Storybook ballet: Labindalawang Masasayang Prinsesa

In this special series marking National Literature Month, we revisit in photos the three tales of distinguished Filipino author Severino Reyes, as retold by Christine Bellen, which were adapted into Ballet Manila’s Tatlong Pang Kuwento ni Lola Basyang in 2013.

Following its forerunner which premiered in 2008, the new trilogy translated into dance the folksy tales spun by Philippine literature’s most popular storytelling grandmother, Lola Basyang. That these narratives remain relatable and relevant decades after being written and now presented in a new medium is a tribute to their being classics, brimming with age-old values of love, hope, kindness and humor. 

Labindalawang Masasayang Prinsesa

Illustrator: Abi Goy

Choreographers: Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Rudy De Dios, Sofia Sangco-Peralta and Francis Jaena

Composer/ musical arranger: Arnold Buena

Costume designer: Michael Miguel

Lighting designer: Jaime Villanueva

Production designer: Jonathan Janolo.

Stage director: Roxanne Lapus

Photos by Ocs Alvarez

In a kingdom, there lived twelve princesses who made their father happy just by being their merry selves. 

But a mystery has been bewildering the king (Marcus Tolentino) and his daughters’ governess, Infanta. Why does the staff keep finding their shoes muddy and scruffy each morning? What are the princesses up to, and where could they be going at night when they should be asleep?

Infanta (Jonathan Janolo) is tasked to keep a closer eye on the princesses, but they put one over her and make her drink a sleeping potion. The king then makes a call that anyone who can guard the princesses and solve the mystery will be amply rewarded. 

Meantime, Silvio (Rudy De Dios) dreams of meeting and marrying a princess (Lisa Macuja-Elizalde) who keeps appearing in his dreams. With an old woman’s gift of a fruit that will keep him awake and a scarf that can make him invisible, he is assured he will be able to fulfill his duty as a sentry.

At the palace, Silvio encounters the lovely eldest princess. For both of them, time seems to stop – it’s as if they have known each other forever!

Silvio is then tasked to guard the princesses, but eleven of them plot to put him to sleep so they can leave the palace once more – much to the eldest princess’ protests. But with the magic fruit and scarf, he manages to track them to the forest where he learns that they have been meeting with a group of princes. Fortunately, his own princess is not spoken for yet. 

Silvio leads the king to the forest. The princesses entreat their father to allow them to wed their chosen partners. The lead princess and Silvio also appeal to the king who, seeing them so happy, relents and gives all of them his blessings. The twelve pairs then get married, sure to live merrily ever after.