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Magic, myth and a timely message

By Edgar O. Cruz, Contributor

12/07/2009

"We were home in Donada for Christmas Eve last year,” recounts prima ballerina and Ballet Manila’s artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde in connection with Ballet Manila’s presentation of an all-Filipino original production combining magic, myth and a timely environmental message in Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw.

Donada refers to her home in Donada Street, Pasay City, a sprawling and art-filled place she shares with businessman husband Fred Elizalde and their children Michelle or Missy, 11, and Manuel or Mac, nine.

Based on the children’s book written by Palanca Hall of Famer Ed Maranan, Alamat: Si Sibol at si Gunaw had its world premiere on Dec. 4, 5 and 6, with two more shows on Dec. 12 and 13 at the Aliw Theater at the CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.

Lisa continues, “Fred’s daughter Catrina, her husband and her two young daughters were visiting from London so I had extra presents under the tree for all the children. We engaged in our usual staff Christmas party with parlor games, a mini-raffle and pasabog for the staff’s children. My children — since they were older — helped me with the party organization and preparation. The most fun game was our own version of Laban o Bawi and Deal or No Deal. Of course we had our usual Noche Buena of stuffed turkey, ham and sweet potatoes.

“Christmas always bring to mind the first I spent in Russia, which was definitely an unforgettable experience because my Russian classmates and friends did not celebrate Christmas. They only celebrated New Year. Plus, we had to work on New Year’s Day because the school always had a Nutcracker on that day at 11:30 a.m. So, it was difficult explaining what Christmas was and why we were celebrating Christ’s birth. Remember, this was in 1982 during Communist Russia under Leonid Brezhnev.

“It was very cold, my very first white Christmas. I was away from Manila and spending Christmas alone for the first time. I missed my family terribly. So my family and I agreed that we would celebrate Christmas again when I got home around the middle part of January during the Leningrad School’s winter holidays.

“The Nutcracker would be my all-time favorite Christmas ballet. And for one particular scene that would be the small adagio of Masha and the Nutcracker Prince right before the Snowflakes. It happens right before the end of Act 1. Why do I like this particular scene? Because the music and the pas de deux choreography I feel is one of the most beautifully choreographed masterpieces of Vainonen and Tchaikovsky and I never get tired of dancing it. My mother cried the first time she watched me dance this adagio in Russia in 1983.

“Although The Nutcracker always inspires me for Christmas, we never got to create the Christmas scene in our celebration. Except my kids have been able to play with all The Nutcracker props, costumes and sets since they were very little. They have taken rides on the bobsled that I ride in at the end of Act 1. The theater and backstage area has become their playground and they are very much at home there.

“The Nutcracker is the reason I love doing ballet for Christmas. This year I’m doing Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw.”

Inspired by the huge success of last year’s Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, Ballet Manila this time presents the beginning of its Alamat series as a Christmas treat for families. For the first time, Lisa dances a mother role. She exclaims, “It’s about time!”

Lisa is the goddess Luningning who falls in love with a mortal named Kapuy (Nazer Salgado). Their marriage produces the twins Sibol (Bloom) and Gunaw (Doom) — danced by Yanti Marduli and Francis Cascaño, respectively — who have the power to nurture and destroy the Earth. Luningning goes off to tend to her responsibility of preserving the planet. But left to his own devices, Gunaw sows the destruction of nature’s resources. How he will be stopped becomes the focus of the two-act ballet. Performing the Young Sibol is Justin Kaye Pitahin as the Young Sibol and the Young Gunaw is Jamil Montebon.

Lisa adds, “We always want to surprise our audiences. Si Sibol at si Gunaw is not only highly entertaining, but very timely in theme as well. Creating a ballet that teaches our children to preserve the environment was, simply put, a good thing to do.”

Ballet Manila’s resident choreographers, co-director Osias Barroso and senior soloist Gerardo Francisco, collaborated on the choreography. Arranger Mon Faustino worked on the one-act Ang Prinsipe ng mga Ibon in last year’s Lola Basyang production, this time tackles the arrangements for the entire ballet. Faustino with co-arranger Noel Zarate used the music of composers Willy Cruz, George Canseco, Edru Abraham and Kontra-Gapi as well as various Filipino folk songs for the ballet’s score.

Jonathan Janolo is in charge of the production design and Michael Angelo Albay of the costume design, both facets based on the illustrations by Ronaele Maranan used in the book published by The Bookmark.

“It’s difficult to say if Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw will be the new Nutcracker because unlike the Christmas theme of Nutcracker, Alamat has an environmental theme. It is just our Christmas offering this year, but we don’t necessarily have to keep it only as a Christmas treat. We can dance Alamat all year round, so with Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang last year. We are dancing it again this year as Star City’s Christmas offering on Christmas Day and the succeeding days. But again, the stories are not limited to Christmas and can be performed all year round. Nutcracker as the Christmas Ballet is a tough act to follow. But, if I were to choose which of our ballets in our repertoire would come close as a Christmas Ballet treat for the whole family, I would say Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, Pinocchio and then Alamat.”

Alamat: Si Sibol at Si Gunaw is presented by Manila Broadcasting Co., Star City, and ING Private Bank. Special thanks to Island Rose and Ralph’s Wine & Spirits. For ticket inquiries for performances on Dec. 4, 5, 6, 12 and 13 at the Aliw Theater at the CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, call Ballet Manila (400-0292 or 525-5967). You may also visit www.balletmanila.ph or e-mail info@balletmanila.ph.

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