Philippine Ballet Theater’s ‘Ibalon’: a modern take on the famed Bicolano epic
Ibalon, the famous Bicolano epic, has been reimagined to become a love story. The original 60-stanza folk epic follows the stories of three heroes: Baltog, Handyong and Bantiong. But the ballet focuses on Handyong (played by Matthew Davo), a mighty warrior who came to the land of Ibalon with his followers to clear the land of monsters. Though his conquest was halted by the beautiful shape-shifting serpent, Oriol (played by Jessa Tangalin). Their encounter would be one of redemption, kindness and love that shook the audience to their core.
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