Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang is an anthology of short stories written by "Lola Basyang," the nom de plume of Severino Reyes, founder and editor of the Tagalog magazine, Liwayway. The original magazine stories have since been adapted into books, comics, television, and film.
Liwayway
In 1925, Reyes wrote a series of short stories under the series title Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang for Liwayway, the Tagalog-language magazine. Reyes, also known as "Don Binoy", adopted the persona of Lola Basyang, an elderly woman fond of telling stories to her grandchildren, a character similar in form and function to Mother Goose. The name Basyang is a localized provincial name for the Spanish nameBasilia.
Tagalog Klasiks
In 1949, Reyes' son Pedrito Reyes, decided to revive the Lola Basyang stories in comic book form, locally known as komiks. It was a golden age for Philippine komiks and Pedrito used his father's original scripts to produce the comics that appeared in the earliest issues of Tagalog Klasiks. The illustrations were done by Maning De Leon, Jesus Ramos, and later on Ruben Yandoc.
From 1946 to 1972, the golden ages of komiks and movies in the Philippines coincided. Since komiks were a popular form of entertainment in the Philippines, movie producers created some of the greatest box-office blockbusters from them. Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang was produced by Sampaguita Pictures in 1958 as a quartet feature of two Lola Basyang stories: Dolphy starred in Si Pedrong Walang Takot. The cowardly Pedro gains courage by means of an enchanted bell that he used to scare away a kapre. The second story is Ang Mahiwagang Kuba. Prince Jorge is an enchanted prince, who was cursed to become a hideous hunchback until a beautiful lady with a golden heart gives her love to him. In his quest for this beautiful lady, he meets Princess Lucinda, who promises to marry anyone who can heal the ailing king. He also meets a kind-hearted beggar named Feli, who helps him without expecting anything in return. Can the prince heal the ailing king? Is Princess Lucinda the answer to the prince's prayer? Who will truly break the curse? The third story is Ang Dakilang Puso ng Isang Ina is a family drama which starred Rosa Mia, Tony Marzan and Priscilla Valdez. The fourth story was Ang Prinsesang Naging Pulubi. A Princess from a faraway land rejected all of her high-profile suitors, believing that material riches cannot provide genuine happiness. Her constantly spurning her suitors provoked the ire of her father, the King, who decreed that she be given in marriage to the first beggar who enters the royal garden. In that fortunate Beggar, the Princess found true love.
Regal Films
In 1985, Regal Films produced Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang. The trilogy's lovable Lola Basyang was portrayed by Chichay, with whom the role is still associated. Directed by Maryo J. de los Reyes, the three stories featured the most popular love teams of the era: Gabby Concepcion and Snooky Serna; William Martinez and Maricel Soriano; and Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III. The first story is Nahíhimbing na Kagandahan, starring Gabby Concepción and Snooky Serna, with appearances by Lani Mercado, Nova Villa and Gretchen Barretto. The second story, Zombie, had a horror-comedy slant, and starred Maricel Soriano and William Martinez, along with Manilyn Reynes. The three get lost while on a camping trip, and enter an eerie house manned by the creepy and funny Palito. While eating a stew filled with human entrails, they accept his offer to sleep at the decrepit house, and manage to stay alive. The third episode is a semi-musical titled Kerubín. A group of child labourers work for three, mean old ladies led by Bella Flores. Kerubín, an angel sent from heaven, frees the children from the clutches of the evil crones. Nora Aunor stars as the virtuous niece of the mean old hags, while Tirso Cruz III, Lou Veloso, Sheryl Cruz and Tina Paner also appear. The stories in this production did not use original Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang stories.
Unitel Pictures
In 2012, Unitel Pictures announced its which was supposed to be a part of MMFF 2012, but the firm postponed it. As of today, the movie's fate is uncertain.
Books
Tahanan Books
In 1997, Tahanan Books published a collection of twelve Lola Basyang tales. Poet and literary criticBienvenido Lumbera sifted through hundreds of manuscripts to select the best of Reyes' tales, while author and publisher Gilda Cordero-Fernando gave an original English translation. The series was illustrated by renowned children's book illustrator Albert Gamos, who produced over 30 drawings. The books won the Gintong Aklat for Children's Literature and the National Book Award for Best Anthology.
In 2006, Anvil Publishing, Inc. relaunched Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang as a series of picture books based on Reyes' material, retold by Christine Bellen. All books were illustrated by Frances C. Alcaráz, Albert Gamos, Elbert Or, Liza A. Flores and Ruben de Jesús. The eleven picture books are:
In 2007, GMA Network bought the rights for a TV serialization of Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang. It aired every Sunday night. The show was directed by Argel Joseph and Don Michael Perez.
