PETA’s Lola Basyang: Educating, entertaining children

MANILA, Philippines - So there she was, CB Garrucho, signature actress of PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Education), still looking glamorous but made up to look older, like a grandmother. In fact, she was supposed to be everybody’s grandmother as in Lola Basyang, the famous storyteller of children’s tales who was none other than Don Severino Reyes, author of the great zarzuela Walang Sugat.

It was the pocket launch of PETA’s Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang adapted by playwright Christine Belen from the stories of Don Severino, with music by Noel Cabangon and direction by Phil Noble.

The press launch was held at Dong Juan Restaurant in Quezon City, which housed the residence of a surviving great granddaughter of Don Severino, Cecile Reyes Medina, who was present.

Manuscript in hand, CB read three stories and pretended that the media persons present were her grandchildren. As she read, two young performers in costume and with props, Gold Villar and Norbs Portales, acted out the stories, singing and dancing with brio.

One story was about a wicked giant who wove a spell around a young prince and gave him a long nose, but he was able to overcome this when he found true love or true friendship. Another tale concerned a young girl who was given three impossible questions by a cunning king, and she resolved not to be afraid and to tell the truth. The third story was about an anti-war prince, and this resonates to this day.

At the end, CB, a.k.a. Lola Basyang, called attention to the blank pages of the tome she was holding, and invited the audience to come up with their own stories.

Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang will be staged at the Star Theater, CCP Complex, from Sept. 27 to 29. For details, call 891-9999.

During the open forum, CB said the stories of Lola Basyang have been staged here and abroad, in English translation and even Korean; there might even be a Japanese version.

“The stories are the repository of the value of the people,” she noted. “Do not judge by the outside appearance, as in a long nose, but look at what is inside. Also, violence is not the way to go.”

The veteran actress-cultural administrator added, “That’s why PETA is investing in the stories of Lola Basyang. The roots of inspiration are the great stories of Severino Reyes. We want to teach children values in a most entertaining way.”