Lola Basyang’s legacy

She’s a timeless Pinoy icon whose name has become synonymous to storytelling time or the delightful collection of folktales and other stories that has become inherent in Philippine culture. She’s an amiable character loved by the young and the young-at-heart, the legendary lola always at hand to impart inspiring tales and words of encouragement.

In line with its First Quarter Explosion this year, GMA 7 brings back the delightful stories of the beloved Filipino storyteller in Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang. Airing every Sunday starting Feb. 4, the new program breathes new life to the classic tales of Severino Reyes, creator of Lola Basyang and writer of an innumerable collection of stories and zarzuela plays.

Severino Reyes’ Lola Basyang stories were serialized as prose in Liwayway before they were aired as a radio series, after which a movie was made featuring three Lola Basyang stories. As the Pinoy legend makes a TV debut in a weekly program that presents the timeless tales in a new light, children of this generation will learn to appreciate Lola Basyang the same way their parents and grandparents did.

Mga Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang gives a fresh take to the traditional rocking chair storytelling by introducing a younger character who will continue the legacy of Lola Basyang. Manilyn Reynes stars as Gervacia Zamora Reyes a.k.a. Herbie, Lola Basyang’s compassionately strong-willed and high-spirited granddaughter who has made it her personal advocacy to disseminate Lola Basyang’s stories. Together with her eight-year-old son Efren (Paul Salas), she drives around in a "rolling library" van packed with Lola Basyang’s books and goes to various places to spread Lola Basyang’s classic tales and golden values.

For its pilot episode this Sunday, Mga Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang presents the story Ang Mahiwagang Kuba featuring Patrick Garcia as the hunchback Prinsipe Jorge, Jennylyn Mercado as the kind-hearted beggar Feli, Desiree del Valle as the vain Prinsesa Lucinda and Eddie Gutierrez as Haring Enrico.

Ang Mahiwagang Kuba shows the importance of not judging people by their physical appearance. Parents and teachers will recommend the show to Filipino children because aside from the improved production value and modern presentation of Mga Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang, important values and lessons are inculcated in the minds of young viewers as they are entertained by delightful stories presented every week.

Mga Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang airs Sundays after S Files.