Snow White state of mind: Abigail Oliveiro and Mark Sumaylo
Talk about an evil queen and her all-knowing mirror, a princess on the run, seven dwarfs in the forest, a poisoned apple and a prince’s life-restoring kiss – and what do you get?
Snow White, but of course!
Ballet Manila brings back this beloved fairy tale as the featured production in its Holiday Cheer Series 2025. As choreographed by artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Snow White combines romance, adventure, comedy – and just a little touch of magic!
In keeping with this light-hearted fare, we ask the two couples taking on the lead roles for their thoughts about all things Snow White! Here, husband-and-wife principal dancers Mark Sumaylo and Abigail Oliveiro share the question they’d most like to ask the all-knowing mirror – and what their idea of “happily ever after” is.
ABIGAIL OLIVEIRO
Which version of Snow White is the most memorable for you?
Definitely the original Disney cartoon! It’s still embedded in my brain from when I was a kid. The forest scene? My god! I was petrified! The one where she was running in the forest? That’s the strongest memory I have.
If you were one of the dwarfs, which one would you be? Why?
I feel like I’ll be Happy! I really want to go out of the box and be something else but, yeah, I think I’ll be Happy. I’m Happy. I’m not happy all the time but I like being happy! If anything is going wrong, it’s easy to see the good side of things. It’s easy to be happy.
Tell us about that moment when you felt like you were in a fairy tale.
It was Dumaguete. It was in the middle of Swan Lake and we were about to dance and I just looked at him (Mark Sumaylo) and I saw the stage and I saw everyone and I was like “I’m living a dream!” This was all a dream but it’s my reality. That really stuck with me and every time I’m having a down moment, I think back to how I felt in that moment and, holy moly! I’m really doing this!
What would you ask the magic mirror?
I’m gonna second Mark’s answer. That’s scary but somebody has the answer. And they always say that you will know when the time comes.
Please describe your “happily ever after”.
We imagine all the time what the future holds and what it could be. It doesn’t have to be exact, just the possibilities… endless possibilities!
MARK SUMAYLO
Which version of Snow White is the most memorable for you?
It’s the comedy one with Lily Collins and Julia Roberts. I enjoyed the movie. To me it makes sense, not the comic part but how they interpreted the story. But the title is not Snow White. It’s Mirror, Mirror. And I like the scene where the Queen went through the mirror. I was like “Whoa! That’s very cool!”
If you were one of the dwarfs, which one would you be? Why?
Sleepy. When we travel, especially in red-eye flights, I’d sit down and go to sleep. That’s why I want to be Sleepy! Everywhere and anytime!
Tell us about that moment when you felt like you were in a fairy tale.
Cinderella. We were inside the carriage in Taiwan. The carriage was very nice! In real life… our wedding! Watching her walking down the aisle, I told everybody that I’m not gonna cry. But it’s just the memories and the eight years that we’d been together and then we were getting married already so it was magical.
What would you ask the magic mirror?
How long will I be able to dance? Tell me how long. Or, can I dance forever? Something like that. You see all the young guns…whoo!
What’s the most princely thing you’ve done?
Princely? I don’t know if it counts but looking for the engagement ring. At first I asked her parents. Second, her best friend. My next dilemma was how to get it without her knowing. I accidentally stepped on a thumb tack. So we had a fight because I didn’t want to go to the hospital for the tetanus shot because it was clean, not rusty, so I’ll be safe. She got really mad and we had a fight. There was no tetanus shot here available so I said I’ll go to MOA and that’s the time I was able to get the ring.
Please describe your “happily ever after”.
We’re not done yet! The best is yet to come! Sometimes we walk and I ask her what would be our life when we’re not dancing any more. It’s terrifying but I guess we’re not ready yet that’s why it’s scary. Because when you know, you’ll be ready to face that new chapter. But for now, we’re not ready. Nobody knows but I am very grateful that at my age I am still doing the thing that I love to do. And dancing with her too, so it’s a bonus.
Top photo: In real life, Mark Sumaylo and Abigail Oliveiro have each other to have and to hold. On stage, they will be the Prince and Snow White in Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s Snow White on December 26 and 27 at Aliw Theater. Photo courtesy of Zhongli Youth Ballet
