ from book to ballet

Asked in a magazine interview in 2011 what she would consider her best ballet moment, Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde readily replied: “Running to (veteran actress) Luz Fernandez and doing the final pose at the end of Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang to a roar of cheers, applause and whistles from the audience. The ballet trilogy was an original Ballet Manila production that brought together the work of so many Filipino artists. We had created a Filipino classic!”

As National Children’s Book Day is celebrated today, July 20, we look back to that Filipino ballet classic’s beginnings in 2008. That was when three tales from Philippine literature’s most beloved storyteller were translated into dance and warmly welcomed by Filipino audiences during its premiere run and subsequently throughout that Christmas season. 

Ballet Manila artistic director and then principal dancer Lisa Macuja-Elizalde (right) had stumbled upon Anvil Publishing’s versions of tales of Severino Reyes – known for his moniker as the grandmother storyteller “Lola Basyang” – at a fair in her children’s school. She had a eureka moment, instantly imagining how the stories could be told through dance. Soon the ball was rolling. Three stories from the Anvil series as retold by Christine Bellen and illustrated by Frances Alcaraz were chosen for Ballet Manila’s Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang. Veteran actress Luz Fernandez (left) was tapped to play the iconic storyteller. In a pictorial for the production that would premiere in December 2008, Fernandez and Macuja-Elizalde hold the storybooks featured in the trilogy – Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin, Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya and Ang Prinsipe ng mga Ibon. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

To pull off the ballet trilogy onstage, Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang indeed brought together the work of various Filipino artists, resulting in a massive collaboration. From the books, the stories were interpreted in dance. Osias Barroso (left), then Ballet Manila artistic associate, was tasked to handle Ang Prinsipe ng mga Ibon, set to the combined music of Nicanor Abelardo, National Artists Antonino Buenaventura, Levi Celerio and Lucrecia Kasilag as arranged by Mon Faustino. Macuja-Elizalde – with inputs from Barroso, Gerardo Francisco and Ernest Mandap – took on Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya, flavored by contemporary neo-ethnic music of Joey Ayala. The late Tony Fabella (right) choreographed Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin, with music by now National Artist Ryan Cayabyab as arranged by Arnold Buena. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

The production unfolds with Luz Fernandez as Lola Basyang holding court before three children who eagerly await the stories she would be reading from her book. Macuja-Elizalde as Ate Lisa helps thread the three stories together as she dances at the start of each story and later “interacts” with the characters in each tale. The lavish retelling comes to life with costume design by Jonathan Janolo and Michael Angelo Albay, lighting design by Jimmy Villanueva, set design by Janolo and Rollie de Leon and overall stage direction by Roxanne Lapus. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

Ang Prinsipe ng Mga Ibon tells the story of a human princess who falls for a bird prince despite her father’s objections. But the prince comes to the kingdom’s rescue when it is attacked by giants, leading the father to finally accept him as a match for his daughter. Love prevails and the princess grows wings, joining the prince in flying off to his kingdom. Rudy De Dios and Yanti Marduli dance as the pair fated to be together despite the odds. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya follows a hero’s journey as Pedro travels to different kingdoms in search of his bewitched sisters Marya Trining, Marya Upeng and Marya Loleng. Pedro succeeds in his quest and his family is ultimately reunited. Alvin Santos takes on the lead role, with Zaira Cosico, Mylene Aggabao and Anne Kateri Gelvoria as his sisters and Eileen Lopez and Harold Salgado as his parents. 

Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin is about Rodrigo, a hardworking man cheated by the trader Ahab who refuses to pay his wages. Rodrigo turns the tables on him when he plays an enchanted violin that makes Ahab dance against his will, with hilarious results, until he relents and pays what he owes. Gerardo Francisco as Rodrigo and Marcus Tolentino as Ahab bring the house down with their comic antics. 

The cast of Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang gathers for a souvenir photograph after the premiere of the epic production, secure in the knowledge that they had a winner on their hands after hearing the wild applause for each story, and even more at curtain call. It would become a certified blockbuster that holiday season. In 2013, Ballet Manila would mount a sequel to its successful show, presenting another well-received trilogy in Tatlo Pang Kuwento ni Lola Basyang. In the years since, both shows have been restaged in full and the stories in single performances repeatedly, proving the timelessness of Lola Basyang and her value-laden tales.