In line with Philippine Ballet Theatre's (Philippine Ballet Theatre) mission to promote Philippine heritage, literature, and oral tradition while advancing the art of ballet, Philippine Ballet Theatre has created another original Filipino ballet. The centerpiece of their 2025 season is "Maria Makiling," a full-length ballet that reimagines the legendary guardian of Mount Makiling. Through powerful choreography, this performance captures the essence of Filipino folklore and serves as a reminder to uphold good values.
Maria Makiling marks the third installment of the creative collaboration of Philippine Ballet Theatre’s Artistic Director, Ronilo Jaynario (choreography), and award-winning composer and arranger, Paulo Zarate (original musical score). They are the creative duo behind the successful staging of two original Filipino full-length ballets, Philippine Ballet Theatre’s Ibalon (2023) and Philippine Ballet Theatre’s Sarimanok (2024), which have been well received by audiences both locally and in the U.S.A. Maria Makiling will once again showcase world-class Filipino talent in dance and in music. Ronilo Jaynario explains, "After creating 'Ibalon,' a hero-based ballet, and 'Sarimanok,' a romantic ballet, I wanted to tell a story that centers on the Filipino community. My goal was to present a ballet that grounds us and evokes a time when love, kindness, and gratitude sustained our communities. This ballet explores the enduring power of love, the pain of loss, and the importance of preserving nature and heritage. Ultimately, it highlights the consequences of a lack of integrity within a community." Creating this ballet was particularly meaningful to him because the Philippine High School of the Arts in Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna, was his home for four years. During that time, he heard many stories about "Maria," a household name at his school. Composer Paulo Zarate views Maria Makiling as an exciting challenge, characterized by a collaborative spirit of mutual respect that allows both him and Jaynario to enjoy creative freedom. Their shared vision unifies their work. Zarate explains, "We try to set musical identities to each ballet. For instance, in "Ibalon", it was more anthemic and big, as a superhero movie would sound. In "Sarimanok", it was more rhythmic and percussive, where I played around using meters from 4/4, 3/4, 6/8, 5/8, and 7/8. For Maria Makiling, Ron suggested we go for a more Filipino/Spanish sound, a bit more guitar-driven since both our cultures (Spanish/Filipino) have strong roots with guitar-driven songs like our Filipino kundimans and Spanish flamencos." He hopes that the nuances he created to personify each character and the fantasy treatment in the melodies could really allow the story to flourish on stage. For this ballet, Philippine Ballet Theatre reached out to Los Banos Tourism office to really ensure that the ballet characterizes Laguna’s diwata in the best possible light. Assisting the creative team was one of Los Banos’ cultural historians UP Los Banos Vice Chancelor for Community Affairs Roberto Cereno, Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs. Quick Synopsis Set in the scenic town of Laguna, Maria Makiling brings to life the cherished myth of a mountain goddess who protects the land and its people. During a harvest celebration, three men—an arrogant Spanish officer, a scholarly educator, and a kind-hearted farmer—compete for Maria Makiling’s affection. Her choice ignites a dark conspiracy, resulting in heartbreak and injustice. In a poignant climax, nature itself mourns, and Maria Makiling withdraws from the world, choosing to protect it from afar. Though unseen, Maria Makiling’s spirit remains a living force in the land’s prosperity and the people’s hearts. Casting Choices Sharing the spotlight in the role of Maria Makiling are Gabby Jaynario and Jessa Tangalin. Each brings her own voice, energy, and heart to the mythical diwata, offering audiences two beautifully distinct portrayals of this iconic character. Their performances promise to highlight both Maria’s strength and her vulnerability in ways that are deeply personal and moving. Stepping into the role of Juan, Maria’s love interest, are Matthew Davo and Justine Orande. Alternating in the part, they bring fresh chemistry and different emotional shades to Juan’s journey — from romance to heartbreak, and everything in between. Maria Makiling will have a limited run from July 5-6, 2025 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theatre. Co-presented by Philippine Airlines, Philippine Ballet Theatre will have a total of three shows (July 5, 2025 3:00 pm and 7:30 pm, and July 6, 202,5, 3:00 pm). Philippine Ballet Theatre aims to continue its streak of success in Filipino ballets. They look forward to engaging new audiences to get to know what is in the heart of our Filipino stories. Tickets are available through Ticketworld or the Philippine Ballet Theatre Secretariat. For ticket inquiries, call 09688708887, 09129455151, and +63286711968 or email secretariat@pbt.org.ph
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