Ballet Manila's Tatlong Kwento ni Lola Basyang

The Friday rain didn't stop us from going to Aliw Theater to watch the ballet production "Tatlong Kwento ni Lola Basyang." It's the season opener of Ballet Manila's 20th Season with the theme "From Page to Stage."

ready to watch the show :)

Like most Filipino, my hubby and I knows that Lola Basyang as a legendary storyteller. His stories had been part of our childhood. It's good that through this ballet show, we were able to share it with our kids. They even became aware of who Lola Basyang is (the pen name used by Severino Reyes) and his stories.

#TatlongKwentoNiLolaBasyang

It's a trilogy of love, fantasy and adventure.

First is the story of "Ang Prinsipe ng Mga Ibon." It tells about a princess who falls in love with a bird prince and fought for this love despite her father’s disapproval. It shows us that love truly conquers all.

Next is "Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya." It tells the story of a young hero's search for his three sisters who strives to fulfil their father’s dying wish. It shows love in a different light.

Finally, "Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin" tells about a poor worker who received a magical violin when he helped an old lady. The enchanting rhythm transforms the unkind rich man and sends it listeners to a trance. My son's favorite! :)

These are classic Filipino stories which my kids appreciate.

great show! 

Veteran actress Luz Fernandez reprises her role as Lola Basyang.

Apart from the great performance, choreography, dancers, costumes, production design and music, it great how Ballet Manila preserves our Filipino culture, literature and art through its dance and performances.

Glad that Ballet Manila gave us a wonderful experience. The perfect treat for the whole family. Truly deserving of that applause and standing ovation.

Best thing, I was able to grab their crazy 20-pesos promo tickets!

And of course, the presence of Prima Ballerina Ms. Lisa Macuja made it all extra special!

the prima ballerina with my sister 

with my kids :)

#BalletManila #FromPageToStage

You can still watch Tatlong Kwento ni Lola Basyang on August 28 and 29 (8:00 p.m.) and August 30 (3:00 p.m.).

Also watch out for Ballet Manila's 20th Season Performances -

• Paul Vasterling's "Romeo and Juliet"
• Osias Barroso's "Pinocchio"
• Martin Lawrance's "Rebel"
• Alan Hineline's "Hansel and Gretel"

So, see you again at the theater!

Ballet Manila - Tatlong Kwento ni Lola Basyang
Aliw Theater, Pasay City

Golden moments at Lisa Macuja's birthday concert

Ms. Lisa Macuja's A Truly Classical Concert special birthday concert is truly golden!

The show marks two important milestones in her life - her 50th birthday and her 30th anniversary as a professional ballerina. I'm grateful, and my daughter was more than grateful for seeing this one-night only special concert.

busy reading about the prima ballerina's journey

Such a great performance!

We saw her perform Juliet in Romeo and Juliet with Ballet Manila principal Rudy de Dios. Wow! She's still in her best form... and that's perfection at its finest!

Everything - from the guest artists from Ballet Manila, Philippine Madrigal Singers and ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Gerard Salonga - complements the classical theme beautifully.

Lisa Macuja then performed the role of Princess Aurora in Marius Petipa’s Sleeping Beauty Divertissement. Her partner, guest dancer Mikhail Martynyuk (as Prince Desire) of the Kremlim Ballet Theater was exceptional as well.

At the curtain call, the prima ballerina came out on stage in her glittery golden long gown. There, everyone joined in singing the Happy Birthday song.

Happy Birthday!

My daughter and I were in awe and admiration... a woman at her age can still dance with so much grace, passion and brilliance! She's a really treasure with a golden heart!

People who bought Lisa Macuja's pointe shoes get to meet and greet the prima ballerina after the show.So lucky!

my daughter wishes to have one of Lisa Macuja's signed pointe shoes

But then, we're grateful for this chance :)

And our brief yet golden moments with the prima ballerina!

happy to meet you Ms. Lisa... may you continue to dance, inspire and touch lives :)

Thank you so much Papa John's Pizza Philippines for the VIP tickets! We wouldn't be there without you. :)

GOLD: Lisa Macuja - A Truly Classical Concert
Aliw Theater, CCP Complex, Pasay City
October 4, 2014

Lisa Macuja: Daughter's Dream Come True

It's been a month since my daughter and I watched Giselle at the Aliw Theater. She was mesmerized by the performance of the prima ballerina, Ms. Lisa Macuja-Elizalde.

“She doesn’t run, she floats. She doesn’t balance, she hovers. She doesn’t jump, she flies... And in the end, I hope I won’t be the only one crying at I bid farewell to Giselle,” Lisa Macuja-Elizalde says.

She's wonderful, divine and spectacular. Seeing her do the ballet turns and twists is truly captivating. I was in awe as her body seems to really float, glide and fly in the air. She moves perfectly, passionately and in full emotion. You can really feel the way her eyes sparkle seeing Albrecht and how those same eyes elicit sadness. Everything about her was indeed a sight to behold.

And of course, Mikhail Martynyuk of Kremlin Ballet, all the dancers, danseurs and the Manila Symphony Orchestra are outstanding as well.

Having given the chance to meet and greet Ms. Lisa Macuja after the show makes the day truly memorable. My daughter felt star-strucked.

I know that this signed memorabilia is something that she will forever treasure. It says, "To Skylah, Keep on dancing! Lisa Macuja"

It had been the second year of Lisa Macuja's Swan Song Series, of which Don Quixote, Giselle and Carmen are part of, as she bid adieu to her  signature dance roles. I'm so glad that my daughter and I were able to watch her last performance of Giselle on stage. It’s a once in a lifetime experience.

"Nevertheless, Giselle is a role that I think I can continue to perform again and again and not grow tired of because there are so many ways of interpreting her. I never run out of new discoveries each time I dance her onstage." - from the souvenir program.

My daughter and I had watched a couple of ballet shows, and I can say that Lisa Macuja's Giselle is the best and tops it all. It's memorably incredible. She deserves the multiple standing ovations that everyone at the audience gave her during the curtain call. With the warm reception she received, she gave tears of joy - an emotion that we also had felt.

Yes, a month had passed since seeing Giselle, yet whenever I remember the curtain call while the teary-eyed prima ballerina shakes her head, the cheers and the loving applause seems to resound.

Giselle | October 21, 2012 at Aliw Theater

To Ms. Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, you're an inspiration! For my daughter, in the world of ballet, you reign supreme!

Thank you to Freeway for the tickets... and to Dante Perez, her EA, for the souvenir photo and the meet-and-greet session.

Hopefully, her Swan Song Series Year 3 will push through. We won't miss that for sure.

"A ballerina still dancing in her 28th season is rare. But a ballerina dancing her final Don Quixote, Giselle and Carmen on her 28th season is even more unique. Though one thing is for sure – no matter how ready you think you are, it’s still so hard to say goodbye." -- from the souvenir program.