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

Ballet Philippines' A Christmas Carol

Our Christmas Season started by watching Ballet Philippines' A Christmas Carol at the CCP.

This ballet show, choreographed by Ms. Edna Froilan is based on Charles Dickens' popular novel, A Christmas Carol.

What I love about it is the modern twist and fresh approach on the novel and ballet dance. Both the music and choreography are excellent!

Combining classical ballet, contemporary dance and hip hop is such a genius idea! Its unique and cool concept kept us interested throughout the show. The dancers, even the little kids, are amazing as always.

Despite the grim theme of ghosts and loss, the show is far from being dull.

It will bring you as Ebenezer Scrooge journey through the past, the present and the future to find the spirit of Christmas.

The Ghost of Christmas Past brought him to his boyhood days, the delight of seeing his sister Fran, up to the day he was sent to be an apprentice at a warehouse. In Fezziwig's warehouse, he found happiness, friendship and love... but turned to bitterness after breaking off with Belle because of this chase for wealth.

with the Ghost of Christmas Past

The arrival of the Ghost of Christmas Present in his lively Christmas tree costume is such a joy (didn't get to take a photo with him after the show).

He took him to the homes of Bob Cratchit's and to his nephew Fred's. It's fun to watch the lively dance with hip-hop showdowns of the villagers.

Here, Scrooge gets to see how they had fun and celebrate the season; but gets shocked when he learned how people sees and makes fun of him.

The Ghost of Christmas Future shows him the death of Tiny Tim and his dismal future.

with the Ghost of Christmas Future

In the end, the cold-hearted Scrooge changed and rekindled his good-natured spirit. He traded his "Bah, Humbug!" with warm Christmas greetings.

See, there's still hope!

This is a must-see production.

A Christmas Carol will let you journey through sadness, comedy, hope and fear. But in the end, the spirit of the Christmas season - love, giving and sharing, rule above all.

Don't let those bad stuff and misfortunes that happened in your life be an excuse to like "Scrooge" or feel grouchy. The Christmas Season is a time to be grateful and yes, there's always a reason to celebrate.

You still have time to catch this show until December 8.

December 5: 3 PM
December 6: 10 AM & 3 PM
December 7: 6 PM
December 8: 2 PM & 6 PM

Dance for Life!

My daughter was invited to be part of Dance Plus' "Benefit Concert." It's a ballet dance concert held last September 21 at Robinsons Galleria. It's a great experience since its for the benefit of the kids of Kythe Foundation.

They performed a ballet piece with the song "Habang May Buhay" - a perfect song, not just for kids with illness, but for everyone. It's a very meaningful and heartfelt song that brings life, messages of hope and wonderful memories of love.

I'm glad that my daughter took part in this benefit concert. It opened our hearts to share our blessings to others. This event makes people realize that they can also help even in the simplest way.

"Habang May Buhay"

good job DILC-Dance Plus girls!

More about Kythe Foundation

Kythe (kayth) is a Scottish word which means healing through simple sharing and togetherness.

Kythe Foundation inspires hope through its Child Life Program. It's a non-profit organization that provides psychosocial care in hospitals in indident children. They promote optimum growth and development these children with chronic illnesses.

You also can be part of Kythe!

How can you help?
By donating to Kythe you can create a positive hospital experience for children and their families.

To know more, check their website at www.kythe.org or email them at info@kythe.org.

Dance Plus ballerinas and people from Kythe foundation 

Ballet Philippines' A Midsummer Night’s Dream

thanks for the tickets Special Education Philippines

My daughter and I had a wonderful time watching Ballet Philippines' A Midsummer Night’s Dream last February 16 at the CCP Theater.

It's remarkable how Ballet Philippines' gave twist to Shakespeare's timeless romantic comedy. I could not believe that it had been a light, comedy performance done with so much grace, youthful intensity and passionate movement.

I initially thought that my daughter would have a hard time appreciating this classic. Yet no matter how complicated the plot of the story may seem, glad that my daughter understood its sense somehow.

I say kudos to Hong Kong-based choreographer Carlo Pacis. The contrasts and mythical fusion between the fairies and the human characters; and the city versus the Asian fairyland forest was amazingly recreated.

I love how the multimedia screen brings a different appeal on the whole ballet production. The great costume (fairies are without wings!) and lovely music makes the whole performance truly magnificent. The whole stage and the 3D illusions were stunning.

I can commend the precise movement and the classically sensual and modern dance steps. Titania and Oberon were magnificent in all forms. Helena, a mortal who's hopelessly in-love with Demetrius (who loves someone else), was splendid. She gave a comedic appeal yet with the poise of a ballerina. Her movements were full of emotions, which would make you love her from start to finish.

Puck was mischievously funny; his movements were unpredictable, interesting and powerful. Whenever he's on stage you knew that something funny was going to happen. Love-in-Idleness flower delivers a delightful and romantic energy. Her character made me smile whenever she comes on stage with all those hand stretching and wiggling movement. It was her "juice" that made the characters fall in love with the first person they see.

Puck’s mischievous ways causes chaos to couples and brought the audience to an unforgettable romantic comedy of errors. Funny how Puck made Titania set her eyes on a man with a donkey’s head!

Yet, it's also great to see how Puck and Love-in-Idleness share a splendid adventure and how lovers are reunited in love. Everyone, including the rustics, fairy ladies and men, all deserves a round of applause.

The story ends with Oberon and Titania blessing the marriages with their solemn pas de deux, and Puck giving a heart-warming close. Bravo!

the cast

This ballet performance depicts how the silly game of love can spin us into a complicated web. The language of love and music made this ballet performance truly splendid.

daughter adores Titania :)

carried by Oberon!

there's Puck :)

I'm glad that my daughter and I were able to witness this exquisite production. It gave my daughter another great experience and a whole new appreciation for ballet.

Thank you so much Special Education Philippines, especially to Teacher Ia, for this ballet tickets. We really had a great time!

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.

JNA Dance and Fitness Center

We didn't get to watch the TV feature of JNA Dance and Fitness Center on Generation RX. The segment was aired last October 6, 2012 on Generation RX Studio 23.

Good thing, were able to watch the video on YouTube. Glad to see my daughter in the video too!

Having healthy bones help prevent Osteoporosis. Watch and learn about the benefits of fitness and dancing to our bones.

Take time to expose your kids to ballet, dance, martial arts and other sports. It would bring great benefits their health and overall well-being.

7 Years Milestones

Being 7 years old had been great for my daughter. It's her best and happiest year so far. It's the year when she had the grandest time of her life.

Lots of wonderful memories and achievements happened when she turned seven. I could list a hundred things that makes being 7 a great year, but let me share her best 7 moments -

Celebrated her ballerina themed 7th birthday with family and friends.

happy 7th birthday Skylah!

Joined the school's Buwan ng Wika activities where she performed a traditional Filipino dance with her classmates and declaimed the piece "Sa Aking Mga Kababata."

first declamation piece

Performed two ballet dances for Effie Nanas' Grand Ballet Recital - Enchanted Ballet at the CCP.

ballet recital on stage

Dressed up as Barbie doll for Halloween where she felt like being a Barbie celebrity for a day and won several prizes.

my Barbie doll :)

Played the role of Tinkerbell in the school's Christmas celebration - Disney's Believe in Holiday Magic. Remember Kid's Performances HERE.

my Tinkerbell

Received her First Holy Communion. Participated in the church rites - Greetings, Ama Namin prayer, Glory to God and Tell the World of His Love.

greetings

Ranked first in class and overall top 2 in Grade 2. Received the Second Honors Award and Best in Co-curricular Award.

congrats Skylah!

Last week, she turned 8 years old. Hoping for another fruitful year for my daughter!

Pusong Wagas and Remembering Sleeping Beauty

Ballet Philippines' 42nd Season will end with undying love as it stage "Pusong Wagas." This all-new contemporary ballet will be shown on February 17 to 19 at the CCP Little Theater.

Pusong Wagas

"Set in pre-colonial Manila, the story highlights the exemplary love of Luyong, a gifted carpenter, and Manda, a tribal princess, and their sacrifice in the face of the coming foreign invaders. This work is co-produced by the City of Mandaluyong and Hon. Mayor Benjamin Abalos Jr. "

Schedule:
February 17 at 3PM & 8PM, February 18 at 3PM & 8PM and February 19 at 10AM & 3PM
Venue: Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)
Tickets: P1000 and P600

For tickets call:
Ticketworld at  891-9999
Ballet Philippines at 551-1003, 551-7919
CCP Box Office at 832-3704

This would be a great show to see this coming Valentine's Day weekend!

+ Remembering Sleeping Beauty

"A ballet in a prologue and three acts."

Last December, my daughter and I watched Ballet Philippines performance of the Sleeping Beauty, one of the most beloved classical ballets.

I am thankful for the tickets from Ballet Philippines and the good seats as well. We were given the 3rd row front seats, making my daughter enjoyed the show even more.

Based on the popular story, the ballet begins with the Christening of the newborn Princess Aurora. She receives gifts from fairy godmothers and  guests from all over the land.  When the  dark evil fairy Carabosse makes a sudden appearance, the royal festivity comes to a halt. Carabosse was furious because she was not invited. She cast an  evil curse on the Princess. Lilac Fairy  softens the curse. Princess Aurora will not die but sleep for a hundred years and the curse will only be broken by the kiss of true love.

with Caraboose

with Lilac Fairy

Sleeping Beauty had truly enchanted everyone. Aside from the dances, the sets, costumes, live  orchestral music and international guest performers were truly magnificent.  The royalties, fairies, cavaliers and all the royal guests in the halls of the grand palace were spectacular. The Bluebird pas de deux dance is equally amazing. Some well-loved fairy tale characters such as Little Red Riding Hood and Puss n’ Boots and the White Cat were also present to brighten the festivities.

with The White Cat

with Red Riding Hood and The White Cat

After the Lilac Fairy led Prince Desire to where Seeping Beauty is, and the prophecy was fulfilled, the rest of the royals and courts awaken. The great hall was then filled with the grand wedding of Princess Aurora to Prince Desire.

with Sleeping Beauty

Again, thank you Ballet Philippines for the show tickets!

Remember 2011 | Kids Performances

"To establish true self-esteem we must concentrate on our successes and forget about the failures and the negatives in our lives." - Denis Waitley, American motivational speaker and writer, consultant and best-selling author

My kids' performances is one way that helps develop their confidence. They are enjoying every program rehearsals, getting in their costumes and being there on stage. It helps become aware of their own abilities and self-importance.

Grand Ballet Recital at CCP

Dancing at the CCP stage is a dream come true for my daughter. Effie Nanas ballet presented Enchanted Ballet last November. She danced Chinese Tea for the Nutcraker - Clara's Dream and "Butterfly" for Snow White.

Taking photos and videos inside the CCP theater is not allowed, so we only have pre and post photos of her.

butterfly costume

Chinese costume

Everyone - from the star ballerinas to the little belles - did wonderful performances.

Effie Nanas ballerinas

Tinkerbell Butterfly at SGIS Disney Holiday Magic

My daughter was chosen by the school principal to be Tinkerbell Butterfly (a part in Alice's Adventure) in their Christmas program. Good thing, she was able to wear the butterfly costume again.

Tinkerbell butterfly :)

with Alice in Wonderland cast

She also danced "Let it Snow" together with the grade 3 girls. Girls from her grade level performed a different dance number. Watch the video:





Little Santa Claus at SGIS Disney Holiday Magic

My son, together with the preschoolers, happily sing and dance Jingle Bells for the Christmas program. The venue was filled with much cuteness and happiness!

little Santas :)

Enjoy watching:

Disney's Believe in Holiday Magic

Malaysia in United Nations Celebration

My son represented the country of Malaysia and performed "It's a Small World" together with the preschool students.

Malaysia flag bearer :)

Japanese in United Nations Celebration

My daughter, together with the Grade 2 students, performed a Japanese dance.

Japan umbrella dance

Read The Silk Road to Peace and Prosperity


Linggo ng Wika Performances

It had been my daughter's first declamation contest. She didn't win,but still proud since she was able to deliver Dr. Jose Rizal's "Sa Aking Mga Kababata" in front of the audience.

"Sa Aking Mga Kababata"

Read Daughter's First Declamation Piece

Traditional Filipino dances were all performed.

Filipino dance

in costume

Read Linggo ng Wika Activities

Indeed, "the world is a stage..."

Hope you all enjoyed the Year 2011 as much as we do!