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Mitch Valdes to introduce 'groovy' and 'hip' Lola Basyang

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Anna Cerezo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1715304375925Lola-Basyang2.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>Veteran Filipina actress and comedienne Mitch Valdes will be bringing to life a “groovier” and “more hip” Lola Basyang in the 26th performance season of the ballet “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang.”</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/4/25/ballet-manila-set-to-restage-tatlong-kuwento-ni-lola-basyang-2331" id="isPasted">Ballet Manila set to restage &#x27;Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang&#x27;</a></div><p>Valdes said she felt honored to be introducing a fresh take of the iconic character to a new generation. </p><p>“Lola Basyang of this time. Not the Lola Basyang before. She is now modern, wearing a daster. They don’t want to make me too old. They also gave me a song. I will also try to dance. It is more fun and up the alley of Mitch Valdes. I embraced being a lola,” Valdes explained.</p><p>She added: “This is my 53rd year in showbiz, I am excited for a new audience: the ballet audience, the theater, and the young people. They opened this up for the young people, for education and cultural enrichment. I am excited for a new phase in my career. I am very fortunate I have seen 3-4 generations of performers and in different mediums: TV, movie, theater, and now ballet.&quot;</p><p>According to Artistic Director Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Valdes was a quintessential choice to play “Lola Basyang,” for the now Taglish script they re-wrote to include trendier phrases.</p><p>“It just clicked. It was a great choice because we want our Lolas to be a little groovy. I told her, I know you are used to being ‘mataray’ but now you are a lola, you are loving and supportive,” she shared.</p><p>Macuja-Elizalde said “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang,” which will run on May 11, 12, and 18, is the “perfect way to celebrate Mother’s Day.”</p><p>“It is ballet for  the whole family. There is singing, dancing, storytelling, drama, romance, comedy, everything. There is action everything. It is a whole complete package,” she said.</p><p>“I will spend Mother’s Day here. I am overall artistic director and I choreographed a lot of the dances here too,” she added.</p><p>With her children all grown up and residing abroad, the award-winning ballerina, revealed she now has more time to spend with her company.</p><p>“I have a lot more time to spend choreographing, traveling to do workshops, it is basically how I give back,” she reasoned. </p><p>Macuja-Elizalde, however, shared she will be skipping the second week of the ballet as motherhood is still her priority.</p><p>“My daughter is in law school and she is graduating next week. I am going to attend her graduation,” she enthused.</p><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3003806"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script></div>

<p>Veteran Filipina actress and comedienne Mitch Valdes will be bringing to life a “groovier” and “more hip” Lola Basyang in the 26th performance season of the ballet “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang.”</p>

Veteran Filipina actress and comedienne Mitch Valdes will be bringing to life a “groovier” and “more hip” Lola Basyang in the 26th performance season of the ballet “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang.”