Ballet Manila’s ‘Lola Basyang’ then and now
It has been years since Ballet Manila staged Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, a crowd-pleaser that owes its appeal to the enduring tales of Severino Reyes as retold for a new generation by Christine Bellen-Ang. No wonder many of the dancers who have history with the production and who just performed again in the four Basyang shows over the past two weekends couldn’t help but feel sentimental.
Soloist Jessa Balote recalled in an interview: “Dati, isa ako sa mga eaglet sa Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya, at ngayon, ako si Marya Upeng, ang bunsong kapatid. Natutuwa akong i-explore ang character dahil siya ang maligalig na kapatid, at siyempre ang laki rin ng pasasalamat ko sa opportunity.” (Back then, I played the role of an eaglet in Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya, but now, I’m Marya Upeng, the youngest sibling. I’m glad to explore the character since she’s the happy-go-lucky sister, and of course, I’m thankful for the opportunity.)
In a Facebook post, soloist Rissa May Camaclang described her Lola Basyang experience as a full-circle moment. “From a nine-year-old Project Ballet Futures scholar (Kid 3) trying to memorize her lines like ‘Oh no! Puputulin ang puno?’ or ‘Pero, ang boyfriend niya ay ibon, Lola?’ or ‘Kolesmeloko? Ano po ’yun, Lola?’ to dancing one of my dream roles as one of the three sisters in Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya. This is truly a childhood core memory and it makes my heart so warm and happy.”
Principal dancer Jasmine Pia Dames proclaimed herself as a “Prinsesa Singsing graduate,” a role which was originally portrayed by artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde in 2008 when Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang premiered. “An absolute honor to be able to dance this memorable ballet. My heart is full and I am forever grateful,” said Pia who thanked Lisa for the opportunity to take on the part.
Similarly, principal dancer Jessica Pearl Dames expressed gratitude for the chance to play Marya Upeng in Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya. “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang brought back so many memories. This was my first production with Ballet Manila, year 2015. My heart is thankful to be part of this production again.”
Soloist Sean Pelegrin – who, like Pearl and twin sister Pia, joined Ballet Manila in 2015 and for whom Basyang was also a first with the company – was equally reflective in his own Facebook post. “Started as a villager, monster, underwater creature and a villager. And now, as my third time being part of this beautiful ballet, I danced the role of Pedro in Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya,” said Sean who was just as effusive in his thanks to his mentors and colleagues and his family.
“(And) Thank you, God, for the gift of dance! I will always offer my dancing to You! Kakain pa ako ng mas maraming bigas!” added Sean, underscoring that he still has so much to learn.
Principal dancer Shaira Comeros, also on Facebook, related that Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang in 2015 was the very first show of Ballet Manila she ever watched. Then she became part of Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin (in Iconic 1.0) in 2019 as one of the villagers. After five years, she considers herself fortunate to be in a Basyang ballet again – this time as Prinsesa Singsing in Ang Prinsipe ng Mga Ibon. Shaira particularly mentioned the late Ballet Manila co-artistic director and choreographer Osias Barroso Jr. in her post, saying,
“Thank you, Sir Shaz for making this beautiful ballet.”
Joining the nostalgia bandwagon, we searched the Ballet Manila Archives photo files for this Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang then-and-now special.
Rissa May Camaclang
THEN: Rissa May Camaclang was a nine-year-old Project Ballet Futures scholar of Ballet Manila when she was cast as “Kid 3” among two sets of children for the premiere run of Tatlong Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang in 2008. In this scene, she is seated beside Ate Lisa (Lisa Macuja Elizalde) and with two other children as they listen to Lola Basyang (Luz Fernandez). Photo by Ocs Alvarez
NOW: Rissa May (third from left) is Marya Trining who, together with Haring Urano (Noah Esplana), leads the underwater kingdom in Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Jessa Balote
THEN: A newcomer to ballet during the premiere run of Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang in 2008, Jessa Balote recalls performing as an eaglet in the Kingdom of the Eagles in Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
NOW: Jessa as Marya Upeng, married to Haring Araw and living in the Kingdom of the Lions, recognizes the handkerchief Pedro (Sean Pelegrin) has brought as her own. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Jasmine Pia Dames
THEN: Jasmine Pia Dames and Rudolph Capongcol (left) play one of the sea couples in the Kingdom of the Sharks in Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya in 2015. The Pedro in this staging was Rudy De Dios who finds his sister, Marya Trining (Joan Emery Sia), in the underwater kingdom. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
NOW: Pia is Prinsesa Singsing to Romeo Peralta’s Prinsipe ng mga Ibon and together form this iconic pose from the ballet which always draws applause. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Sean Pelegrin
THEN: Sean Pelegrin (right) dances as part of the male corps in his first production with Ballet Manila, Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang circa 2015. This scene is from the underwater kingdom in Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya where Joan Emery Sia plays Marya Trining. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
NOW: As Pedro, Sean embarks on a search for his three missing older sisters as he has promised his mother to bring them back home to see their ailing father in Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Jessica Pearl Dames
THEN: Jessica Pearl Dames (behind Katherine Barkman as Prinsesa Singsing, in red costume) joins the townsfolk in welcoming the princess and showing her around their community in this scene from Ang Prinsipe ng Mga Ibon in 2015. To Pearl’s right is Sean Pelegrin who, like her, had just joined Ballet Manila that year. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
NOW: Pearl is Marya Upeng to Jos David Andes’ Haring Araw, rulers of the Kingdom of the Lions, in Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
Shaira Comeros
THEN: In a scene from Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin (from Iconic 1.0, 2019), Shaira Comeros (second from right) portrays one of the villagers who have come to witness the impending execution of the hapless Rodrigo (Gerardo Francisco Jr., center). Rodrigo has managed to convince the judge (Rodney Catubay) to have him play his enchanted violin one last time, much to the objection of his exploitative employer, Ahab (John Balagot, left). Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag
NOW: In Ang Prinsipe ng mga Ibon, Shaira is Prinsesa Singsing who falls in love with and fights for the bird prince amid her father’s vehement objections. Photo by Erickson Dela Cruz
Gerardo Francisco Jr.
THEN: Gerardo “Geri” Francisco Jr. as Rodrigo furiously plays the violin to make the unscrupulous Ahab (Marcus Tolentino) dance against his will, to the point of exhaustion, in this scene from Ang Mahiwagang Biyuin during the premiere run of Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang in 2008. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
NOW: Geri is still at it in Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin sixteen years later! But this time, he’s making another Ahab dance – soloist John Balagot – and together, leave audiences in stitches with their hilarious routine. Photo by Erica Marquez-Jacinto
Lola Basyang
THEN: Luz Fernandez, Ballet Manila’s original Lola Basyang, has the full attention of her grandchildren (led by Missy Macuja Elizalde as Ate Missy) as she shares a tale from her book. The late actress portrayed the storytelling grandmother on radio and television before becoming Lola Basyang in over a hundred shows with Ballet Manila, including this 2015 restaging. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
NOW: Actress-singer-comedienne Mitch Valdes as the new Lola Basyang is hip and comfy in her sundress and sneakers, and as expected, fascinates her young audience with her stories. In her portrayal, Mitch gets up from her rocking chair, interacts with the storybook characters and also sings a new Lola Basyang song. Photo by Erickson Dela Cruz
Lisa Macuja Elizalde
THEN: Lisa Macuja Elizalde (center) as the original Prinsesa Singsing in 2008 (when she was both Ballet Manila artistic director and principal dancer), takes a bow with Marvin Medina (left) as her father and Rudy De Dios as Prinsipe ng mga Ibon. Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang became a ballet blockbuster that Christmas season. Photo by Ocs Alvarez
NOW: Having already retired from dancing, Lisa (center, in black) as artistic director joins the cast during curtain call on opening night of Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang on its return engagement at Aliw Theater last May 18. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag