The making of a children’s literary ballet

July 18, 2022 Ballet Manila Archives

Ed Maranan’s environmental tale revolving on the feuding twin offspring of a nature goddess and a mortal king had quite a journey before it became Ballet Manila’s Alamat: Si Sibol at si Gunaw in 2009.

Ed Maranan’s award-winning story was published by Bookmark and turned into a ballet in 2009.

The late poet, essayist, fictionist, playwright, children’s story writer and translator had penned the story almost two decades before, and it had in fact been the grand winner in the 1990 PBBY-Salanga Writer’s Prize. The award is given out by the Philippine Board on Books for Young People which observes National Children’s Book Day every third Tuesday of July.

The timely subject of Maranan’s award-winning story was summed up this way: "Ang tao ay nagiging pabaya sa kalikasan dahil sa kanyang kasakiman. Pinuputol niya ang mga puno, inuubos ang mga gubat, sinasamantala ang iba pang likas na yaman, kahit malagay sa panganib ang kalikasan at ang pamayanan. Ang kuwentong Si Sibol at si Gunaw ay isang paalaala na magiging mapayapa at makatarungan lamang ang buhay ng tao sa daigdig kung hindi niya wawasakin ang kalikasan, at kung ang lahat ay pantay-pantay na nakikinabang sa mga bunga, halaman at iba pang yamang nagmumula sa bukid, bundok at kagubatan."

(Man has been negligent of nature because of his greed. He cuts trees, depletes forests, takes advantage of other natural resources, even if it puts nature and his community at risk. The story Si Sibol as si Gunaw is a reminder that human existence on earth will only be peaceful and just if man does not destroy nature, and if everyone receives his fair share of the fruits, plants and other resources coming from the farm, mountain and forest.”

In 2008, after guesting in Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s radio program, Art 2 Art, Maranan gave her copies of his children’s books. Shorty after, he also e-mailed her a file of an unpublished book entitled Si Sibol at Gunaw, complete with illustrations.

The ballet with a timely environmental message was also Ballet Manila’s Christmas offering when it premiered.

Later, when the prima ballerina was considering an “Alamat” (Legends) series, she immediately thought that Maranan’s nature-themed cautionary story would be the ideal fare to start it off with. Thus, Alamat: Si Sibol at si Gunaw – the two-act, all-Filipino ballet – was born.

Like its previous page-to-stage project Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang which premiered in 2008, Ballet Manila made sure that Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw would be a spectacle to please audiences.

Its choreography was the collaboration of two resident choreographers, Osias Barroso and Gerardo Francisco Jr. Arranger Mon Faustino and co-arranger Noel Zarate wove music using the compositions of George Canseco and Willy Cruz, with Edru Abraham and Kontra-Gapi also adding to the musical experience. With Jimmy Villanueva handling lights and audio, Jonathan Janolo taking charge of production design and Michael Angelo Albay designing the costumes, it turned out to be just the extravaganza the entire team had hoped for.

On opening night, December 4, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde led the cast as Luningning, with Nazer Salgado as Kapuy, Yanti Marduli as Sibol and Fracis Cascaño as Gunaw.

Bookmark also published the story in book form in 2009, with illustrations by Ronaele B. Maranan.

To mark National Children’s Book Day (July 19), we share scenes from the premiere run of Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw in December 2009.