Father knows best

Happy Father’s Day! We celebrate this day dedicated to paternal figures who show love to their families by providing guidance, support and care with this feature on fathers who have graced the Ballet Manila stage.

Hari (Mark Sumaylo) is disbelieving that his daughter, Prinsesa Singsing (Jasmine Pia Dames) could fall in love with the Bird Prince in Ang Prinsipe ng mga Ibon, one of the folk tales in Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (2024). He is not swayed by her entreaties but eventually, when she decides to become a bird herself, he finally understands the power of pure love and gives his blessing to the couple to live a new life together. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag

Thomas (Marcus Tolentino) is the doting father to Alain (Nino Gueverra), with the wealthy landowner even going to the extent of negotiating with Mother Simone for her daughter Lise to marry his dimwitted son. Unknown to everyone, Lise is already committed to Colas and hilarity ensues in the romantic comedy La Fille Mal Gardeé or The Naughty Daughter (2005). Photo by Ocs Alvarez

Teong (Joshua Enciso, second from right) lives an ideal life with wife Goya (Judith Po, leftmost) and their three daughters Marya Loleng (Stephanie Santiago), Marya Trining (Jessica Pearl Dames) and Marya Upeng (Rissa May Camaclang) in Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya in Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (2024). But when he cuts down the tree with healing leaves, he unwittingly breaks up the family as a giant snake spirits his daughters away and it would take the efforts of youngest son Pedro to get them back together again. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag

The innkeeper Lorenzo (Marvin Medina, second from right) plays matchmaker for daughter Kitri (Lisa Macuja Elizalde, seated), trying to pair her off with the town dandy Gamache (Jonathan Janolo). But his efforts are in vain as she tries to ignore him with all her might in this scene from Don Quixote (2012). Photo by Jojo Mamangun

The King (Francis Cascaño, seated) beams with pride as he presents his son, the Prince (Mark Sumaylo), at the grand ball where he is to pick his future wife while the Grand Duke (Niel John Mag-aso) looks on approvingly. The scene is from Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s Cinderella which premiered in 2016. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

Rodrigo (Gerardo Francisco Jr.) is carried by his Tatay (Romeo Peralta) like a baby and his Nanay (Abigail Oliveiro) is about to envelop him in a warm embrace in this reunion scene from Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin, the third story in Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (2024). The young man had left two years before to work and help feed the family but falls prey to deceitful boss Ahab. With the aid of an enchanted violin, he manages to get Ahab to pay him his just wages and return to his loving parents. Photo by Giselle P. Kasilag

Baffled as to why his twelve daughters’ shoes are muddied every morning, The King (Marcus Tolentino, center) orders the Servant Girl (Justine Kaye Pitahin, right) to summon the Eldest Princess (Lisa Macuja Elizalde, left) to explain. Unable to give an acceptable reason, though, the monarch resolves to get to the bottom of the mystery in Labindalawang Masasayang Prinsesa, one of the stories comprising Tatlo Pang Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (2013). Photo by Ocs Alvarez